Elca Pastor Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Agreement term:

Three months

Anticipated start date(s) include:

June 2026

Agreement type:

Global Mission Volunteer

Description:

The International Church of Vilnius (ICV) is an independent congregation that operates in close relationship with the Lutheran Church in Vilnius.

ICV is a growing church with an active children's ministry. It has members from countries all over the world and welcomes visitors to services every week. It fills a unique role in offering in Vilnius an English-speaking, liturgical service. Parishioners regularly participate in activities outside of Sunday services and feel a strong sense of community in God's calling.

The congregation has welcomed ELCA pastors in the past and has expressed a strong desire to continue to cooperate with the ELCA and work together to provide English-language Lutheran ministry. The Lutheran Church in Lithuania recognizes that the International Church of Vilnius is an independent church, but because they use the space of the Lutheran Church building for both housing and for worship services, the bishop has expressed a vision that there would be Lutheran theological presence in the pulpit at ICV.

For the past few years, ICV has welcomed short-term volunteers, mostly retired ELCA pastors, for service of 3 or more months. There is a strong network of ELCA pastors who have a prayerful and practical interest in continuing this thriving ministry.

Site Information:

Vilnius Old Town is the cultural and historical hub of the city. The church sits on a fairly busy street with restaurants and shops around. Vilnius is also a walkable city. It is also becoming a much more international city as more people move here. This is a unique opportunity to live and share the Word of God in a small European capital city. The city of Vilnius, described as Europe's "hidden gem," is vibrant, safe, walkable, and full of kind people.

The congregation is comprised of locals, students, teachers, professors, ex-pats, diplomats, and those working in Lithuania from countries all over the world. Regular members and attendees come from a variety of Christian backgrounds. The congregation has a close relationship with the Lutheran Church in Lithuania; the Lutheran Church in Lithuania is member of the Lutheran World Federation, and is a more theologically conservative church and context.

Timeline

• Applications Open: May 2026
• Interviews (online): May 2026
• School Placements and ELCA Agreements: April 2026 – May 2026
• Deploy to Lithuania: June 2026
• Service Period: June 2026 - August 2026

Assignment Includes:

• Preach and lead services through a Word and Sacrament ministry to the community
• Work with the church Council to expand the ministry of the International Church of Vilnius
• Empower members to grow in their faith and help equip them for service
• Conduct Bible studies and meet individually with members for encouragement and counseling
• Seek to extend ministry to non-members and the refugee community
• Support members and their families during times of distress
• Prepare members for baptism, confirmation, marriage, funerals and weddings as requested
• In conjunction with the Church Council, oversee the direction of the church
• Prepare an annual and quarterly pastor’s report

Pastoral Leadership

• Preaching the Word and administering the Sacraments.
• Working with the Church Council to help strengthen the ministry of the International Church of Vilnius.
• Empower members to grow in their faith and help identifying spiritual gifts and opportunities to serve.

Ministry

• Lead and help plan weekly services by officiating the liturgy and preaching.
• Conduct regular Bible studies and meet individually with members to pastor, teach, and encourage
• Equip members for connect with the broader community
• Support members and their families during times of distress.
• Prepare members for baptism, confirmation, and marriage and conduct funerals and weddings for members as requested.

Leadership and Management

• In conjunction with the Church Council, oversee the direction of the church.
• Participate in council meetings and contribute to the annual report

Experience and Skills:

• Experience in pastoring an international congregation and in growing small churches would be an asset; we also request that the person be sensitive to the conservative context of the Lutheran Church in Lithuania.
• 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 the church and culture where assigned and commitment to accompany the local church partners.
• Well-developed interpersonal skills demonstrating understanding and compassion
• Demonstrates ability to carry out the responsibilities and adapt to different standards and practices
• Ability to work within the framework of a local administration
• Adaptable and flexible with a sense of humor

Terms and Conditions:

This position is a three month unpaid Global Mission Volunteer (GMV) service position from June 2026 to August 2026. The church provides a fully-furnished one room (bed-sit) flat, with separate kitchen and bathroom in a building owned by the Lutheran church and rented to elderly people. All utilities, internet, and cable TV are included free of charge.

Physical Effort

While performing the duties of this job, the volunteer 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. The volunteer will occasionally need to lift boxes or materials up to 15 pounds. Reasonable accommodations can be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.