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

Location: delocalized position,,

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