CHICAGO, IL (November 3, 2014) — The Covenant Executive Board has announced the initiation of the search for a nominee to serve as executive minister for Love Mercy and Do Justice (LMDJ), one of three executive minister searches that will be undertaken prior to next year’s Covenant Annual Meeting.

A position overview may be found here. To nominate someone or to express your own personal interest, please email LMDJsearch@covchurch.org through December 5, 2014.

Additional comment to the nominating committee may also be directed to the same email address and may include your perspective to this question: “What is important to look for in this leader in this position at this time?”

The board hopes to identify a nominee in the first quarter of 2015. The nominee will then be presented to the Covenant Annual Meeting for election. The position begins September 1, 2015.

Love Mercy and Do Justice is one of the five mission priorities of the Covenant, also including Start and Strengthen Churches; Make and Deepen Disciples; Develop Leaders, and Serve Globally.

The opening comes with the upcoming retirement of Debbie Blue next summer following two terms of service as the founding executive minister for this priority.

“Debbie has been an exceptional leader as we have rooted this priority into the fabric of Covenant mission,” commented President Gary Walter. “Her remarkable wisdom, character, and fortitude have been used by God to lay a trusted and strong foundation for the season ahead.”

A subcommittee of the executive board will provide a recommended candidate to the full board for consideration. Subcommittee members are Michael Emerson (Houston, Texas), Mark Seversen (Kansas City, Kansas), David Danielson (Rochester, Minnesota), Juana Nesta (Brentwood, California), Stacey Heimkes (Gilbert, Arizona), Will Davidson (board chair, San Ramon, California), Alice Lee (Missouri City, Texas), Jeff Houston (McPherson, Kansas), and Sue Poston (committee chair, New Brighton, Minnesota) as well as Walter, Dick Lucco executive director of ministry development; and Rebecca Gonzalez, executive director of operations.