Category: Announcements

Probationary (Tenure-Track) Appointment: 

Huron-Lawson Chair in Contextual Theology

Huron is completely unique to post-secondary institutions in Canada. With the aim to redefine Liberal Arts education, Huron is creating a university experience unlike any other that prioritizes ethical leadership and community engagement, as much as the pursuit of academic achievement.

As the founding institution of Western University, since 1863, Huron has remained strategically small to best serve the needs of its students.  We provide an elite, yet accessible, education, because every student with the passion and work ethic to positively change our world deserves to access the knowledge to understand it and the skills to shape it. Huron’s mission is to develop Leaders with Heart from all backgrounds and foster a vibrant and inclusive community and prepare students to be engaged citizens who transform the sectors they work within. Our commitment to providing the best-possible Liberal Arts education means students have many unique opportunities to enrich their learning experiences.

SUMMARY:

Building on 158 years of excellence in theological education, Huron’s Faculty of Theology is committed to providing students with the academic grounding and experiential learning they need to develop as resilient and successful Leaders with Heart, whether they go on to ordained ministry, public service, further study, or another field. The Faculty of Theology offers Bachelor of Arts courses and modules in Religion and Theology, as well as the Master of Divinity, the Master of Theological Studies, and the Master of Arts (Theology) degrees.

The Faculty of Theology at Huron invites applications for a full-time tenure-track appointment in Contextual Theology (open rank). The appointment will commence July 1, 2022, subject to final budgetary approval.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Candidates will hold a Ph.D. or Th.D. in Theology or related field, and will have excellent qualifications in teaching and research in Contextual Theology. Candidates with established profiles in any relevant area of research, including (but not limited to) Indigenous, Liberationist, Feminist, Black, Latinx, Postcolonial, Queer, or Environmental theologies, will be considered. Preference will be given to candidates whose research and teaching record demonstrates readiness to teach and supervise in our research M.A. (Theology) program, and whose teaching experience or capacity includes Contextual Theology courses at the M.Div. or M.T.S. level and Religious Studies courses at the B.A. level. The successful candidate will be expected to teach 2.5 full courses per year (with a 0.5 course release in each of their first two years of employment), maintain a research program, and participate in the administrative life of the Faculty and University. The successful candidate will also support and contribute collaboratively to the mission of the Faculty of Theology and will work well in an ecumenical and interfaith environment.

Interested candidates should forward (by email): a cover letter; an up-to-date c.v., including the names of three references; a summary of teaching philosophy and research interests (maximum four pages); and sample publications to:

Dr. Daniel A. Smith

Dean, Faculty of Theology

Huron University College

theology@huron.uwo.ca

The closing date for receipt of applications and supporting materials is January 28th, 2022 at 11:59pm.

Huron values its place in an interconnected world and desires to reflect this value, acknowledging our responsibility to strive towards a diverse and equitable employment and educational environment that recognizes the inherent worth and dignity of every person.  We encourage applications from all qualified individuals, especially those from racialized persons / persons of colour, women, Indigenous / Aboriginal People of North America, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ2S+ persons, and others who may contribute to the diversification of ideas.

Applications from all qualified individuals are invited; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given hiring priority. We thank all applicants for their interest; only those selected to proceed in the competition will be contacted. Should you require accommodation in making an application, please contact Human Resources at 519-438-7224, extension 703, or huronhr@huron.uwo.ca.

JOB POSTING

Executive Director, Toronto School of Theology

The Toronto School of Theology, affiliated with the University of Toronto, invites applications for the position of Executive Director. The appointment is for a five-year term (with possible renewal) commencing July 1, 2022.

The Toronto School of Theology (TST) was founded during 1969-70, in recognition of two potentials: the benefits of shared courses, teaching resources, and services; and trust in the promise of ecumenism. TST was then – and remains today – the largest ecumenical consortium for theological education in Canada, comprising seven member theological schools: Emmanuel College (United Church of Canada), Knox College (The Presbyterian Church in Canada), Regis College (Roman Catholic: Jesuit), St. Augustine’s Seminary (Roman Catholic: Diocesan), University of St. Michael’s College, Faculty of Theology (Roman Catholic: Basilian), University of Trinity College, Faculty of Divinity (Anglican Church of Canada), and Wycliffe College (Anglican: Evangelical). TST has continued to live out its commitment to ecumenism and cooperation in changing configurations for these 50 years.

