Tutor in Missiology

Overview

Sarum College is a vibrant community of learning, engaged in ministerial formation for lay and ordained ministries, MA and PhD study for continuing development, spiritual direction courses, and a lively and varied short course programme. We host visitors, national and international, staying for conferences at the College or simply for B&B. This creates an eclectic and interesting mix of people gathering in the building and around meals, often sharing ideas and making new connections.

As part of this wider community, The Centre for Formation in Ministry currently has 47 ordinands, 16 Reader/LLM candidates, and 5 independent students. We seek to know every student as an individual, providing flexible undergraduate and postgraduate pathways to suit different circumstances. We have been at the forefront of the blended learning pattern in ministry formation, combining contextual engagement with residential contact and online learning and tutoring. In 2019 our Periodic External Review noted ‘the impressive quality of the learning community’, that we are ‘teaching and modelling a generous respect for diversity within the church’, and that we are ‘helping all students reach their innate abilities’. Additionally, we were commended for our ‘enthusiastic commitment to VLE and other effective teaching methods’, through which we maintain a strong sense of community and connection with students.

We are continually looking to further develop our offer to those recommended for ordained and lay ministries. We are wanting to equip women and men to be ministers who will engage effectively with churches, chaplaincies and other areas of ministry and mission in a rapidly changing environment. Our staff team works closely together, drawing on diverse backgrounds, deep academic expertise and a wealth of ministry experience. We are looking for a new colleague who will bring fresh perspective and join us in our desire to see every student grow and develop in their gifts and vocation.

Background of Sarum College

The College’s location in Salisbury Cathedral Close means that Sarum’s community of learning is infused by a strong sense of prayer, worship and calm nurtured through many centuries.

People come to Sarum for a variety of reasons: to retreat and take a break from ministry; to read, pray and think; to engage in serious postgraduate study; to train for ordination or lay ministry; to attend day programmes or explore spiritual direction; to stay for B&B, conferences, or to visit art exhibitions.

Three distinct forms of educational work are found in the College: (i) non-accredited short courses, which provide a wide range of adult learning opportunities for students who are learning for leisure or seeking some professional development including in Spiritual Direction; (ii) programmes specifically oriented towards formation for ordained and licensed lay ministries, offered through Durham University Common Awards and managed at Sarum by the Centre for Formation and Ministry; and (iii) programmes of postgraduate study at MA level validated by the University of Winchester.

Centre for Formation and Ministry: Lay and ordained training

Our blended learning combines online modules, residentials at Sarum College, smaller groups and the student’s home context to create an integrated approach to training.

Online modules cover the different aspects of teaching required for training for ministry, including bible, mission, doctrine and practical topics. Most online modules are 10 weeks long, and students work through learning material presented in weekly units online (through Moodle). Students also attend staff led group tutorials over Zoom, held regularly through the module over Zoom. Staff offer hour long tutorials at 1pm and 7pm on various weekdays, to facilitate understanding and discussion on the module material. Marking of assignments is also carried out by staff online, using Turnitin.

The residential component of the training takes place in Sarum College. 12 weekends plus some Saturdays and an annual residential week are run by staff, and students attend 6 to 8 weekends a year depending on their training pathway. This enables students to quickly build good relationships with staff and student colleagues. Students also meet other groups engaged in learning at Sarum College, both local and international.

The work in the home context means that students apply learning to mission and ministry from the outset. Students gain deeper experience of their own church tradition, as well as being stretched by experiencing other traditions through residentials and placements.

Students are members of Tutor Groups. Ordinands have a member of staff allocated to them as a Personal Tutor. The Personal Tutor meets with them one to one at residential weekends, is a point of contact for the student over personal issues (together with the Chaplain), and compiles a report discussed with the student in each year of their training.

We offer both part-time pathways and full-time context-based pathways over two and three years, at under-graduate and post-graduate levels.

We welcome independent students (self-funded) who wish to take the course to deepen their learning. Some do further study with us during their Curacy or Probation.

What we are looking for

This is a newly configured post, arising both from the departure of one member of staff and from a rearrangement of areas of responsibility among the existing academic staff. We are looking for someone who will be a part of the team, and will work well with other staff, contributing as necessary to the tasks of ministry formation across the curriculum.

