Hunger Advocacy Fellow - Lutheran Advocacy, Minnesota

About the role

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is seeking a Hunger Advocacy Fellow to work in St. Paul, MN. The fellowship is a full-time contract position with benefits, starting September 8, 2026, and ending August 31, 2027.

Responsibilities

• Guide the development of a Lutheran state advocacy network by engaging with communities to empower disciples for hunger advocacy;
• Connect with congregational ministries (especially hunger ministries) to provide tools and support for moral deliberation and faith-based advocacy;
• Work with community members who have faced hunger and poverty to create platforms for their voices to be heard by elected officials, policymakers and the church;
• Create advocacy opportunities that help expand the network and connect youth and young adults to the church and its ministries;
• Research, write and edit action alerts, position papers, web updates, newsletter articles and other resources, such as video and social media to educate the advocacy network and lawmakers on hunger advocacy priorities;
• Creatively facilitate communication and story-sharing with Lutheran synods, agencies and institutions throughout the state;
• Participate in ecumenical and human service coalitions that advocate for public policy positions in harmony with issues identified by the ELCA and the State Policy Council;
• Advocate on issues with state lawmakers, legislative and administrative staff and other public policy leaders;
• Connect throughout the year with ELCA Witness in Society, Service and Justice Home Area, ELCA World Hunger, the sppo network and Hunger Advocacy Fellows in other parts of the country for collective faith formation, leadership development and community building;
• Build knowledge of ELCA social teaching relevant to hunger advocacy; the policy commitments of the ELCA; and the contributions of Christianity and the Lutheran church to public life.

Requirements

• Possess an open, engaging personality and preparedness for interacting with community members directly affected by hunger or poverty;
• Understand and respect the expertise of individuals who have lived experiences of hunger, and excitement for creating platforms for the voices of these community members to be heard by policymakers;
• Willingness to learn about the ELCA’s commitment to be a publicly engaged church, direct legislative engagement and coalition work, and to become familiar with ELCA mission and structure;
• Understanding of and commitment to the biblical and theological basis of this church and its commitment to public policy advocacy;
• Ability to model these values in relationships with colleagues, partners and the public;
• Strong interpersonal skills to work with synodical leadership, lay leaders and ministers in congregations, social ministry organizations, educational institutions and others;
• Good research and analysis skills;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to design and lead public forums;
• Knowledge of the social issues faced by communities they serve in, and the various points of view they elicit;
• Awareness of a sensitivity toward the diversity among residents of the state and ability to equip all types of audiences toward action on a common goal;
• Appreciation for the mission, vision, and values of the ELCA;
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and anti-racism.

Qualifications

• Minimum Technical Competency: Computer knowledge that enables you to operate a Windows Computer and follow basic troubleshooting instructions.
• Software skills to efficiently use computer programs and applications.
• Ability to leverage computer knowledge and software skills to understand new software, follow process, and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Experience using Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Teams, Outlook, etc.) preferred.

Benefits

• The ELCA offers a competitive benefits package for eligible employees, including employer paid health premiums for employees, health and dependent care FSA’s, a health savings account (HSA) with an employer contribution, life insurance, and a substantial employer contribution to 403b retirement plan (no match required).
• We also offer a generous paid time-off policy including 17 paid holidays.
• All benefits commence on your start date.

Contact

If you have questions about this job or your application, please complete this form to contact Human Resources.