The TST consortium offers a full range of professional and academic degrees. Degree programs operate at the post-baccalaureate level, and most degrees are conferred conjointly with the University of Toronto. Academic standards are consistent with those of the University of Toronto and are maintained through highly developed processes of quality assurance that are overseen by the University. All TST students are registered in a member college. Students in advanced degrees hold status both at their college of registration and in the Graduate Centre for Theological Studies, which oversees their admission and progress through their degree program under the direction of the Executive Director. TST does not confer degrees. TST is in the process of petitioning for affiliate membership in the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) in the United States and Canada, while each of the seven member schools of the consortium is a fully accredited member of ATS. For more information, please visit the TST website: www.tst.edu

Position Summary

Reporting to the TST Board of Trustees, the Executive Director is the Chief Executive and Administrative Officer of TST and a member of the graduate Faculty. Positioned at the heart of TST’s web of interdenominational, intergenerational and interinstitutional relationships, and in cooperation with the heads of the member schools, the Executive Director leads the TST community in the pursuit and development of its ecumenical mission, its dedication to cooperation in academic endeavour, its commitment to excellence in theological inquiry, education, and formation, and its engagement with the University of Toronto.

The Executive Director, in consultation with the Principals/Presidents/Deans of the seven Member Colleges, will:

• ensure TST fulfills its mission in an evolving context;
• maintain institutional integrity; and
• build broader institutional capacity.

The Executive Director will achieve these by:

• discerning and promoting a distinctive shared vision for TST, and working with others to achieve this vision;
• overseeing processes of strategic planning, graduate faculty appointments and quality assessment and ensuring compliance with relevant standards;
• building and maintaining a strong central administrative team; and
•  identifying strengths and potentials within the consortium and mobilizing them to the common good of the consortium.

Qualifications

• Academic qualifications commensurate with eligibility for graduate faculty membership at TST (a PhD or its equivalent in a theological or related discipline).
• Proven administrative and managerial skills and experience.
• Strong interpersonal skills including the ability to communicate, to listen, and to work with and through others.
• Familiarity with the TST consortium of seven theological schools, and with the University of Toronto’s system of federated and affiliated universities and colleges.
• Thorough knowledge of theological education in Canada and the United States acquired by academic administration and teaching in a theological college or related discipline.
• Excellent communication skills – oral and written.
• Commitment to the goals of ecumenism and diversity.
• Appreciation of the distinctive characteristics of theological consortia.

The Toronto School of Theology is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion throughout its community and in all of its employment practices.

Application Process

The search committee will begin considering potential candidates on February 3, 2022 and will continue until the role is successfully filled.

Applications are to include:

• cover letter detailing how experience satisfies the qualifications for the position;
• curriculum vitae; and
• three letters of reference with phone and email contact information (referees will not be contacted without the consent of the candidate).

Forward the above application materials, in confidence, as PDF documents to:

TST Executive Director Advisory Search Committee

tstdirectorsearch@tst.edu

Department of Religious Studies – Tenure-Track Appointment

The Department of Religious Studies at St. Francis Xavier University invites applications for a Tenure Track position at the rank of Assistant Professor to begin July 1, 2022.  Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. This position is subject to budgetary approval.

St. Francis Xavier University is a leading national undergraduate university with a reputation of academic excellence, scholarly inquiry, and service to society. Recognized as one of the finest universities in Canada, StFX is meeting the needs of today’s undergraduates through outstanding teaching, exceptional hands-on research experiences, the very best in a residential community, and unique opportunities to make a contribution to communities at home and abroad. As part of its mission of excellence in teaching, the university sees faculty involvement in research, reflective inquiry and creative work as essential. StFX is committed to providing strong support for the encouragement of these priorities. StFX University is situated in a vibrant east coast arts community of Antigonish, Nova Scotia, a community noted for the quality of its culture and recreational facilities, friendliness of its people, and the natural beauty of its coastal landscape.