Our aim is to form ordained and lay ministers who will enable and advocate for a missional culture in the different contexts they minister in, now and in the future. Our students are seeking to learn and reflect across all Five Marks of Mission, both in the inherited parish setting and through new ecclesial communities and pioneering. Their learning is applied, always relating their theological thinking to practical outworking in their context.

We are looking for someone who is enthusiastic about this formational agenda and who will contribute substantially in the area of missiology. The successful candidate will be an able and inspiring educator and theological thinker, who brings practical experience of mission in a mixed ecology. They will also bring an area of expertise that contributes to a wider understanding of mission, for example in environmental, intercultural or intergenerational issues.

If you are excited about forming future ministers with a wide vision for a mixed ecology church, then we would be very pleased to receive your application.

An informal conversation about the post can be arranged by contacting the Academic Administrator Annette Young ayoung@sarum.ac.uk

Job Description

Job Title

Tutor in Missiology

Line Manager

Dean of Ministry

Job Purpose

To teach according to expertise and experience across the curriculum of the Centre for Formation in Ministry at undergraduate and postgraduate level, and to share in the organisation of the different pathways and in the support and reporting for students.

Salary

£33,721 plus a contribution of 8.5% of salary to the Sarum College nominated pension scheme, currently the Church of England Church Workers Pension Fund (Pension Builder Classic), and lunch in the Refectory on working days in College

Hours

The post is full time which equates to 35 hours per week at times to be agreed which will be known as normal working hours. Time off in lieu may be taken for working beyond normal working hours and there are occasions when it will be necessary to work outside normal working hours (during the evenings and at weekends) as the needs of the College reasonably requires. The post holder is expected to work in College a minimum of three days per week, regardless of where s/he is based. They are expected to work the annual residential Summer School, residential weekends and evening tutorials as required.

Holiday

The annual leave entitlement is 25 days plus statutory holidays, including the days when the College is closed between Christmas day and the New Year.

Duration

The post is a permanent contract. The start date is as soon as possible.

Principal accountabilities

Working within the programmes in the Centre for Formation for Ministry to develop learning materials, teach and share in organisation, support and reporting.

Particular activities include

1. Being a member of the Centre for Formation in Ministry team, and taking organisational roles where appropriate to further the effectiveness of the Ministry

2. Overseeing the writing, revision, delivery (including online tutoring), and marking of modules at undergraduate and postgraduate level, as agreed. This will include modules on Christian Mission and contributing to other modules and teaching as appropriate. Online tutorials will require some evening working.

3. Organising and teaching on weekends as appropriate to the modules taught. This will require some weekend working.

4. Act as Personal Tutor for two groups of ordination students, which includes student support face to face at some weekends, support online, and reporting on This also includes visiting ordination students in their home context once during their course.

5. Attend the Ministry Team Meeting (weekly) and other committees within Sarum College as required.

6. To be present as a staff member for the annual Summer School (a week at the end of August).

7. To contribute where appropriate to the programme of Study Days in Sarum College, and to online resources.

 

Person Specification

Essential 

1. An MA in theology or an associated discipline.

2. Demonstrable engagement with the theology and practice of mission.

3. First-hand experience of ministry, as an ordained or licensed lay minister or as an active church member.

4. A vision for training women and men for mission, leadership and ministry in contemporary society and culture, and a positive and enthusiastic attitude about the challenges and opportunities of ordained and licensed lay ministry.

5. Experience in delivering adult learning to MA level.

6. Good presentational and IT skills.

7. Adaptable and willing to teach across disciplinary boundaries.

8. Pastoral wisdom and emotional intelligence.

9. Understanding of the Church of England, including diocesan and parochial structure.

10. Willingness to share in the administration of the training, and to work collaboratively and supportively.

11. Able to be present in College for at least 3 days a week; willing to work certain evenings and weekends for the purposes of the role; able and willing to travel to meet the needs of the role.

12. Able to secure an enhanced DBS clearance.

 

Desirable

1. Experience of online delivery of learning and marking, ideally through Moodle, Turnitin and Zoom, though training will be given on these.

2. An additional area of specialism appropriate to our ministry formation.

3. A record of research and publications in theology.

4. Awareness of the challenges and opportunities that face an educational institution like Sarum College, and a willingness to contribute to the wider life of the College.

 

March 2023