Conference Coordinator (Contract position) - September 2027

Conference Coordinator (Contract position) — Covenant Conference 2027
The Covenant Network of Presbyterians seeks an experienced, detail-loving Conference Coordinator to help bring our 2027 National Conference to life. This is a part-time, independent-contract role — not an employee position — running from this fall through the conference and its wrap-up in October 2027.
The Covenant Network of Presbyterians is a national group of congregations and individuals working for the full inclusion of LGBTQIA+ people in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and for a church as generous and just as God's grace. In September 2027, several hundred Presbyterian leaders will gather at Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago for worship, learning, and fellowship, as we mark our thirtieth anniversary. You would be the person who makes the logistics of that gathering work beautifully. CNP is headquarted in Kansas City, Mo., but serves the entire country.

What you'll do

• Keep the whole project on track — timelines, task lists, deadlines, and the many people responsible for them
• Coordinate with our host venue on space, setup, catering, and audiovisual needs
• Negotiate and manage hotel room blocks and vendor contracts
• Run registration end to end, from platform setup through attendee questions and financial-assistance requests
• Handle speaker, preacher, and workshop-leader logistics — agreements, travel, lodging, and hospitality
• Support our sponsors, recruit and coordinate volunteers, and staff the planning committee
• Manage the on-site experience during the conference, and the close-out afterward

What we're looking for

• Professional event-planning experience with multi-day conferences (ideally 200+ participants)
• Real experience with hotel room blocks and vendor contracts, including the financial commitments they carry
• Outstanding organization, follow-through, and grace under a lot of moving parts
• Warm, professional communication with speakers, sponsors, and guests
• Comfort working independently and remotely, with registration platforms and collaborative tools
• Support for the Covenant Network's mission of the full inclusion of LGBTQIA+ people in the life and leadership of the church — a requirement of the role
• Familiarity with the PC(USA) or a similar denominational or nonprofit setting, and residence near Kansas City or Chicago, are pluses but not required

The details

• Independent contractor (1099); you mostly set your own hours within the work's deadlines
• Averages about 10–12 hours per week, increasing to near full-time in the weeks around the conference
• Remote, with required in-person participation in the conference in Chicago (September 21–23, 2027) and occasional travel
• Contract could begin as soon as September 1, 2026
• Compensation commensurate with experience

To apply

Please email a cover note, your résumé, and relevant references to the Rev. Brian D. Ellison at brian@covnetpres.org. Applications will be reviewed beginning immediately and the position will remain open until filled.
 
The Covenant Network of Presbyterians welcomes applicants of every race, ethnicity, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ability, and especially encourages those whose lives and work embody our commitment to an inclusive church.