Plain Community Liaison – US and GL

Job Synopsis

This role serves as the primary liaison to large segments of Anabaptists in the U.S. that self-identify as Plain Anabaptists. These groups include the Old Order Amish, the Old Order Mennonites, the Beachy Amish, Hutterites, Bruderhof, Colony Mennonites, Church of God in Christ (Mennonite), and array of conservative expressions that grew out of the (Old) Mennonite Church in the latter 20th century. The receptivity to MCC engagement varies among these groups. In collaboration with MCC colleagues, this position develops, analyzes, implements, and evaluates engagement with Plain communities. This position sets broad goals for building relationships with key representatives in Plain communities and demonstrates MCC’s commitment to engaging the full range of Anabaptist churches and beyond.

This position will be shared equally between the MCC Great Lakes region and MCC US.

Job Details

Salaried Employee -Full Time at 1 FTE

Qualifications

All MCC workers are expected to exhibit a commitment to: a personal Christian faith and discipleship; active participation in a Christian church or Christian community; and nonviolent peacemaking. MCC is an equal opportunity employer, committed to employment equity. MCC values diversity and invites all qualified candidates to apply.

Employment eligibility: Legal eligibility to be employed in the U.S. is required. MCC offers of employment are subject to a successful criminal background check(s).

Essential: 

• Three to five years of experience in social work, education, ministry, theology, or a related field.

• Has understanding, and the desire to continue learning, of Plain culture and distinctives between different plain groups.

• Experience in networking and relationship building.

• Strong budgeting/planning skills.

• Strong public speaking skills.

• Capacity to develop skills in MS Office, database systems, internet, and email.

• Initiative to develop and carry out plans with minimal direction.

• Interpersonal and intercultural skills to interact with both the progressive culture of some Anabaptists and more traditional culture of Plain Anabaptists.

Preferred:

• Bachelor's degree or coursework in social work, theology, education or related field or equivalent experience.

• Post-graduate degree (Masters).

• Pastoral or ministry experience.

• Knowledge of all MCC constituency generally, and Plain groups particularly.

• International experience.

Anti-oppression commitment: MCC expects all staff to actively participate in an organizational culture that focuses on dismantling any barriers based on race, economic inequality, or gender-based oppression. This includes an expectation to assess and address any barriers within themselves, within their team(s), and within MCC; supervisors are expected to take leadership in assessing and addressing these barriers.

Safeguarding commitment: All MCC Staff are expected to work collaboratively to create and maintain an organizational culture that prevents and responds to situations of abuse of power (sexual harassment, child abuse, racism, exploitation, and fraud among other situations). All MCC managers are expected to work collaboratively to create and maintain an organizational culture that prevents and responds to situations of abuse of power (sexual harassment, child abuse, racism, exploitation, and fraud among other situations). Managers at all levels have responsibilities to support, promote, and develop systems that maintain this environment.

This job description is designed to be a thorough list of the employee’s responsibilities. It may not be an exhaustive list of duties, particularly for short-term duties that may arise. This Job Description will be reviewed and updated at least annually to ensure recurring and routine duties are included in this job description.

Key Responsibilities

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Primary responsibilities for this role regarding MCC’s work in Plain communities include:

• Develop new opportunities for Plain communities to engage MCC ministries
• Increase Plain participation in existing MCC activities
• Build awareness of Plain Anabaptists within MCC systems
• Represent MCC to External Groups with Plain interests
• Assist in developing and maintaining MCC board membership from Plain groups
• Attend to existing connections with Plain groups within MCC Great Lakes
• Provide US level vision, support and assistance to Plain communities engagement efforts in the four US regions

Specific Tasks:

1. Develop new opportunities for Plain communities to engage MCC ministries

• Identify and develop new ways the interests of Plain communities and MCC can intersect, particularly through service opportunities.

• Share MCC resources with Plain communities.

2. Increase Plain participation in existing MCC activities

• Develop and submit MCC materials for Plain publications.

• Build relationships with church leaders and key Plain community representatives.

• Collaborate with Communications and Donor Relations (CDR) to identify effective ways to engage Plain donors to encourage increased donations.

