Presbyterian Promise has attempted to live out its complementary goals of being both prophetic and pastoral. In our call to be prophetic, we attempt to challenge unjust discrimination in society and the church based on sexual orientation. In our attempt to nurture pastoral presence, we envision reconciliation in God's love among the members of our church families as well as among friends and colleagues who have experienced alienation caused by discriminatory and hurtful societal and church policies based on sexual orientation. 

While our commitment to speak prophetically and effectively in our churches and in the life of the presbytery continues, Presbyterian Promise has made a new commitment to a bold experiment in reconciliation and pastoral nurture – the Reconciling Dialogue Project. We are currently seeking applications from creative, well-organized, and spiritually mature persons who may feel called upon in their Christian life to coordinate this Project.

Position Title: Coordinator, Presbyterian Promise Reconciling Dialogue Project

Duration: Approximately 12 months.  Employment will begin July, 2005 and will run until June 30, 2006 with the expectation that the position will be continued and possibly expanded at that point. 

Hours: An average of 10 hours per week; schedule can vary. Two paid weeks of vacation.

Education: M. Div. or theological education preferred. Other educational and equivalent experience may be substituted.

Reports to: the Presbyterian Promise Board. One or more board members will be designated to provide guidance, support, assistance, and supervision.

Application Deadline: June 10, 2005

Specific goals and outcomes include the following:

1. The Coordinator will work collaboratively with Presbytery of Southern New England minister and lay leaders to initiate, foster, and nurture congregational mechanisms of reconciliation. Specifically this will involve development and implementation of at least two model programs in PSNE that feature conversations enabling the sharing of individual stories deeply, and developing a maturity of ac-ceptance of differences.  Preferably one of these models will involve a structured dialogue between two congregations with different theological perspectives, and one will be intra-congregational.
2. Development and implementation of a pastors’ workshop.  Specific content will be developed in consultation with pastors and the Presbyterian Promise board, but areas of focus are likely to include (a) pastoral issues relating to LGBT persons and their families, (b) how to increase sensitive listening to LGBT persons and their families, (c) developing ways to manage congregational disagreement about LGBT issues while serving all congregants fairly and sensitively, etc., and how to proclaim God’s justice and inclusive love.
3. A higher profile for Presbyterian Promise through new and more extensive material relating to Pres-byterian Promise’s work, especially the activities related to this project.
4. Careful documentation of the process that can be used for evaluation and replication in other places.

1. Build sustained interest: The coordinator will seek to build an interest and commitment to ongoing activity related to LGBT concerns among the constituents of the Presbytery of Southern New England.
2. Information and Resource Gathering: The Coordinator will take the lead in gathering resources and in-formation about models of dialogue that have helped congregations speak internally and with other congrega-tions about divisive issues related to LGBT folk, their places in church and the society.  Resources and sources of information will include written materials, discussions with TAMFS and MLP regional leaders, and local/regional resources.
3. Preparing Informational Materials: The Coordinator will take the lead in preparing informational mate-rial about the project’s aims and activities.  The coordinator will use this material as well as personal contact to invite participation by congregations, pastors, and lay leaders.   Activities will include preparing special dis-plays and exhibits at one or more presbytery meeting relating to (1) the project, and (2) to issues of reconcilia-tion in a broad, reformed theological tradition.  In addition, the coordinator will mount at least one exhibit at a presbytery meeting on LGBT issues and opportunities for ministry relating to LGBT concerns. 
4. Focused Board Development:  The coordinator will help prepare Presbyterian Promise Board members and other interested folk find ways to initiate dialogue groups in their own or other congregations. 
5. Stimulating Interest in the conversations: The coordinator will take lead in contacting and having con-versations with pastors and interested lay leaders to interpret the project, build interest, and invite participa-tion. 
6. Seeks Opportunities to cooperate with Presbytery/Denominational initiatives:  The coordinator will work with Presbyterian Promise Board members to seek opportunities to interpret this project as comple-mentary to the work of the Peace, Unity, and Purity Task Forces of the Presbytery and General Assembly, as well as other programs and activities of the presbytery.
7. Develop a substantive and attractive Pastoral workshop: The coordinator will develop a pastor’s workshop to be held probably in winter or spring, 2006 designed to address ways that pastors and lay leaders can grow into sensitive, effective, and pro-active in pastoral caregivers vis a vis LGBT folk and their families. 
8. Dialogue Development and Facilitation: The Coordinator will lead in developing the actual “reconcil-ing dialogues,” which should reflect the particular characteristics of the congregations, the issues identified re-lating to LGBT persons, theological issues, denominational issues, and possibilities for action and ministry.  Further, the coordinator will play a facilitator role, or other supportive role, depending on the needs of that particular dialogue.
9. Documentation: Coordinator will prepare ongoing documentation of the project’s process, implementa-tion, and results, in formats and at intervals agreed upon by the Coordinator and Board. 
10. Fund Raising Support: The coordinator will be fully aware of the Presbyterian Promise Board’s fund raising strategy throughout the project period, and will assist in ways that are appropriate.

1. A spiritually mature individual committed to the full inclusion and involvement of lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, and transgender persons in the Presbyterian Church USA,
2. Good communication skills with ability to articulate the goals of the project,
3. Ability to develop attractive and informative displays for Presbytery and other public meetings
4. Creative and flexible in developing operational dialogic models,
5. Good research and synthesizing skills to enable the collection, and assembly, and development of appropriate resources, 
6. Ability to work well with pastors and laity of differing theological perspectives and to articulate the deep commitment to the dignity of all God’s children that bind them together in Christian faith, 
7. A knowledge of the Presbytery of Southern New England and its churches and personnel, or an abil-ity to learn the necessary knowledge quickly and effectively, 
8. Ability to work independently, using sound judgment, closely allied with the commitment to work collaboratively with the Presbyterian Promise board, 
9. A commitment to careful documentation and reflection on the project,
10. A commitment to finding ways to let lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender voices be heard in all as-pects of the Project,
11. Good computer skills, including ability to use e-mail as an effective organizing tool.
12. Good home office discipline.
13. Ability to travel in Connecticut and Rhode Island.

Application Deadline: June 10, 2005