Position responsibilities include teaching and supervision in the undergraduate program, conducting a program of research, and academic and professional service. The successful candidate will have an active program of research in one of the following areas:

• Christianity (e.g., New Testament, history, theology, diversity, society)
• East Asian religions (China, Japan, Korea)
• Indigenous religions

St. Francis Xavier University is committed to the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion. In accordance with this commitment, the Department seeks candidates who can contribute to and strengthen the diversity of our community, and will prioritize applications from one or more of the following underrepresented groups: women, Indigenous persons, members of visible minorities, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ2S+ individuals.

Applicants should have a PhD in Religious Studies and show evidence of effective teaching ability. A background in diaspora and colonialist/post-colonialist theory is an asset.

Electronic submission of curriculum vitae, letter of application, teaching and research summaries (including sample syllabi and a sample of scholarly research), and the names, email addresses and telephone numbers of three (3) references should be sent via email to:

Dr. Ken Penner

Chair, Department of Religious Studies kpenner@stfx.ca

Review of applications will begin January 1, 2022 and will continue until the position is filled.

“Only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents. StFX respects diversity and welcomes applications from visible minority group members, women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, and members of sexual minority groups”.

Greetings!

The Elliott Allen Institute for Theology and Ecology at the University of St. Michael’s College is hosting a two-day, on-line conference “Doing Theology Amid a Changing Climate” (November 11-12). This conference explores Christian theology’s contribution to the cultural, social, and spiritual transitions needed to address our current climate crisis. Whereas Christian churches and communities are courageously providing common witness on climate change, especially leading up to COP26, this conference asks what more is required at this crucial geo-historical moment. How may Christian theology and faith communities help bring about the transitions we need beyond COP26?

The conference is free of charge and open to the public. We are hoping that you will consider attending all or part of the events.

You will find an overview of the program and registration information at the following evite link. · https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/doing-theology-amid-a-changing-climate-crossing-divides-tickets-198299839157

Please direct questions or concerns to Dr. Hilda Koster hilda.koster@utoronto.ca or Rosemary Boissonneau rosemary.boissonneau@mail.utoronto.ca

With kindest regards,

Dr. Hilda P. Koster

Associate Professor of Ecological Theology/ CSJ Chair in Theology

Director of the Elliott Allen Institute of Theology and Ecology

University of St. Michael’s College

in the University of Toronto

81 St. Mary Street

Toronto, ON M5S 1J4

Canada

Check out the full call at Canadian Theological Society: Call For Papers 2022 (cts-stc.ca)

November 1, 2021

Dear friends and colleagues:

I bring you greetings this overcast Winnipeg morning as I share with you the work of the Canadian Theological Society.

After much deliberation, the Executive has decided that it will not participate in the annual meeting of the Congress for the Humanities and Social Sciences this year and will instead host an independent online conference.  This decision was inspired by our experience last year in which the cost of registration with Congress seemed out of step with the kinds of goods it afforded.  Further, our Program Chair was taxed with an inordinate amount of work to coordinate our conference with the CFHSS’s online platform. It seemed both more efficient and cost effective to try to host a conference on our own using the now-familiar Zoom platform.

This forum for our annual meeting will be much more reasonably priced for participants. We will charge a nominal fee ($12.50 for full-time members; $5.00 for students, retirees, and adjuncts) to cover such expenses as hiring a student during the annual meeting to oversee our social media communications. We hope that this affordable fee structure will make the conference more accessible to a wide variety of participants.

This year’s conference theme is “Remembering Trauma, Imagining Hope.” It was inspired by the recent discoveries of over 1300 unmarked graves at former Residential Schools. We hope that this conference will afford us the opportunity for critical dialogue about the churches’ responsibility in this and in other atrocities, to imagine a future beyond atrocity, and to think about the theological resources we have to sustain such hope.

The Equity, Dignity, and Justice Committee at the Canadian Theological Society continues to challenge our society to think through the multilayered nature of oppression and to seek to understand how our faith and practices continue to be corrupted by such forces. This year we look forward again to the Committee’s leadership in guiding our conversations toward such critical self-reflection.

The Executive also has as one of its goals this year to coordinate previous records of the Canadian Theological Society. If you have any old minutes or documents related to CTS, please forward them to me (j.barter@uwinnipeg.ca) or our Society’s secretary, Nick Oklovich (nolkovich@stmarkscollege.ca).

We also hope to offer you a time of reprieve from the difficult work of scholarship and the anxiety-inducing effects of this pandemic. Accordingly, this year’s Executive is currently thinking of creative ways to help to foster that wonderful sense of community that we enjoy when we are together, in spite of the fact that (regrettably) we are once again online.

