Spiritual Life Director

About the role

This role leads American Bible Society’s efforts to cultivate a Spirit-led, prayer-saturated, and discerning organizational culture rooted in Scripture and aligned with ABS’s mission. The Director implements and shepherds the organization’s Prayer & Discernment Strategy, equipping leaders, staff, and supporters to develop rhythms of prayer, Scripture engagement, and communal spiritual discernment. Working closely with senior leadership, the Director embeds prayer and listening to the Holy Spirit into decision-making, organizational culture, and ministry priorities, helping ABS become known for bold intercession, spiritual unity across Christian traditions, and attentiveness to God’s guidance in mission.

Office location

Hybrid in Philadelphia, PA — in-person at ABS headquarters at least two days per week (Tuesdays and Wednesdays). This role requires significant HQ presence and is not eligible for remote work arrangements.

Minimum spiritual and personal commitment

• Demonstrate a personal commitment to Jesus Christ, active participation in a Christian church, and ongoing growth in Christian faith.
• Participate in organizational prayer, devotional times, and organization-wide events; maintain an exemplary standard of Christian ethics and conduct consistent with ABS’ Standards of Conduct and Affirmation of Biblical Community.
• Demonstrate Christian maturity in all interactions, exercising good judgment based on biblical values and principles.
• Actively incorporate faith in daily work and support organizational biblical and religious goals without reservation.
• Exhibit a personal passion for and belief in the Word of God, its transformative power, and the mission of American Bible Society.
• Align with ABS vision, mission, and values.

Key responsibilities

Prayer Strategy Leadership

• Implement and develop the ABS Prayer & Discernment Strategy across the organization, ensuring alignment with mission and strategic priorities.
• Integrate prayer and Scripture engagement into leadership practices, team rhythms, and organizational decision-making.
• Cultivate ABS as a Spirit-led, prayer-saturated, discerning community grounded in Scripture and guided by the Holy Spirit.

Spiritual Life & Organizational Culture

• Foster a workplace culture of spiritual vitality rooted in biblical prayer, unity in Christ, and shared discernment across Christian traditions.
• Equip staff in personal and communal spiritual disciplines such as Scripture meditation, silence, intercession, Examen, and Scripture-guided prayer.
• Create and distribute resources and training that help staff integrate faith, prayer, and mission into everyday work life.

Leadership Prayer & Discernment Practices

• Partner with the President/CEO, Chiefs, and departmental leaders to embed Scripture and prayer into executive planning, leadership meetings, and decision-making processes.
• Design and facilitate leadership retreats and discernment sessions emphasizing “Scripture before strategy,” spiritual reflection, and shared listening prayer.
• Model and coach leaders in prayerful discernment as a foundation for organizational clarity and alignment.

Organizational Prayer Rhythms

• Establish and sustain corporate prayer practices that unify and strengthen the ABS community, including:
  • Weekly staff prayer gatherings
  • Scripture-centered prayer experiences
  • Leadership prayer rhythms
  • Prayer initiatives connected to ABS strategic priorities
• Develop digital and print tools (e.g., prayer walls, journals, and guided prompts) to encourage organization-wide participation in prayer.

Communal Discernment Frameworks

• Equip teams with biblical and time-tested approaches to communal discernment, including Scripture reflection, spiritual listening, and Spirit-led consensus.
• Facilitate organization-specific discernment frameworks that guide major decisions and periods of transition.
• Encourage shared attentiveness to the Spirit’s leading across all levels of the organization.

Interconfessional Prayer Culture

• Foster a prayer culture that reflects ABS’s interconfessional identity, embracing contemplative, liturgical, charismatic, and evangelical expressions of Christian spirituality.
• Provide theological and practical guidance that enables staff to pray together across traditions with humility, reverence, and mutual respect.

Staff Spiritual Community

• Design and support staff spiritual community initiatives such as:
  • Prayer triads or small groups
  • Discipleship bands
  • Corporate prayer gatherings
  • Public Reading of Scripture meetings
  • Retreats and spiritual formation events
• Encourage relationships of accountability, mutual encouragement, and shared growth among staff.
• Serve as a pastoral presence offering spiritual care, listening, and encouragement.

Supporter Prayer Engagement

• Partner with Marketing and Development teams to engage ABS supporters in prayer through:
  • Prayer partner networks
  • Digital prayer guides and devotionals
  • Virtual prayer gatherings
  • Prayer campaigns tied to ministry initiatives and milestones
• Inspire supporters to join in Scripture-rooted intercession for ABS’ mission and the global Church.
• Partner with Ministry Partnerships to support Philadelphia collaboration meetings and ministry partners and assist in repurposing and activating the former Faith and Liberty Discovery Center for ministry purposes.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree in Theology, Divinity, Spiritual Formation, or Ministry preferred.

Experience

• 7–10 years of ministry leadership or spiritual formation experience.
• Demonstrated experience leading prayer movements, spiritual formation initiatives, or discipleship programs in a church, nonprofit, or organizational context.
• Proven ability to design, implement, and sustain spiritual formation or prayer strategies at a systems/organizational level.

Spiritual and Theological Qualifications

• Mature Christian faith with a deep personal life of prayer and Scripture engagement.
• Clear commitment to the authority of Scripture and alignment with ABS’ mission and interconfessional identity.
• Ability to lead prayer and spiritual formation across diverse Christian traditions with sensitivity and theological discernment.
• Deep listening posture, emotional maturity, and discretion in handling sensitive spiritual and personal matters.
• Commitment to ongoing spiritual, theological, and professional development.

Technical Skills

• Strong facilitation skills for prayer, Scripture engagement, spiritual practices, and communal discernment in group settings.
• Demonstrated capacity to cultivate a spiritually healthy, biblically grounded organizational culture.
• Skilled communicator able to teach Scripture, guide prayer, and articulate spiritual formation principles to varied audiences.
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively with executive leadership and cross-functional teams, influencing without always having direct authority.
• Strategic thinker able to design, evaluate, and adapt spiritual formation and prayer initiatives that align with organizational strategy.

Physical demands / work environment

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Occasional walking and standing are often necessary in carrying out job duties.
• Ability to lift up to 20 pounds at a time (training materials, etc.).