GRACE has an incredible story—and is a unique niche organization. Only the courageous would take on something so uncomfortable, messy and painful--truly being the hands and feet of Jesus to those they serve. The world has changed. As society begins to grapple with the prevalence of abuse, the Church is awakening to a truth that can no longer be ignored.

CHALLENGES

GRACE is both proactively preventing fires through Safeguarding and managing fires through Investigations & Assessments. Due to dire situations and a stream-lined staff & Board, there can be an eminent sense of urgency to what GRACE does.  Where there is a tremendous urgency to the work, it will also take time to know it & to know the culture of a Board and staff that has been working together on the frontlines for many years. Bonding takes place through trial, and this group of extraordinary people have experienced many trials. 

Despite the support and welcoming anticipated for the new Executive Director, that individual will not be Boz Tchividjian. He is the courageous Founder whose name is synonymous with that of GRACE. He is recognized by his family name, his great influence throughout media and most notably, simply because he is Boz. Where it is always challenging to lead an organization immediately after the founder, it can also be challenging to be next in line after a leader who has forged such deep and respected credibility and relationships across so many people groups. 

GRACE grew in such a grass roots way, which can lend itself to infrastructure concerns.  With little time to evaluate within, the efforts have been focused on the work outside, The Board and staff need to enhance its organizational development in regards to  its policies, procedures, processes, and training.

Due to the complex & varied nature of the work GRACE does, financial systems and processes have been challenging to establish. This has been seen as a direct result of grassroots growth, and lacking the time required to design a budget that is easy for all parties to utilize and sustain. Staff pay is also an important issue as well the sustainable funding model that is needed to cultivate and promote growth. 

OPPORTUNITIES

There are many strengths on which to build. First, the faith-filled bold risks in which they have invested have seen a bounty of fruit. GRACE is known by the victims they serve as a trusted voice to a true message, a resource—a safe place—that comes alongside them to stand with and advocate for them. Heaps of grit and loving tenacity is felt. In his role as Founder/Executive Director of GRACE, Boz has done a remarkable job in spreading relational seeds that has flourished into  profound relationships, partnerships and  has the utmost credibility.  Over the last 16 years, GRACE has garnered influence by being the go-to amongst the media and are looked at as the resident expert on the topic of sexual abuse within the church and nonprofit organizations. A collection of 23,000 Facebook followers is evidence to this. This is a great place for creative thinking in relation to growing the individual donor and corporate funding the future. 

Both the staff and Board of GRACE are an incredibly devoted, exceptionally high-caliber team of experts in their respective fields of experience who are passionately called to what they do. The people are the strength, wherein resides a high level of mutual respect & spirit. They have demonstrated GRACE's values as the underlining commonality, embodying, embracing and edifying the first two values very clearly:

1. 1.Jesus repeatedly spoke up on behalf of the weak, marginalized, and wounded.
2. 2.Reflecting Jesus means we listen to the wounded, affirm the broken, and defend the vulnerable-regardless of the cost. (cf. Matthew 25:40, 45)

Although much of the Board has been present since the origination of GRACE, the staff has recently been established within the last three years. They are hard-working self-starters that have a "small-family" dynamic yet are ready for renewed care, connection and cultivation. 

Prevention is an area within GRACE that has great potential for scale and growth. Within the Safeguarding Initiative, there is a desire to connect with a wider variety of denominations and organizations to allow for an even greater expansion and reach, specifically focusing on the addition of an online training platform. GRACE is also uniquely equipped to expand Curriculum Development that educates and equips future church leaders on abuse-related issues before-the-job, not on-the-job.  Investigations and Assessements are unique services of GRACE, in that very few organizations do such work and have built a solid reputation for it.  This area of service provides GRACE significant financial stability.

THE NEXT SEASON OF LEADERSHIP

The Founder, Staff and Board sense that the ideal candidate should possess:

• Demonstrated knowledge, appreciation and understanding of abuse;
• A desire and willingness to focus, protect and defend the victim instead of focusing on reputational issues of the institution
• A desire for a deep relational investment, caring for one another while laboring in a very challenging field.

The role requires someone who is quick on their feet; who can keep up with a swift, and sometimes urgent, pace. With the past being focused largely on the work 'out there' this person will initially be focused on the infrastructural work within GRACE. This role will balance visionary, strategic and operational lanes. A successful history of multi-faceted fundraising/donor cultivation would be a plus. He/She must love people, all people, and be able to delicately but courageously, communicate across varied people groups. 

The next Executive Director must be team-driven and collaborative, but boldly and concisely able to make decisions, being both competent and confident; but willing to learn, offering an energizing and fresh perspective. S/he will be willing to sustain and withstand the tension that comes with a deeply challenging mission field, such as abuse. This leader requires the following at their core: 

• TRUSTWORTHY - The utmost and highest of integrity, morality, and ethics. Impeccable credibility that can manage power while keeping their ego in check. Secure and grounded in who they are, as a child of God.
• WINSOME - Humble but bold, courageous, and fearless in places of power, authority and wealth. Able to do uncomfortable things with great fortitude. Has a keen self-awareness, and yet can admit mistakes and be a learner. Doesn't take him/herself too seriously. Can offer a lightness (yet doesn't diminish) a heavy space. 
• EMOTIONALLY INTELLIGENT - Exudes a solid force, confident yet approachable in both written and spoken word who can easily toggle between audiences effortlessly; relationship and bridge builder. Inspiring vision caster. A wise discerner. 
• STRATEGIC THINKER - Ability to strengthen the core, collaborate, and strongly lead as a proactive visionary. Operationally strong administrator who can cultivate & encourage, while laying down clear pathways. Highly diplomatic but not a push over, autonomous leader with accountability in check; highly intelligent. 
• THE KEEPER/CARETAKER - Solid spiritually & theologically, empathetic. Can approach any conversation sensitively, but unafraid to be direct and to speak truth to power. Understand the heavy work that takes a toll on each person & be supportive. Recognize the hard work on the front lines. Encourage (and model) self-care. 

The next Executive Director will be someone who has a fire in their belly and love for the church.

Diane Langberg, GRACE Board Member