Title: Faith and Neighboring Communicator
Reports to: Nicholas Tangen, Assistant to the Bishop for Faith and Neighboring
Salary: $50,000
Position Details: Full-time, in-person with some hybrid options. Occasional travel required for synod events, Lilly Endowment Annual Gatherings, meetings, and staff outings
Status: Exempt

Minneapolis Area Synod
The Minneapolis Area Synod (MAS) is one of 65 synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). MAS includes 137 communities of faith in the greater Minneapolis metropolitan area. The synod staff supports the member congregations, as well as the lay and rostered leaders of the synod. We are church together: accompanying one another and our neighbors, witnessing to the transforming love and grace of Jesus Christ, organizing for service and justice close to home and around the world, resourcing our congregations for ministry, and celebrating the Holy Spirit’s presence and activity in all of this. “The Minneapolis Area Synod works together so that all experience gracious invitation into life -giving Christian community and live in just and healthy neighborhoods.” Thanks to two generous grants from the Lilly Endowment, the Minneapolis Area Synod manages two initiatives (“Faith & Neighboring Practices” and “Family Faith”) providing training and community building for worshipping communities.

Position Summary

As part of the Minneapolis Area Synod’s communications team, the Faith and Neighboring Communicator will implement and maintain communication vehicles for the Synod’s “Faith & Neighboring Practices” and “Family Faith” initiatives and support the Minneapolis Area Synod’s existing communication vehicles.

Essential Functions
1. Develop and implement communications strategies for “Faith & Neighboring Practices” and “Family Faith” learning communities.

  • Design, update, and maintain electronic newsletters and initiative webpages
  • Enhance and manage “Faith & Neighboring Practices” and “Family Faith” social media presence
  • Design and maintain marketing materials for learning communities
  • Coordinate opportunities for participants to share stories from their own context related to learning communities including blogs, articles, videos, and social media posts

2. Capture and process photos and videos for communication vehicles

  • Capture photos and videos at learning community retreats and cohort meetings
  • Process photos for use on webpages, marketing materials, annual reports, electronic newsletters, and social media
  • Process and produce videos for educational and marketing purposes

3. Support Program Evaluation

  • Work with the Faith and Neighboring Team to evaluate program outcomes for “Faith & Neighboring Practices” and “Family Faith” through surveys, storytelling, and one -to-one conversations
  • Assist with the writing of annual reports, fundraising communications, and public storytelling.

4. Participate as a team member on the Synod Staff

  • Attend weekly staff meetings and participate in synod -wide events (Bishops Theological Conference, Synod Assembly, Ministerium, etc. )
  • And support the Minneapolis Area Synod communication strategies under guidance from the Director of Communications and Events

Abilities/Skills/Qualifications:

1. Education

  • A bachelor’s degree is encouraged but not required

2. Experience

  • Experience developing and implementing communications strategies including social media and email marketing
  • Experience working in church and/or neighborhood settings
  • Experience with photography and videography
  • Preferred experience with Constant Contact, Canva, Facebook, Instagram, and WordPress

3. Skills & Abilities

  • Passion for the Church: Demonstrates a genuine love for the church and its mission.
  • Passion for Storytelling and Communications: Demonstrates a love for crafting and capturing stories to inspire and inform, and a willingness to experiment with a variety of tools and platforms
  • Detail -Oriented: Excels at focusing on minute details while advancing the big-picture goals of the Faith & Neighboring Practices grant
  • Organizational and Communication Skills: Demonstrates excellent organizational, proofreading, written, and oral communication skills.
  • Empathy and Communication: Possesses a sense of empathy, with the ability to communicate compassionately and gracefully
  • Time Management: Demonstrates an ability to manage workload efficiently and honor necessary deadlines
  • Adaptability and Creativity: Willing to creatively adapt as processes and systems change and an ability to think outside the box
  • Team Orientation: Values teamwork, collaborates well within a team environment

To apply, submit a cover letter and resume to Nicholas Tangen, n.tangen@mpls-synod.org, by November 11, 2025.

The Minneapolis Area Synod is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from people who represent the many diverse voices in our synod and state: people of color, persons with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and women.