Faculty Search: Professor of Christian Theology

Hartford Seminary invites applications for a faculty position in Christian Theology that begins in fall 2012. The candidate should have expertise in Christian theology, with attention to its historical development, contextual engagement, and contemporary significance. A distinctive interest in a Christian theology of religions is crucial, and a basic familiarity with Islamic history and theology is desirable.

For curricular needs in the M.A. and cooperative M.Div. programs, the successful candidate must be able to teach broad areas of Christian theology at an introductory level. At the same time, this person must display the intellectual depth to direct doctoral level students, and to participate meaningfully from a Christian perspective in the seminary?s multifaith work. These capacities for breadth and depth in Christian theology directly support core programs of the school and its enduring commitments to interfaith dialogue, scholarly research, and involvement with Christian churches.

The appointment is to the core faculty of the seminary. It carries the full time teaching load of three courses per year, student advising load expected of all faculty, and regular faculty committee and administrative responsibilities to be determined in relation to the candidate?s gifts and the seminary?s needs. Scholarly research and productivity are priorities in light of the school?s history as a place of advanced learning and publication.

Position rank is open; Ph.D. or Th.D. is required. We especially encourage applications from women and historically underrepresented ethnic groups. The seminary is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer.

Review of applications will begin on 15 September 2011 and will continue until the position is filled. A complete application must be submitted electronically to Ms. Lorraine Browne at lbrowne@hartsem.edu and includes a letter of application, a current curriculum vitae, and three letters of reference submitted directly by the recommenders. For further information, please contact Prof. Ingrid Mattson, Chair of the Search Committee, at imattson@hartsem.edu.

About the seminary

Hartford Seminary is an innovative and unconventional institution that has long led the way in new directions for theological education. Its small size and ample resources make it a place for close personal engagement with colleagues, coupled with nimble and creative approaches to exploring the emerging dynamics in American religious life. Both teaching and scholarship are balanced, realistically supported in the faculty workload, and thus complement one another while contributing to the intellectual ethos of the school as a place of advanced learning.

The seminary is a distinctive institution that combines two features not typically found together in theological education. One feature is a longstanding commitment to use grounded research to examine and understand the wide variety of faith communities and patterns of belief. There is significant capacity at Hartford to explore the practical realities of American religious life, both sociologically and theologically. Another feature is a serious, concrete engagement with multifaith concerns and religious pluralism, especially through a long involvement with Islamic studies and Christian-Muslim relations. Faculty and students come from different strands of Christianity, Islam, and Judaism, both domestically and internationally, mutually committed to fostering interreligious dialogue for the sake of a more faithful and peaceful world.

The mission of the seminary is to serve God by (1) preparing leaders, students, and religious institutions to understand and live faithfully in today?s multifaith and pluralistic world, (2) teaching, research, informing the public, and engaging persons in dialogue, and (3) affirming the particularities of faith and social context while openly exploring differences and commonalities. This mission is manifested in curricular programs that include the M.A., the cooperative M.Div., the D.Min., the Ph.D. conducted jointly with the University of Exeter, certificate programs in Black ministries, Hispanic ministries, and women?s leadership, and several graduate certificate programs, including in Islamic chaplaincy. The school lives out its mission through other administrative and research dimensions as well:

- A tradition of distinguished scholarship and recognized leadership through the Macdonald Center for Islamic Studies and Christian-Muslim Relations

- Groundbreaking studies of religious trends and living faith communities in America through the Hartford Institute for Religion Research

- A special commitment to developing the religious leadership skills of African Americans, Latinos/as, women, and chaplains of various kinds

- Housing two prestigious and widely-known scholarly journals, The Muslim World and the International Journal of Practical Theology

- A strong student-oriented curriculum that remains responsive to the changing needs of national and international religious communities

- Highly productive, creative, and dynamic faculty members who are leaders within their respective academic disciplines and guilds

- A seminary community marked by a breadth and depth of diversity by denomination, race and ethnicity, vocation, nationality, gender, and sexual orientation

- Economic stability and a history of balanced budgets, and an ability to accommodate innovation through flexible administration and adaptive decision-making

Hartford Seminary is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada, the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, and the Board of Higher Education of the State of Connecticut. The seminary is also a member of the Hartford Consortium for Higher Education.