Job Description

Biola University and Talbot School of Theology announces a full-time, tenure track faculty position in the graduate department of the Institute for Spiritual Formation (ISF) beginning Fall 2024. We are looking for an individual who is (1) academically trained in Spiritual Theology/Formation and Spiritual Direction, (2) able to teach and help administrate/supervise the ISF Spiritual Direction Practicum & ISF Staff Spiritual Directors, as well as teach courses in Spiritual Theology and Formation in general, (3) interested in assisting in the spiritual formation of graduate students and their preparation for ministry, and (4) able to both affirm and teach within the general Evangelical theological tradition.

We desire an applicant who is thoughtful about the integration of spiritual theology, formation, direction, and psychology within the general Evangelical theology tradition; someone who actively reflects on how this integration translates into the training of spiritual directors and pastors. Specifically, the applicant will teach students (resident, online, and hybrid) in the ISF Spiritual Direction Practicum Training and various courses in our graduate programs in ISF Spiritual Formation & Soul Care and our Spiritual Formation Focus programs for all of Talbot. Finally, we are looking for an applicant who is deeply rooted in their own spiritual formation and love of Christ and who is able to articulate how this faith informs their life and the lives and ministries of pastors and spiritual directors. The successful candidate will begin at the rank of assistant professor or associate professor and (level to be determined commensurate with education and experience).

Qualifications:

Strong candidates should be able to demonstrate:

* Completed Ph.D. in a Theological Field of Study or Ph.D./Psy.D. in Psychology or related field;

* Academic graduate training, expertise, and potential research in the general disciplines of Spiritual Theology and Formation (the branch of theology that integrates study of Scripture with study of how the Holy Spirit transforms believers in order to understand the nature, process and directives of spiritual growth), along with the integration of theology, formation and psychology;

* Academic graduate training and expertise in Individual and Group Spiritual Direction and in supervising Spiritual Direction;

* Ability and experience teaching Spiritual Theology and Formation in general, as well as teaching and supervising Spiritual Direction or at least in providing/supervising and consultation for individual and group Spiritual Direction;

* Ability to teach resident, online, and hybrid courses;

* Candidates must demonstrate commitment to excellence in teaching, evidence of some interest in scholarly activity, and potential to make significant contributions to their scholarly fields;

* Ability to both affirm and teach within the broad Evangelical theological tradition of Christianity;

* General pastoral care for the spiritual formation of students in general;

* Mature Christian character and love for the Lord;

* Collegial and accepting attitude that enhances community between faculty and students;

* Ministry experience and/or clinical work (desirable);

* In general, we encourage candidates with backgrounds in spiritual theology/formation/direction as well as backgrounds in psychology to apply, recognizing that this position will require a complex integrative focus and ability to teach in areas of theology, formation, spiritual direction, and psychological integration.

RESPONSIBILITIES: Faculty members in the ISF department are subject matter experts in their respective disciplines who actively integrate their faith in teaching, research, and life. This faculty position fulfills the following duties:

Teach 21 units (more units are considered overload) per academic year in existing graduate-level courses in Spiritual Direction (a 4 course sequence in training spiritual directors consisting of 10 units), and 11 units of Spiritual Theology, general Spiritual Formation, and the history of Christian spirituality and soul care (resident, online and hybrid);Supervise and provide consultation for spiritual directors and cohort leaders who are providing Individual and Group/Cohort Spiritual Direction for (1) graduate students in Talbot spiritual formation courses and (2) for the Biola community in general (including grad students, undergrads, Biola staff and faculty); Assist in administrating the Spiritual Direction Practicum Training Sequence and ISF's Staff Spiritual Director and Cohort leader work in the Biola Community (grads, undergrads, Biola staff and faculty); Advise and mentor students;

* Serve as a faculty team member on department and university committees as assigned;

Research and publish in areas related to spiritual direction, training in spiritual direction, spiritual theology and formation, and the history of Christian spirituality and soul care;

* Participate in other professorial duties (e.g. Evangelical Theological Society etc.).

Talbot School of Theology is one of eight schools that comprise Biola University. As a part of the University, Talbot serves both graduate and undergraduate students.

Biola University is a protestant evangelical Christian university in which faculty affirm personal faith in Jesus Christ, endorse a university statement of Christian faith and community values, and are committed to the integration of faith and learning. Candidates must be willing to support Biola's mission and preference will be given to applicants who demonstrate a clear commitment to the integration of faith into their scholarship and teaching. See Biola's Theological Positions at and Talbot's Statement on Men and Women at Talbot Applicants for this job must believe to be true all of the tenets contained in each of those documents.

Biola is accredited by the Western Association of Schools & Colleges (WASC) and is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU). Talbot is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS).

Biola University and Talbot School of Theology do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic group identification, sex, age, or physical disability. However, as a private religious institution, the university reserves the right to exercise preference on the basis of religion in all of its employment practices.

Send letter of interest and CV (listing references) to: Dr. John Coe, Talbot School of Theology, 13800 Biola Avenue, La Mirada, CA 90639, or email at john.coe@biola.edu.

Review of CV's begins July 10, 2024

Job Tags

Similar Jobs