Campus Pastor & Director of Faith Formation

About the Role

The Campus Pastor & Director of Faith Formation provides leadership for the spiritual life of Oak Grove Lutheran School. Working collaboratively with the President, principals, faculty, staff, families, and congregational partners, this leader helps cultivate a Christ-centered community in which faith formation occurs throughout every aspect of school life. This position reports directly to the President through a synodical call from the Eastern North Dakota Synod.

Oak Grove Lutheran School believes that faith formation takes place throughout the life of the school. Worship, Christian Studies, pastoral care, service, athletics, the arts, classrooms, relationships, and the daily rhythms of school life all contribute to forming young people as disciples of Jesus Christ. Because faith formation is a shared ministry, faculty, staff, coaches, administrators, families, congregations, and students each play a role. This role provides the vision, leadership, encouragement, and theological grounding that help the community faithfully live out this calling.

Responsibilities

• Lead Faith Formation & Worship
  • Provide leadership for the planning, coordination, execution, and evaluation of worship across both campuses.
  • Lead worship regularly while equipping faculty, students, staff, and guest leaders to participate. Four thirty-minute chapels are held each week during the school year:
    • Middle School Chapel
    • High School Chapel
    • Combined Middle & High School Chapel
    • Elementary School Chapel
  • Develop annual worship themes and spiritual emphases.
  • Develop and implement a comprehensive PK–12 faith formation strategy.
  • Equip faculty and staff to integrate faith throughout teaching, learning, and student life.
  • Develop discipleship opportunities, retreats, Bible studies, and student worship leadership.
  • Serve as a member of the Leadership Team.
• Provide Pastoral Leadership
  • Offer pastoral care to students, faculty, staff, and families as appropriate. Make referrals to area services as needed.
  • Help lead commencement and other significant events.
  • Be present during times of celebration, crisis, grief, and transition.
  • Develop a ministry of presence on campus and through school events.
  • Partner with families and congregations in nurturing students' faith.
• Strengthen the Christian Studies Program
  • Provide leadership, coordination, and continuous improvement for the North Campus Christian Studies program.
  • Work in partnership with the North Campus Principal and Christian Studies faculty.
  • Support, coach, and develop Christian Studies faculty.
  • Develop age-appropriate aspects of Christian studies on the south campus.
  • Lead curriculum review and evaluate instructional resources.
  • Encourage meaningful integration of faith and learning across disciplines.
• Cultivate Christian Service & Community Partnerships
  • Lead Oak Grove's service-learning vision and initiatives.
  • Develop partnerships with congregations, ministries, and community organizations.
  • Represent Oak Grove within the ELCA and the broader Christian community.
  • Promote collaboration between the school and congregations.
  • Foster a culture of service, compassion, generosity, and Christian vocation.
• Stewardship of Lutheran Identity
  • Champion and articulate Oak Grove's Lutheran identity.
  • Serve as a theological resource for faculty, staff, and leadership.
  • Support the orientation and ongoing formation of faculty and staff in Oak Grove's Lutheran mission.
  • Cultivate relationships with ELCA congregations and ministry partners as needed in coordination with other Oak Grove staff.

What Success Looks Like

• Inspire a vibrant worship life across both campuses.
• Cultivate meaningful relationships with students, faculty, staff, and families.
• Equip faculty, staff, and coaches to see themselves as partners in faith formation.
• Strengthen the Christian Studies program through collaborative leadership.
• Deepen Oak Grove's Lutheran identity while remaining welcoming to students and families from all traditions.
• Expand opportunities for Christian service, leadership, and discipleship.
• Contribute as a trusted member of Oak Grove's Leadership Team.

Qualifications

Required

• Ordained Minister of Word and Sacrament or Minister of Word and Service in the ELCA, or eligible to receive a call within the ELCA.
• Demonstrated commitment to Lutheran theology and Christian education.
• Leadership experience in education, congregational ministry, or a related setting.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and organizational skills.

Preferred

• Master of Divinity or equivalent theological degree.
• Experience in Lutheran PK–12 education.
• Experience in curriculum leadership or instructional coaching.
• Experience supervising and developing staff.