Finally, I wish to thank you for your support and dedication to our Society. I believe that the insights of theologians are more needed than ever and am grateful for a lively scholarly society to steer us toward a future beyond these troubled and difficult times.

Wishing you good health and all happiness until we meet again,

Jane Barter, PhD

President, Canadian Theological Society

Professor, Department of Religion and Culture

The Aberdeen Centre for Protestant Theology is delighted to be working with colleagues in the Netherlands at the PThU, De Nieuwe Bijbelschool and Miskotte-Stichting to host an online conference on 8th-9th of November 2021 on Kornelis H. Miskotte’s book ‘Biblical ABCs’. This important wartime text has been newly translated into English this year and published this autumn by Rowan and Littlefield.

Katherine Sonderegger, Philip Ziegler, Susannah Ticciati, Christopher Chalamet, Rinse Reeling Brouwer, Collin Cornell, Eleonora Hof and Mirjam Elbers will all contribute to the discussion of the meaning and topicality of K.H. Miskotte’s theology of resistance.

You can register now at: https://www.miskotte.com/. Registration is open until 5^th November 2021.

All those who register will receive a 50% discount code to put toward purchase of the book.

St. Stephen’s College

Call for Applicants

Chair of Doctor of Ministry Program, Professor of Theology,
and Co-Chair of the Department of Theology

St. Stephen’s College in Edmonton, Alberta, wishes to appoint a Chair of the Doctor of Ministry Program (“DMin Chair”) in the Department of Theology with the rank of Professor of Theology (area of specializations TBD).  The DMin Chair will work together with the Theological Studies Program Director to co-chair the Department of Theology.  The post is available for 1 January 2022, with the possibility that the successful applicant can work remotely.  This is a parttime (0.5FTE) limited term appointment (January–December 2022); possibility of renewal to be determined as part of the College’s discernment of future faculty configuration in the Department of Theology.

The appointee will be an applied scholar, teacher, and mentor who is committed to interreligious theological education in which students explore the inherent spiritual and ministerial dimensions of their work in traditional and non-traditional ministry contexts (eg., education, health practitioners, chaplaincy and spiritual care, social work, religious ministry, and others).  The successful candidate will have a doctoral degree in theology, religious studies, and/or an area related to the College’s core disciplines.

General Position Overview:

The Chair of the Doctor of Ministry Program in the Department of Theology, together with the support of the Doctor of Ministry Program Committee, works to oversee and direct the Doctor of Ministry program.  Chief responsibilities include overseeing the resources, curricula, and faculty support of the DMin program, and advising and mentoring current and prospective DMin students, including facilitation and guidance of projects and dissertation research.  Teaching assignment to be negotiated with the Dean, but not to exceed one course per year.  There will be ongoing duties related to the management of the program (recruitment, admissions, program committee meetings, convocation, etc.).  The DMin Chair works also in collaboration with the Theological Studies Program Director to provide joint oversight and direction to the Department of Theology (eg., administrative oversight, growth, and development of programs: DMin, MTS, BTS, and Graduate Certificates).

Application Materials and Deadline:

A complete application will consist of a Letter of Application, CV, and three reference letters.  Inquiries and applications should be submitted to Frederick S. Tappenden, Principal and Dean of St. Stephen’s College (frederick.tappenden@ualberta.ca).  Interviews will begin on November 22, 2021, and will continue until the position is filled.

St. Stephen’s College is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workspace.  We welcome and encourage applications from all interested candidates, and do not discriminate based on ethnicity, religion, gender identity, or sexual orientation.  Applications from historically underrepresented groups are encouraged.  In accordance with Canadian Immigration requirements: all qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

About St. Stephen’s College:

Nestled on the main campus of the University of Alberta, St. Stephen’s College “engages and equips compassionate, globally conscious learners and leaders, researchers and practitioners who integrate spirituality into their lives, communities, and professions.”  The roots of St. Stephen’s reach back to 1903; the College has been affiliated with the University of Alberta since its founding in 1908 and with the United Church of Canada since its founding in 1925. A legislative Act to Incorporate St. Stephen’s College (April 27, 1927; amended 1968) authorizes St. Stephen’s to confer degrees in divinity.  Currently, the College offers divinity degrees in Theological Studies, Psychotherapy and Spirituality, Art Therapy, and Spiritual Care.  St. Stephen’s is an Associate Member of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS), and is actively working toward full membership and accreditation with ATS. Our Art Therapy programs meet the educational standards of the Canadian Art Therapy Association (CATA).

