Program Executive for Theology and Gender Justice, LWF Department for Theology, Mission and Justice

Place of Assignment: Incumbent's country of residence

The employment conditions will be defined with the final selected candidate

Starting date: April 2026

Contract period: initial contract of 5 years, renewable once

Work time: 100 %

Average travel days per year: more than 20 days

Closing dates for applications: 10 December 2025

Organizational Context

The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) is a communion of churches living and working together for a just, peaceful, and reconciled world. The role of the Communion Office (CO) in Geneva is to serve these churches in different ways.

The Department for Theology, Mission, and Justice (DTMJ) leads four programs advancing the priorities of the LWF strategy 2025-2031, namely:

Theology for Transformation

Leadership for Thriving Churches

Churches in Diaconal Action

Action for Justice

DTMJ collaborates with member churches and partners through thematic networks, hosts LWF’s advocacy unit Action for Justice, and facilitates theological reflection rooted in local realities. It addresses issues requiring intercultural engagement and equips churches in holistic mission, leveraging LWF’s faith-based commitment to human rights and UN partnerships.

Gender justice is a central priority and a cross-cutting theme for the LWF as a communion of churches, rooted in biblical and theological foundations This commitment is articulated in the LWF Gender Justice Policy (2013), which provides the framework for all programmes and structures. The LWF Strategy 2025–2031 further strengthens this commitment, calling for the elimination of discrimination and violence against women and girls and their empowerment in leadership roles.

Purpose of the Position

As Program Executive for Theology, Gender Justice, and Leadership, the incumbent guides and supports the LWF communion's journey toward gender justice through:

Advancing communion-wide theological reflection on gender justice grounded in Scripture and Lutheran theology;

Engaging member churches in theology and leadership from a gender justice perspective, while fostering respectful dialogue on just relationships between women and men;

Accompanying member churches in implementing and contextualizing the LWF Gender Justice Policy;

Developing initiatives and resources that foster transformative, inclusive leadership models and promote women’s full and meaningful participation in ordained ministry and doing theology.

The incumbent will coordinate and facilitate the work of transformative theology and leadership that is contextual, critical, creative, and concrete relevant to this work.

Key Focus Areas

Theology for Transformation Program (50%): Coordinating shared theological themes, partnerships with theological institutions, and priority-setting.

Leadership for Thriving Churches Program (50%): Strengthening theological formation for church leaders, lay leaders, women and youth.

Required Qualifications

Master's degree in Theology or equivalent from an accredited university (PhD preferred)

Theological expertise in the Lutheran tradition and other relevant academic disciplines

Cross-cultural competence with demonstrated ability to work effectively in diverse, global, and intercultural settings

Strong communication and facilitation skills to lead theological reflection, foster dialogue, and promote mutual learning across diverse groups and regions

Language proficiency in English (required); working knowledge of German, French, Spanish, or another language commonly used in LWF work would be an advantage

Digital literacy including Microsoft Office Suite, content management systems (CMS), and social media platforms

Church endorsement from an LWF member church.

Additional Study and Experience

Minimum three years working in an international setting within an LWF member church, university, seminary, or theological/ecumenical research center

Deep understanding of the cultural, historical, and sociological contexts that have shaped LWF member churches globally

Demonstrated ability to apply Lutheran theological and confessional traditions to contemporary challenges — including social, ethical, religious, and technological issues — with sensitivity to diverse contextual expressions

Experience in developing innovative learning resources and facilitating participatory learning events

Grants writing experience for theological initiatives with significant gender justice focus.

LWF Core Skills

Analytical thinking – Level expert

Achieving results – Level expert

Accountability – Level expert

Initiative – Level advanced

Working effectively with others – Level expert

Leadership – Level expert

Required Skills

Communication – Level advanced

Networking – Level advanced

Facilitation – Level expert

Innovation – Level advanced

Fund raising – Level advanced

Project management – Level advanced

Adaptability – Level advanced

Position Environment and Dimensions

Internally, as a member of the theology and leadership team, reporting to the Program Executive for Transformative Leadership, mainly interacts with staff in DTMJ programs and with Regional Secretaries in the Office of the General Secretary, with staff in communication and in World Service programs.

Externally, engages and collaborates with member churches, donors, ecumenical partners, theological research institutions, and universities, as well as any other LWF stakeholders that may be relevant.

Serves as a resource person on theological and leadership perspectives on Gender justice within the Communion Office, providing theological support to the General Secretary as needed. This includes coordinating and contributing to the LWF’s work on gender justice helping to identify emerging challenges and opportunities while fostering theological coherence across initiatives.

Main duties

Subject expertise and studies

Serves as the focal point for all work on gender justice in theology and leadership; monitors implementation of resolutions related to gender justice as highlighted in the 2023 Assembly.

Provides theological expertise for responsible theological reflection on gender justice and facilitates theological conversations within the Communion Office, World Service programs, and across the Communion.

Provides strategic leadership and accompaniment for the implementation and contextualization of the Gender Justice Policy in LWF member churches.

Monitors emerging theological developments and study processes that encourage member churches to analyze the participation of women and men in church life, particularly at decision-making levels and in access to theological education, and to address inequalities.

Develops resources, initiatives, mentoring processes, and training that strengthen women as lay and ordained leaders and promote just relations between women and men, inclusive leadership cultures and structures, and women's full and meaningful participation in member churches and the Communion.

Coordination

Facilitates and coordinates networks for women doing theology and the gender justice networks.

Supports member churches and theological institutions in incorporating gender perspectives into theology, worship, congregational life, organizational structures, strategies, and practices.

Facilitates knowledge sharing and collaborative processes with member churches, related organizations, and ecumenical partners working on gender justice in theology and leadership, in collaboration with the Senior Advocacy Officer for Gender Justice.

Supports the various objectives and facets of the Theology for Transformation program and Leadership for Thriving Churches Program in DTMJ and the Communion Office in a coherent manner.

Communication

Writes clear and accessible content for theological and non-theological audiences, tailored to diverse readership.

Maintains effective communication flow with all internal and external stakeholders across various audiences, particularly ecumenical organizations and global partners.

Collaborates with the LWF Office for Communication to develop content and promote news related to the portfolio.

Project management and fundraising

In consultation with the DTMJ director and other CO colleagues, plans, develops and implements programs contributing specifically to theological reflection, studies and development within the LWF communion.

In collaboration with the DTMJ Support Team contributes to developing possible new funding, as well as the monitoring and reporting on theological reflection and development programs.

Special duties

As may be assigned by the supervisor.

Major Challenges

Countering harmful theological interpretations
Address and counter misleading biblical readings used to justify women's subordination and exclusion from leadership, while promoting life-affirming scriptural interpretations that challenge exclusionary power structures.

Transforming structural and cultural barriers
Advocates for and facilitates intentional reforms to organizational culture, structures, policies, and budgets that prevent women's genuine engagement and influence in decision-making, while challenging deeply rooted traditions and gender stereotypes that confine women to domestic roles and devalue their leadership potential, engaging men as partners in transformation and addressing how churches often mirror rather than challenge unjust societal norms.