VP/Dean of the Moravian Theological Seminary

The VP/Dean leads faculty and staff to prepare students to serve in diverse socioeconomic, intercultural, and interfaith populations and within a multicultural context.

The Seminary, a graduate professional school of theology and part of Moravian College, achieves its specific goals by combining biblical, historical, theological, and ethical inquiry with spiritual formation and theological studies and offers degrees in chaplaincy, clinical counseling, and ministry, and certificates in formative spirituality and spiritual direction. The VP/Dean leads faculty and staff to prepare students to serve in diverse socioeconomic, intercultural, and interfaith populations and within a multicultural context.  While a regional ecumenical and interfaith institution, the Seminary is one of only two fully accredited Moravian Seminaries globally and serves as a resource for the Moravian Church in North America and worldwide Moravian Unity. The VP/Dean is the chief academic leader of the Seminary and is responsible to the Provost, the President, and the Seminary's Board of Trustees. The VP/Dean oversees all educational programs in the Seminary and maintains the integrity of its academic policies.

 

The successful candidate has a thorough understanding of theological seminaries and their role in leading and shaping faith and culture; a collaborative leadership style that nourishes the professional development of the faculty and staff; a dedication to a diverse student population and their successes; and deep convictions and hope rooted in and committed to the heritage, life, and mission of the Moravian church. 

 

The successful candidate shows agility in the face of the changing landscapes of theological education and culture, respect for and dedication to celebrating diversity and promoting equity and the inclusion of cross-cultural distinctions. The successful candidate is also willing to take reasonable risks to achieve/develop strategic goals and position the Seminary for a healthy and robust future; builds consensus through understanding and appreciation of diverse perspectives, and advocates for students, faculty, and staff; serves as a model and champion for academic excellence and life-long learning by demonstrating a passion for teaching, learning, research, and professional activities; and is gifted in cultivating a sense of community and fellowship.

 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Administrative Leadership

Leadership and oversight of the Seminary, including

• Serve and shepherd the mission, strategic goals, and core values of the Seminary
• Provide effective administration of shared governance structures, which includes transparent decision making with ongoing communication with the Seminary community
• Develop, assess, and implement policies
• Advance the Seminary's commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion

Personnel development, including:

• Oversight of Annual Reviews: Equip the faculty and staff to succeed and hold them accountable to MTS's academic and professional standards
• Faculty: Hiring, Promotion, Tenure, and Periodic Reviews, Sabbatical Planning
• Staff and faculty professional development and mentoring 

Liaise and collaborate with Seminary and Joint Board of Trustees

• Share reports, presentations, and information as required and requested to the Seminary and Joint Boards
• Foster connections among current and potential board members and recommend suitable candidates for the board, including constituent-appointed and elected members 

Role in institutional administration

• Serve on President's Council
• Collaborate with College leadership, particularly the Vice-Provost, Associate Provost for Online Education and Innovation, and the Director of Assessment, college Deans, Associate Provost of DEI, and Vice President for Human Resources
• Collaborate with Seminary faculty and staff and College academic leadership in integrating relevant Seminary policies and processes with College policies.
• Serve on College committees and councils as assigned.

Budget and development

• Develop and oversee the annual budget of the Seminary, ensuring responsible use of Seminary resources, working in close partnership with the Chief Financial Officer 
• Work in close partnership with the Vice President of Development & Alumni Engagement to develop and identify fundraising priorities and initiatives in line with overall strategic goals
• Support and be an active participant in  annual development and engagement  initiatives, as well as campaigns
• Assist with the identification, cultivation, and stewardship of donors who have the capacity and propensity to give principal and transformational gifts

 

Academic Excellence

Teaching and scholarship

• Foster and support the centrality of teaching and learning at the heart of the Seminary's mission
• Pursue a scholarly agenda, including presentation of work 
• Teach in their field of interest (typically one course per year)
• Participate in professional associations
• Promote and support effective distance learning modalities and technology

Advocate for Student Success

• Foster ongoing strong relationships with the student body
• Participate in student events 
• Mentor students
• Support students in academic and formative aspects of Seminary life 

Program Development and Assessment

• Serve as the Seminary's accreditation liaison officer
• Maintain accreditation with ATS, Middle States, and other accrediting bodies

 

Relationships with Constituent Faith Communities

• If ordained, serve under call to the credentialing province 
• Communicate regularly with the respective leaders of the Northern and Southern Province and report to their Synods.
• Represent or speak for the Seminary with the Unity Board of the worldwide Moravian Church and its standing committees.
• Foster strong relationships with full communion and other judicatory leaders to broaden and enrich the student body representation among ecumenical and interfaith communities. 

 

Relationships with broader spiritual communities

• Foster strong relationships with leaders and members of diverse religious and spiritual communities.

