Dean and Professor of Pastoral Theology

Westminster Theological Seminary seeks to fill a full-time, voting faculty position and dean in the department of Pastoral Theology. The responsibilities will focus on teaching pastoral theology and leading the pastoral theology department. 

Critical features for success in this role require a heart for Christ’s church and its leaders, an eager commitment to leading an effective Pastoral Fellows and DMin programs, as well as to the delivery of the entire Pastoral Theology curriculum. The successful candidate will manifest a keen understanding of and commitment to the theology of the Westminster Standards and the distinctives of Westminster Theological Seminary. 

Duties and responsibilities 

• Teaching and mentoring in the residential program as well as the global and online programs.

1.      Teaching at least one M.Div. class each semester and one D.Min. class each academic year.
2.      Direct the D.Min. and Pastoral Theology programs, including the MDiv Pastoral Fellows. 

          Identify and secure instructors for Pastoral Theology courses

          Recruit and assess adjunct faculty. 

          Review student course evaluations. 

          Recruit and assess full-time faculty, if needed. 

• Ensuring the Pastoral Theological course delivery attains intended outcomes and working with colleagues on meeting assessment criteria
• Setting the strategic direction for and managing the personnel and programs of the Pastoral Theology department.
• Assessing the effectiveness of the department’s personnel and programs. 
• Serving on the Deans’ Council.
• Preparing, monitoring, and reviewing the Pastoral Theology department budget. 
• In collaboration with the CAO and other leaders, implementing changes to the department’s curriculum, when appropriate. 
• Serving the Seminary’s stewardship initiative by speaking at strategic conferences, writing, and supporting events on and off campus.
• Planning and directing the preaching conference or other Pastoral Theology-related conferences in collaboration with the senior leadership of the seminary.
• Other responsibilities as required by the supervisor. 

Skills  

• Teaching homiletics and other aspects of pastoral theology. 
• Compelling writing for academic and popular-level publications
• Strong oral communication skills for teaching, preaching, and conference speaking
• Effective management of faculty and administrative staff 

Qualifications 

• Doctorate (earned or in process) in pastoral theology or related field 
• Ordained or ordainable in a NAPARC, or similar, church 
• At least 10 years experience in pastoral or related ministry 
• Experience in organizational leadership 
• The candidate should exhibit excellency in research, teaching, godliness, collegiality, personal deportment, and other relevant skills. 
• Deep understanding of and sympathy for Westminster’s mission, history, and distinctives 
• Prior classroom teaching experience preferred 

Attributes  

• Manifestly possesses the vision of Westminster’s role in service of the global church.
• Teaches, leads, and serves students in accord with the Seminary’s mission 
• Manages and strategizes the PT department in accord with the Seminary’s mission 
• Collaborates and communicates to elicit trust, confidence, and achievement in team members and faculty colleagues
• Models serving others, especially students and colleagues 
• Builds long-term relationships 

Physical requirements 

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. 
• This job operates in a professional office environment. 
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be required to sit, stand, walk, and reach. 

Leadership Accountability 

• This position supervises and coaches employees, including faculty and administrative employees. 
• This position is responsible for performance evaluations for subordinates. 
• This position makes hiring decisions and pay and termination recommendations.

This is a full time, exempt position. 

Westminster Seminary offers FT employees valuable benefits including:

Generous PTO, retirement plan contributions, medical/dental/vision/life insurance, a flexible and casual work environment for most positions, and a faith-based culture rooted in God’s word.

Westminster Theological Seminary hires only personnel who belong to a Protestant evangelical church and subscribe to Biblical orthodoxy (belief) and orthopraxy (practice). Employees shall affirm their agreement with the historic, trinitarian Christian faith as expressed in the Apostles’ Creed. Otherwise, Westminster Theological Seminary is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to providing equal employment and advancement opportunities to all individuals, except as specifically allowed by federal and state law, and basing employment decisions on merit, qualifications and training. Westminster Theological Seminary does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion (except as religion is a bona fide occupational qualification), sex, national origin, age, disability or any other classification protected by law.

In accordance with the above paragraph, all employees are required to sign Westminster Theological Seminary's Community Life Policy affirming their commitment to Christian belief and practice as described in the policy.