Chief Operating Officer

The LCMS Mission

"In grateful response to God's grace and empowered by the Holy Spirit through Word and Sacraments, the mission of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is vigorously to make known the love of Christ by word and deed within our churches, communities, and world."

Department Profile

The LCMS Board of Directors (BOD) is vested with the general management and supervision of the Synods business and legal affairs, including the review and coordination of the policies and directives of the Synod authorized by its Constitution, Bylaws and resolutions and of the plans and policies of the Synods boards and commissions. It provides for the administration, financial and operational support, and accountability of the activities of corporate Synod and the oversight and coordination of the same for the broader Synod, as all together pursue the objectives of the Synod as stated in Const. Art. III: to conserve and promote the unity of the true faith, strengthening the witness of Synod members, providing for church worker training and care, for works of mercy, for Christian education, for resourcing of confessional unity, uniformity and variety in responsible practices and customs, ecclesiastical supervision, and protection of congregations and workers in the exercise of their duties and maintenance of their rights.

The Chief Operating Officer of the Synod is an officer of the Synod (Const. Art. XI A) and the boards executive, serving at the boards direction in successive three-year terms as appointed, performing directly or supervising the following functions (Bylaws 3.4.1, 3.4.1.3):

- Administration of the financial affairs of the Synod, excluding the synodwide corporate entities, the districts, the Concordia Plans, and Concordia Plan Services. This includes supervision of all financial-related areas, including accounts receivable, cash receipts, general and cost accounting, internal audit, budgeting, and corporate insurance. This includes responsibility for corporate Synod finance (including service as Treasurer) and executive performance of the boards oversight and limited supervision of finance for agencies of the Synod outside corporate Synod, such as the seminaries and universities, synodwide corporate entities, districts, etc.

- Administration of the responsibilities given to the Board of Directors in the Constitution, Bylaws, and resolutions of the Synod, now including non-theological, non-messaging aspects of communications and fundraising.

The Chief Operating Officer also works together closely with the Chief Mission Officer, who serves at the direction of the President of the Synod, in carrying out the programmatic, administrative, and financial functions of the national Synod (Bylaw 3.4.1.4) and serves as part of the Synod Administrative Team (Bylaws 3.5.1–3.5.1.1).

The Chief Operating Officer shall be selected with the consultation and concurrence of the President of Synod.

Reporting Relationships

- Reports to the convention as a Synod officer

- Reports to the BOD, typically through the Board Chair

- Serves as part of the Administrative Team (Bylaw 3.5.1), which is under the leadership and oversight of the President.

Position Summary

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) serves as the senior executive responsible for the oversight, coordination, and integration of the organizations operational, administrative, financial, and compliance functions. Acting on behalf of the Board of Directors and in coordination with the President, the COO ensures that all organizational activities are executed efficiently, effectively, accountably, and in alignment with the Synods mission, governing policies, and strategic priorities.

The COO provides leadership across areas of corporate services, financial management, human resources, legal compliance, and organizational infrastructure.

Essential Job Functions

- Executive Leadership & Governance

Serve as chief operating executive responsible for implementing Board decisions and organizational strategy for business, financial, legal, and administrative operations of the corporate Synod.

- Advise and support the Board of Directors and President on operational and financial matters.

- Prepare Board agendas, reports, and materials in coordination with leadership.

- Ensure compliance with governing documents (Constitution, Bylaws, policies, and civil law).

- Maintain communication between Board and executive leadership.

- Serves, unless the board designates otherwise, on the following corporate entity boards: Concordia Plan Services, Lutheran Church Extension Fund, LCMS Foundation, Concordia Publishing House, Concordia University System, and on the investment committee of the Concordia Plans and Concordia Plan Services.

- Serves on the following international Board(s)/Committee(s): China Evangelical Lutheran Church – Legal Corporation (CELC-LC).

- Serves on the Commission on Handbook.

- Direct supervision of ~4 executives and an administrator, indirect of 7–9 director/managers and 40–114 staff in an organization with headcount of 191 domestic, 103 international (and responsibilities with regard to universities, seminaries, entities, and agencies outside corporate Synod).

- Operational Oversight

Direct and coordinate, principally through executives and directors, day-to-day operations of the organization.

- Lead enterprise-wide operational planning aligned with strategic goals.

- Ensure collaboration across departments, entities, and mission units related to the business, financial, legal, and administrative operations of corporate Synod.

- Improve organizational efficiency, systems, and service delivery.

- Oversee facilities, event planning, procurement, and administrative services.

- Serve as convention manager and be responsible to the President of Synod as outlined in Bylaw 3.1.9.

- Financial Leadership & Stewardship

Oversee all financial functions including accounting, budgeting, treasury, audit, and financial reporting.

- Serve as Treasurer responsible for custody, disbursement, and reporting of funds.

- Lead budgeting process and monitor financial performance against plan.

- Provide financial forecasting, analysis, and strategic recommendations.

- Advise leadership on financial implications of programs, investments, and contracts.

- Ensure strong internal controls, audit processes, and regulatory compliance.

- Manage banking relationships, investments, and risk management programs.

- Compliance, Legal, and Risk Management

Serve as corporate compliance officer.

- Ensure adherence to legal, regulatory, and governance standards.

- Oversee corporate policies, contracts, and agreements.

- Liaise with legal counsel and manage legal matters and risks.

- Monitor and address compliance issues across the organization.

- Strategic Planning & Organizational Effectiveness

Lead long-range planning processes and execution of strategic initiatives.

- Align operational and financial plans with mission priorities.

- Evaluate organizational performance and implement continuous improvement.

- Foster innovation, efficiency, and cross-functional collaboration.

- Leadership & Talent Management

Provide executive oversight of key functional leaders (finance, HR, operations, etc.).

- Build and lead high-performing teams across administrative and financial functions.

- Support leadership development and succession planning.

- Promote organizational culture rooted in integrity, accountability, and collaboration.

- Synod Engagement

Represent the BOD in relation to, and strengthen the BODs relationship with, synodwide corporate entities, Concordia Plan Services, and Synods seminaries, universities, and districts as to their business, property, and legal aspects.

- Serve as the boards liaison to Synod boards, commissions, council, committees, agencies, partner organizations, and affiliates.

- Communicate clearly and effectively organizational performance, priorities, and impact, especially as relates to support of the Synods unrestricted support through the districts.

Church Membership

- Must, as an officer of the Synod, be a member of a member congregation of the Synod.

- Must be a layperson (not an ordained or commissioned minister).

Education and Experience

- Bachelors degree in business administration, finance, or related field, required.

- Minimum 10 years of executive leadership experience in operations, finance, or general management.

- Demonstrated experience leading complex organizations and working with boards.

- MBA, CPA, or other advanced/professional designation, preferred.

- Experience in nonprofit or faith-based organizations, preferred.

- Experience in governance-driven or multi-entity organizations, preferred.

Competencies (Knowledge, Skills and Abilities)

- Strategic thinking and execution

- Financial acumen and stewardship

- Operational excellence

- Governance and compliance expertise

- Leadership and team development

- Analytical and problem-solving skills

- Communication and relationship building

- Integrity and ethical leadership

- Ability to drive positive change while navigating ambiguity and complex authority structures

Supervisory Responsibility

- Direct oversight of finance, accounting, audit, HR, operations, and administrative functions, as well as non-theological, non-messaging aspects of communications and fundraising.

- Indirect leadership for business, financial, legal, and administrative operations of program areas.

Travel required (approximately 25–30%)