QUALIFICATIONS: 

Required

• Must be an active member of the Moravian Church
• Terminal doctoral degree (e.g. PhD, ThD, DMin, EdD) with demonstrated expertise in Theological or Religious Studies
• Demonstrated record of effective teaching
• Minimum of 5 years of leadership experience
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Ecumenical and Interfaith orientation

Preferred

• Ordained in the Moravian Church
• Faculty experience at the graduate level

For full consideration, please submit your completed application by November 15, 2020. Review of the applications will begin November 15, 2020 and continue until the position is filled.

 

TO APPLY: Qualified candidates should attach the following to their online application by clicking "Apply Now": (1) a letter of interest (2) a curriculum vitae; (3) evidence of teaching effectiveness. Please attach documents as a PDF file. https://www.moravian.edu/hr/employment/job-opportunities

Qualified candidates should also arrange to have three (3) letters of recommendation sent to: VP-DeanSeminarySearch@moravian.edu.

 

Deep respect for others is fundamental to the Moravian College community. Moravian College does not discriminate against any person based on actual or perceived race, color, sex, religion, ancestry, genetic information, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, familial status, marital status, age, veteran status, disability, use of guide or support animals and/or mechanical aids, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. In compliance with the requirements of Title IX, Moravian College does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its educational program and activity, including employment. 

Concerns regarding all forms of discrimination, including sexual harassment and/or sex discrimination in employment:

 

Leah M. Naso

Title IX Coordinator/Compliance Officer

210 Colonial Hall

Moravian College

1200 Main St.

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18018

(610) 861-1529

TitleIX@moravian.edu

 

Concerns regarding gender and equity in athletics: 

Renee Hellert 

Associate Athletic Director (Deputy Title IX Coordinator)

109 Johnston Hall 

Moravian College

1200 Main St.

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18018 

(610) 861-1531

hellertr@moravian.edu 

 

Concerns regarding the application of Title IX: 

U.S. Department of Education

Office of Civil Rights

100 Penn Square East, Suite 515

Philadelphia, PA 19107-3323

(215) 656-8541

ocr.philadelphia@ed.gov

 

Report sexual harassment/sex discrimination online anytime (can be anonymous) at www.moravian.edu/titleix. Grievance procedures can be found in the institutional Equal Opportunity, Harassment, and Non-Discrimination Policy at www.moravian.edu/policy.

 

Please visit moravian.edu/benefits to review benefits offered at Moravian College.*

 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Occasionally required to remain seated in a normal position for long periods of time
• Regularly required to walk about
• Regularly required to maintain balance while walking, standing, crouching, or running
• Routinely required to reach up and out with hands and arms
• Regularly required to talk and hear; verbally express information or instructions
• Regularly required to use hands to grasp objects, type, pick up objects, move objects, or hold objects
• Routinely required to stoop, kneel, crouch, and/or crawl
• Regularly required to climb stairs and/or ladders
• Occasionally required to lift up to 25 pounds and carry a distance of 10 feet
• Occasionally required to push and/or pull up to 25 pounds a distance of 10 feet
• Routinely required to stand for long periods of time
• Close vision (clear vision at 20 inches or less)
• Depth perception and the ability to judge distances and spatial relationships
• Adjustable focus

 

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those encountered while performing the essential functions of this job. The individual is routinely exposed to indoor conditions, minimum outdoor weather and temperature extremes, and moderate noise level.

 

Pursuant to the ADA, Moravian College will provide reasonable accommodation(s) to all qualified employees with known disabilities when their disability affects the performance of their essential job functions, except when doing so would be unduly disruptive or would result in undue hardship to the College. If you anticipate needing an accommodation, please contact the Office of Human Resources at hr@moravian.edu or 610-861-1527.

 

The specific statements shown in each section of this description are not intended to be all-inclusive.  They represent typical elements and criteria necessary to successfully perform the job.

 

*Please visit this link to review the benefit eligibility status associated with this position.

Moravian College is the nation's sixth-oldest college located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania offering undergraduate and graduate degrees that blend liberal arts with professional programs. For more than 275 years, the Moravian College degree has been preparing students for reflective lives, fulfilling careers, and transformative leadership in a world of change. Moravian College is a member of The New American Colleges and Universities (NAC&U), a national consortium of selective, small to mid-size independent colleges and universities dedicated to the purposeful integration of liberal education, professional studies, and civic engagement. Visit moravian.edu to learn more about how the Moravian College focus on education for all prepares its students for life-long success.

Moravian College is committed to enhancing the diversity of our community, recognizing that to provide a diverse learning environment is to prepare students for personal and professional success in an increasingly multicultural and global society. The College community understands that it shares a responsibility for generating and preserving a learning environment where difference is valued, and inclusiveness and social justice are practiced.

Moravian College is an equal opportunity employer valuing diversity and encouraging individuals from under-represented populations to apply. EOE