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Title

Minister for Community Engagement, Application Close: October 16, 2025 
Ministry Team Church Building & Loan Fund/ARC  
Reports To Chief Divisional Operating Officer (CDOO), Church Building & Loan Fund/ARC Minister & Team Leader, Strategic Initiatives (MTLSI) Church Building & Loan Fund  
FLSA Status Exempt  
Salary Grade 8  
Full-Time/Part-Time Full-Time  
Category National and Global Ministries, Cleveland, Ohio  
Starting Salary $70,000 - $73,000  
Description

The Church Building & Loan Fund (CB&LF) is a resource of the United Church of Christ.

CB&LF offers and promotes financing for the purchase, construction or renovation of church buildings, meeting houses, parsonages/rectories, and other facilities used by churches of the United Church of Christ (or by any Christian church without limitation to sect, denomination or name.) In doing so it seeks to develop mature and healthy justice-oriented congregations from the young, emerging and/or renewing churches that it uniquely serves.

 

CB&LF is dedicated to assisting new and renewing local churches with the purchase of their first building, along with technical and planning assistance. It also offers loans for site purchases; construction; existing building purchase, maintenance, or renovation; second-unit construction; refinancing; and capital campaign services.

 

GENERAL PURPOSE OF POSITION:

The Local Church Ministries of The United Church of Christ Church Building & Loan Fund (CB&LF) is seeking a self-motivated, mission-driven candidate with a working knowledge of how to identify and engage with churches and other faith-based organizations (especially those located in underinvested communities) to determine the need and capacity of these congregations/organizations to lead community transformation initiatives that result in measurable impact (especially through the redevelopment of church real estate). Working closely with the Minister & Team Leader, Strategic Initiatives, the candidate will play a key role in facilitating church leaders’ participation in CB&LF programs that focus on the transformation of neighborhood, community and region through working partnerships among churches, faith organizations, local community development corporations, philanthropists, investors, government officials, planners, developers, civic groups and neighborhood leaders. A core guiding principle for CB&LF today is to expand upon its tradition of leveraging assets for tangible, public, measurable impact in the advancement of mission and ministry.

 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

 

  • In collaboration with the Chief Divisional Operating Officer and the Minister & Team Leader, Strategic Initiatives, implement programs that align with the current Mission Implementation Strategy to reach Fund strategic objectives, maximizing effectiveness and successfully executing upon three-year goals.

 

  • Guided by the Minister & Team Leader, Strategic Initiatives assess current CB&LF program offerings to evaluate effectiveness and determine possible enhancements necessary to increase the engagement of churches/FBOs and maximize missional impact of churches/FBOs that participate in these programs.

 

  • In consultation with the Minister & Team Leader and the Lead Mission Interpreter using a rapid-testing, experimental approach, develop new tools, resources and/or programs to increase the ability of congregations to lead community transformation.
  • Under the guidance of the Minister and Team Leader, Strategic Initiatives develop tactical initiatives (virtual, social media, and in-person), in partnership with Marketing staff and/or consultants to educate and inform churches and faith-based organizations on the range of CB&LF/ARC offerings available to equip them to thrive in a season of decline and uncertainty.

 

  • In collaboration with CB&LF Mission Interpreters (training staff), develop programs and initiatives to invite, recruit and engage church leaders to experience CB&LF’s financing, training, capacity building and church real estate development programs nationally (mostly through virtual platforms) and in-person for select priority UCC Conferences, states/regions (e.g., Cleveland OH, UCC Southern California/Southern Nevada California Conference).

 

  • In collaboration with the Minister and Team Leader, Strategic Initiatives nurture the relationship between the CB&LF Brand and mission with its strategic partners and community.

 

  • In collaboration with the marketing team and the Minister and Team Leader, Strategic Initiatives, develop engagement strategies and opportunities to promote the mission of CB&LF, including services and programs.

 

 

  • In tandem with the Minister and Team Leader, Strategic Initiatives, develop relationships with key stakeholders, external and internal partners.

 

 

  • Liaison with Fund staff, national setting colleagues, Conference Ministers and other denominational leaders, consultants, congregations and church organizations regarding assigned strategic initiatives to ensure alignment and high-quality deployment of Fund resources.

 

  • Assist the Minister and Team Leader, Strategic Initiatives in representing CB&LF, and the national setting of the UCC in all settings of the UCC, ecumenically, and in interfaith settings as appropriately related to this portfolio. In tandem with the Minister and Team Leader, Strategic Initiatives, develop relationships with key stakeholders, external and internal partners.

 

 

  • Liaison with Fund staff, national setting colleagues, Conference Ministers and other denominational leaders, consultants, congregations and church organizations regarding assigned strategic initiatives to ensure alignment and high-quality deployment of Fund resources.

 

  • Assist the Minister and Team Leader, Strategic Initiatives in representing CB&LF, and the national setting of the UCC in all settings of the UCC, ecumenically, and in interfaith settings as appropriately related to this portfolio.
 
Position Requirements

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: The requirements listed below are representative of

knowledge, skills and/or abilities required to perform successfully in this position:

 

  • Bachelor’s degree or its equivalent in education and experience.

 

  • Minimum of 5 years’ experience in a national level financial and/or philanthropic ministry.

 

  • Thorough knowledge and understanding of the United Church of Christ, its history and polity especially its commitment to prophetic ministry in the church and society.

 

  • Demonstrated written and verbal communication skills.

 

  • Results oriented, demonstrated ability to achieve the highest levels of personal and organizational performance in order to exceed organizational goals.

 

  • Customer/client focused, demonstrated ability to understand the perspective of the congregation/customer/client and ability to take actions to integrate their needs.

 

  • Demonstrated problem analysis/resolution skills; gathers information necessary to make decisions; ability to anticipate, identify, resolve problems in a timely manner; demonstrated awareness of using available resources

 

  • Ability to work in diverse racial, ethnic, cultural, and religious settings with a demonstrated commitment to pluralism in the workplace.

 

  • Ability to develop and maintain healthy relationships with persons representing a wide variety of racial and ethnic realities and perspectives.

 

  • Demonstrated written and verbal language skills in English including teaching and public speaking.

 

  • Demonstrated ability to work collegially and collaboratively.

 

  • Ability and willingness to travel as necessary.

Preferred Qualifications:

 

  • Membership in the UCC

 

  • As a person of faith, ordination to Christian Ministry highly valued

Other:

This position requires 3 days in the office on a hybrid schedule.

 
Comprehensive Benefits Package Employer paid health, dental, pension, life, and disability benefits  
Application Deadline October 16, 2025  
About the Organization The United Church of Christ



Our faith is 2000 years old. Our thinking is not.



We believe in God's Continuing Testament.

We believe in Extravagant Welcome

We believe the church's mission is to Change Lives



 
EOE Statement The United Church of Christ National Setting celebrates diversity and an inclusive environment for all employees. We are committed to a workforce that is representative, at all job levels, of the broad spectrum of our diverse society. We endeavor to recruit employees from backgrounds that vary by race, color, national origin, ethnicity, gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, genetic information, past, present or future service in the uniformed services, religion, or any other legally protected characteristic under applicable federal, state or local law. We are proud to be a multicultural, multiracial, open and affirming, accessible to all, equal opportunity employer.  

This position is currently accepting applications.

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