Interim Pastor - Bratislava International Church

Description

Agreement term: Part Time, One year
Anticipated Start Date(s) Include: October 1, 2026
Agreement Type: Long-term

Site Information

Bratislava is a city of approximately 600,000 people and serves as the capital of Slovakia. The church is centrally located and has an average worship attendance of 50–70 people weekly. Bratislava International Church (BIC) is an English-speaking, ecumenical Lutheran congregation of approximately 80 participants, with average weekly worship attendance of 50–70, located in the center of Slovakia’s capital city of Bratislava. The congregation is composed primarily of foreign nationals from a wide range of countries, cultures, and Christian traditions, along with some Slovak participants, creating a diverse and globally connected worshiping community.

Timeline

Applications Open: July 2026
Interviews (online): August 2026
Onboarding Process: August 2026 - September 2026 (Process begins once ELCA contract is signed)
ELCA Orientation (virtually): October 2026
Deploy to Slovakia: Late October 2026

Assignment Includes

• Serve as interim pastor of Bratislava International Church and provide pastoral care to members.
• Plan, prepare, and lead weekly worship.
• Lead special services (e.g., holidays) and occasional congregational activities such as Bible study.
• Support the congregation during the interim period by maintaining stability, strengthening lay leadership, and helping prepare for future pastoral leadership including congregational assessment and self-study, with special attention to congregational trends.
• Offer pastoral care to ELCA Central Europe Teachers (CET) volunteers, as needed.
• Provide oversight of essential administrative and organizational functions in collaboration with congregational leadership (including finances, facilities, and required reporting).
• Build and sustain working relationships with the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Slovakia (ECAV), including the General Bishop’s Office and local congregations, and collaborate in ministry with the neighboring Staré Mesto congregation.
• Interpret the mission and ministry of BIC and its companions to the ELCA through periodic communication (e.g., newsletters, blogs, donor engagement).

Requirements

• M.Div., required.
• On the ELCA Roster of Ministers of Word and Sacrament, required.
• Cross-cultural sensitivity and personal resiliency.
• Experience and/or training with pastoral interim ministry preferred.
• Group leadership skills, including mentoring young adults in spiritual life.
• Strong writing and communication skills.
• Strong organizational and personnel management skills; experience with financial management and project planning.
• Ability to work collaboratively with ELCA staff, local church leadership and nongovernmental organizations.
• Computer skills, including MS Word, PowerPoint and e-mail.
• English language, required. Willingness to learn Slovak or German helpful.
• Christian faith and a commitment to the mission of the church.
• Openness to various expressions of Christian faith and respect for people of other faiths.
• Respect for beliefs, values and customs of church and culture where assigned.
• Well-developed inter-personal skills demonstrating understanding and compassion.
• Demonstrate ability to carry out the responsibilities and the ability to adapt to different standards and practices.
• Ability to work within the framework of a local administration.
• Adaptable and flexible - sense of humor - good physical and emotional health.
• Live and serve in a way which reflects the vision and expectations of the ELCA.

Terms And Conditions

This position is a one year interim contract.
This position is supported under the terms of ELCA Service and Justice Expectations and Support for Long-Term Mission Personnel. Those provisions include international transportation, transportation related to work assignment, pensions and major medical coverage, assistance with schooling for children through high school, housing and cash salary which is adjusted according to the goods and services differential for Slovakia.
Salary is based on years of work experience.
If candidate is married, both must complete an application for this position for discernment of the appropriate pattern of service of the spouse. In the context of global mission service, the accompanying spouse is seen as a representative of the ELCA and of the receiving church regardless of their actual role. It is important for the ELCA that both members of a couple understand the role of a missionary and are comfortable with that reality.

Benefits

The ELCA offers a competitive benefits package for eligible employees, including employer paid health premiums for employees and dependent, life insurance, and a substantial employer contribution to 403b retirement plan (no match required). We also offer additional benefits upon deployment to the country of service.

Physical Effort

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone. This position requires sitting for long periods of time. Employee will occasionally need to lift boxes or materials up to 15 pounds.