Detailed Position Description

POSITION:                   Chair of the Doctor of Ministry Program and Professor of Theology, Department of Theology

DATE AND TERM:       Effective 1 January 2022, with possibility of remote work.  This is a limited term appointment (January–December 2022); possibility of renewal to be determined as part of the College’s discernment of future faculty configuration in the Department of Theology.

OTHER DETAILS:         0.5FTE, salary will be negotiated with the academic Dean and benefits are in accordance with the Faculty Personnel Policies of the College.

Position Overview

The Chair of the Doctor of Ministry Program in the Department of Theology, together with the support of the Doctor of Ministry Program Committee, works to oversee and direct the Doctor of Ministry program.  Chief responsibilities include overseeing the resources, curricula, and faculty support of the DMin program, and advising and mentoring current and prospective DMin students, including facilitation and guidance of projects and dissertation research.  Teaching assignment to be negotiated with the Dean, but not to exceed one course per year.  There will be ongoing duties related to the management of the program (recruitment, admissions, program committee meetings, convocation, etc.).  The DMin Chair works also in collaboration with the Theological Studies Program Director to provide joint oversight and direction to the Department of Theology (eg., administrative oversight, growth, and development of programs: DMin, MTS, BTS, and Graduate Certificates).

Qualifications and Skills

• Doctoral degree (e.g., PhD, DMin) in theology, religious studies, and/or an area related to the College’s core disciplines.; a graduate degree in theology or a related discipline (e.g., MDiv, MTS, MRE) is desired but not required.
• Familiarity with a range of research approaches and methodologies, particularly qualitative research perspectives in a theological or spiritually reflective context.
• Experience with Research Ethics Reviews is strongly desired.
• Background in, commitment to, and skills in teaching and learning in post-secondary education, and in working with adult learners engaged in graduate education
• Support for the College’s emphasis on a combination of online and face-to-face approaches to education, including skill and comfort using computers and electronically-facilitated teaching and learning
• Ability to liaise with stakeholder groups in the community, including (but not limited to) faith communities and groups (e.g., the United Church of Canada, the Anglican Church of Canada, the Edmonton Interfaith Network, etc.), relevant professional associations (e.g., CASC), educational partners (e.g., Centre for Christian Studies, the University of Alberta), and examiners, supervisors, and committee members.
• Spiritually reflective and able to communicate from a stance of openness to a wide variety of vocations and faith traditions
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment
• Excellent written and oral communications skills, and proficiency with social media tools
• Essential agreement with the College’s Vision, Mission, and Values (available online)

• Open to life-long learning and integration of scholarship with personal life experience

Primary Functions and Responsibilities

• Ensure the provision of academic leadership, oversight, and planning to the Doctor of Ministry program, including:
  • Oversee the planning, development, and faculty support of the various learning requirements in the DMin program (eg., Integrative Seminars, courses, collegia, etc.).  This includes advising Associate Faculty regarding the development of course syllabi and program curriculum.
  • With the support of the Doctor of Ministry Program Committee, attend to program visioning, oversight, development, policy, and admissions.  This includes coordinating student research advisors (noting that DMin committee members often act as student advisors and participate on doctoral research committees).
  • Advise and mentor current students, including working with the Dean’s office concerning disciplinary issues that might arise.
  • Manage and coordinate Dissertation processes.
  • Work closely with the Dean’s and Registrar’s offices in matters relating to approvals, student progress, and instructional procedures
  • Work together with the Principal’s office on matters of recruitment, and advise potential applicants throughout the admissions process.
  • Attend to visioning, oversight, development, policy, admissions, and student progress as related to all departmental programming, including DMin, MTS, BTS, and Graduate Certificates.
  • General Responsibilities
    • Work together with (and as a member of) the Faculty Council to coordinate academic programming at the College, and to develop academic and institutional policies for the College.

• Teaching assignment not to exceed one course per year (to be negotiated with Dean).