Jan 17, 2020
Full time
POSITION SUMMARY
The Director of Contextual Education will further CDSP’s commitment to forming leaders for mission and ministry in culturally diverse contexts and in a changing church and world. We seek an engaging, dynamic teacher who bridges the academy, the church, and the world, and who can enable students to articulate and embody a public theology that relates to Christian life and ministry today and in the future. This teacher will help prepare students for lay and ordained leadership in a variety of ministry settings in different cultural contexts.
The Director of Contextual Education oversees field placements for students in both residential and low-residence programs, including training for field-placement supervisors and overseeing the work of the Field Placement Program Administrator. The Director of Contextual Education will teach required seminars concurrent with the first year of field placement. Candidates should be prepared to teach at the master’s level at an Episcopal seminary within the ecumenical and interfaith setting of the Graduate Theological Union (GTU), in Berkeley, California.
CDSP’s new partnership with Trinity Church Wall Street (TCWS) means that the years ahead will bring opportunities for growth and expansion. The Director of Contextual Education will be an integral part of the faculty that will guide the development of new curricula, programs, and approaches to leadership education.
This is a ranked position at the Assistant or Associate Professor level for an initial appointment of five years, beginning August 1, 2020.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Field Placement Program
Coordinate field placements for students in both years of the field placement program, which comprises two required two-semester sequences – Theological Field Education I and II and Leadership for Ministry I and II.
Oversee development of learning contracts for students in field placements.
Oversee processes of student and supervisor evaluation of placements.
Orient and supervise field-placement supervisors, including regular required training for all supervisors.
Assess quality of sites and supervisors.
Maintain and periodically update resources and forms for students, supervisors, and lay committees.
Oversee the work of the Field Placement Program Administrator.
Teaching and Research
Teach the required two-semester sequence of courses in the first year of the field placement program, which is an integral part of the MDiv curriculum. The sequence is offered in both residential classroom and on-line formats, with short-term intensive residential course-work for online students.
Coordinate course design with other faculty members in the practical theology area, particularly those teaching ministerial leadership, pastoral theology, and practical theology.
Coordinate course design and content with other faculty to develop and refine how students engage with theological disciplines across the curriculum.
Teach with academic rigor, an awareness of the diversity of ministry contexts, and a clear focus on CDSP’s core curricular commitments to mission, discipleship, and evangelism. Incorporate into all teaching a careful attentiveness to the key skills of contextualization, critical theory, and public conversation.
Carry out a program of continuing engagement with academic research and scholarship, including making presentations at professional meetings and publishing articles, books, and reviews.
Advising
Serve as advisor to CDSP students in a variety of degree and certificate programs, including supervising theses for the M.A. and M.T.S. degrees. Engage with the pastoral and formational processes of advisees and other students preparing for ministry, ordained and lay.
Become a Qualified Administrator (QA) of the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI). Interpret the IDI for advisees, and work with advisees on their Intercultural Development Plans (IDP).
Seminary Life
Participate fully in seminary worship, including preaching at least once per semester, and presiding at eucharist if appropriate to ordination status.
Participate actively in community life, including meals and other events with students and faculty.
External Service
Listen and speak to the needs of the church and the world. Such service may include guest preaching and speaking engagements, both locally and nationally; participation in national, provincial, diocesan, or congregational committees and task forces; attending or leading church conferences and events; writing and publishing articles, reviews, and books.
Participate actively in the life and ministry of a local congregation.
Shared Faculty Commitments
Work with colleagues at CDSP and in the GTU in all aspects of graduate professional theological education.
With faculty at CDSP, assess and make recommendations about students’ readiness and suitability for ordination.
Collaborate on curriculum development with senior leadership at CDSP and partners at TCWS.
With faculty and senior staff at CDSP and TCWS, develop and implement strategies for addressing racism in our largely white context.
Complete the IDI, receive feedback, and develop and work on a personal IDP. Collaborate with faculty in further developing intercultural pedagogy and curricula.
Serve on faculty committees and assume other responsibilities and special projects as required.
Perform all duties in a manner that promotes CDSP’s mission and core values.
Adhere to confidentiality rules and all other CDSP policies, procedures, and rules.
CDSP faculty contracts cover a full 12-month year and require full-time presence on campus and participation in community life during January Intersession and June Intensive terms (2 weeks each), as well as Fall and Spring semesters. The normal teaching load is five courses spread over these four terms, whether face-to-face or online.
