Job Posting: Faculty Position in Spiritual Formation at LSTC
The Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC) welcomes applications and nominations for a tenure-eligible position with primary teaching responsibilities in the area of Spiritual Formation and complementary expertise in another critical area, such as Leadership/Congregational Development, New Testament, Black Studies, Latino/a/Hispanic Ministry, or Multicultural Competency. The person appointed to this position will be installed in the Cornelsen Chair of Spiritual Formation and will join a faculty committed to a lively engagement between the church and the life of the world.
LSTC is committed to produce culturally competent ministerial leaders for the public church. We affirm that diversity is necessary in all components of the school, including its theological curriculum and faculty. The successful candidate will therefore demonstrate cultural competency and bring ingenuity to the task of engaging traditional and contemporary expressions of Christian spirituality with a focus on the relationship between spiritualities and ministerial leadership for the public church.
In a theological seminary whose mission includes ministerial formation, responsibilities include (1) teaching courses in Christian spirituality that incorporate traditional Christian patterns of prayer and spiritual practices and deepen student and faculty awareness of spiritual resources attuned to Lutheran and ecumenical contexts and sensitive to the range of social environments to which students are called; (2) offering instruction and scholarship that examine the theological relationship between spiritualities and justice to support those called to ministries of social transformation; (3) mentoring and advising students in a predominately white institution committed to deepening student and faculty awareness regarding power dynamics related to race, ethnicity, nationality, and gender; and (4) encouraging and empowering all students to draw from the wisdom of their spiritual traditions and articulate the distinctiveness of those traditions. Other expectations of the position are stated in the Faculty Handbook.
Active involvement in the church is an essential criterion. Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and its ecumenical partners are encouraged to apply. LSTC seeks to foster gender, racial-ethnic, and international diversity within its faculty. Women and representatives of historically underrepresented groups are especially encouraged to apply. Candidates should hold a doctorate or its equivalent. Rank is open. ABD candidates will be considered. Spanish-speaking ability will be considered an asset.
Please send a letter of application, CV, three letters of recommendation, and a statement of up to 1,000 words describing how you are prepared to address the commitments and responsibilities described in paragraphs two and three above. All materials should be submitted electronically to Dr. Linda Thomas, chair of the search committee, atspiritual.formation.search@lstc.edu by November 18, 2016.
Profile of the Seminary
The Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago forms visionary leaders to bear witness to the good news of Jesus Christ. Its students come from all parts of the United States and from around the world to study in one of six graduate degree programs. LSTC is a seminary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. It seeks to build up the Body of Christ and work for a world of peace and justice that cares for the whole creation. LSTC is located in the beautiful Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago. Join our team of employees committed to serving through the ministry of our school.