• Analyze and interpret trends and opportunities within Plain groups to develop a vision that integrates MCC more effectively in Plain communities.

• Maintain connections with Plain community organizations that may impact MCC, such as the Conservative Anabaptist Service Program (CASP).

• Support and encourage plain community participation in MCC Material Resource programs such as packing kits, tying comforters, and meat canning.

• Recruit and develop volunteer ambassadors to amplify MCC’s reach in plain communities.

• Function as editor of the MCC Memo for Plain Communities, a semi-annual newsletter written and edited by MCC staff who work with Plain communities.

• Lead MCC’s participation in the Plain Community Ag Exchange which seeks to enhance global food security through improved animal traction practices and intercultural exchange.

• The Plain Liaison will organize the participation of an international guest couple connected with MCC International Program.

• Lead MCC’s participation in Horse Progress Days. An event that provides education and resources for small scale sustainable agriculture and demonstrates horse-drawn equipment.

3. Build awareness of Plain Anabaptists within MCC systems

• Analyze and interpret concerns of Plain constituent groups for MCC boards and staff.

• Provide MCC visitors with orientation to Plain groups and their engagement with MCC.

• Provide MCC regional staff with information about Plain populations in their regions.

• Serve as a primary advisor for MCC staff interacting with Plain communities in any capacity.

• Maintain regular contact with MCC U.S. staff working in constituent relations, including the MCC U.S. Executive Director.

4. Represent MCC to External Groups with Plain Interests

• Represent MCC U.S. to the National Committee for Amish Religious Freedom.

• Maintain contact with the Old Order Amish and Old Order Mennonite Steering Committees.

• Provide MCC-based input about Plain communities for schools, universities, retirement communities and churches across the U.S., as requested.

• Support MCC efforts to engage the Selective Service and represent Plain interests as appropriate.

5. Assist in developing and maintaining MCC board membership from Plain groups

• Assist national and regional MCC boards and staff in identifying potential Plain board members.

• Represent MCC U.S. at national conferences as appropriate.

• Interpret MCC U.S.’s mission and activities to the national leadership of Plain groups.

6. Attend to existing connections with Plain groups within MCC Great Lakes

• Support meat canning.

• Serve as the primary MCC staff person to connect to Plain donors in MCC GL. Support comforter-making and kit-packing events.

• Build relationships with Plain communities where MCC has had minimal interaction

• Lead service trips to Appalachia, deepening Plain involvement in MCC Appalachia Build.

7. Provide US level vision, support and assistance to plain communities engagement efforts in the US and US regions (East Coast, Great Lakes, Central States, and West Coast).

• In collaboration with other stakeholders, maintain and disseminate a vision for MCC’s plain communities' engagement.

• Plan and lead the quarterly plain communities engagement reference group meetings.

• Field questions from staff on plain communities engagement

• Support regional efforts to engage plain communities with staff and ambassadors.

Other responsibilities:

• Attend MCC internal meetings as requested.

• Other duties as assigned on a temporary basis.

Start Date

11 Jan, 2027 - The start date is flexible dependent on candidate's availability.

Salary Details

Base salary: $60,751.37 - Starting salary may be adjusted up to $67,501.53 based on previous experience.

Benefits

Medical, dental and vision, 23 days paid vacation, sick time and 10 holidays/year. Life insurance provided, as well as long and short term disability coverage. The retirement plan, with MCC contribution of 7%, begins after six months of employment.

Additional Information

Supervision: This role is supervised by the MCC US Constituency Engagement Manager. This role also reports to the MCC Great Lakes Executive Director.

Travel expectations: Travel up to 35% primarily within the Great Lakes Region and sometimes across the U.S.

Physical Activity/Demands: This position will occasionally have the need for: remaining in a stationary position, often standing or sitting for prolonged periods of time; moving about to accomplish tasks or move from one worksite to another; light work that includes moving objects up to 50 pounds; repeating motions that may include the wrists, hands and/or fingers; operating motor vehicles or heavy equipment. This position will also constantly have the need for assessing the accuracy, neatness, and thoroughness of work assigned.

This position is not regularly exposed to adverse environmental conditions.

Location Description

The position is based in Goshen, IN or Kidron, OH.