Lecturer in Theology and Ministry

**Lecturer in Theology and Ministry**
**(**
**Job Number**:
**23000677**
**)**

Department of Theology and Religion

Grade 7: - £36,333 - £43,155 per annum

Fixed Term - Full Time

**Contract Duration***: 4 years

**Contracted Hours per Week***: 35

**Working Arrangements***: The role is full-time, but we will consider requests for flexible working arrangements including potential job shares.

**Closing Date***: 11-Jun-2023, 5:59:00 PM

**Disclosure and Barring Service Requirement***: Not Applicable.

**The University**

At Durham University we are proud of our people. A globally outstanding centre of educational excellence, a collegiate community of extraordinary people, a unique and historic setting - Durham is a university like no other. We believe that inspiring our people to do outstanding things at Durham enables Durham people to do outstanding things professionally and personally.

Across the University we have a huge variety of roles and career opportunities, which together make us a large and successful community, which is a key hub of activity within our region and nationally. We would be thrilled if you would consider joining our thriving University. Further information about the University can be found here.

**The Department**

**The Common Awards Scheme**

In 2013, Durham University was contracted by the Archbishops’ Council of the Church of England to provide validation arrangements for a suite of academic programmes in Theology, Ministry, and Mission, offered at a number of Theological Education Institutions (TEIs) around the country, and to provide academic resources and services to staff and students based at these institutions.

The partnership covers around 500 members of staff and 2,500 students spread across TEIs from Exeter to Edinburgh. Students at these TEIs are training for a variety of forms of ministry, lay and ordained, formal and informal, in a number of churches (Anglican, Methodist, URC, Baptist, Pentecostal, etc.).

In 2019, the University and the Archbishops’ Council signed a renewed contract for the Common Awards partnership, covering the period from 1 September 2019 to 31 August 2024; in 2023 this renewed contract was extended to 31 August 2027.

The Common Awards team includes an academic support team led by Alyson Bird (the Quality Assurance Manager) based in the University’s Curriculum, Learning and Assessment service, and a small academic team currently comprising Prof Mike Higton (Professor of Theology and Ministry) and Dr Selina Stone (Postdoctoral Research Associate in Theological Education), based in the Department of Theology and Religion.

The members of the academic team work with the academic support team to
- maintain oversight of the delivery of Common Awards programmes at the partner TEIs, and develop related academic policies and quality assurance processes;
- facilitate a range of research conversations and projects drawing in staff from around the partnership, and designed to help enhance the theological education provided around the partnership; and
- provide a suite of activities aimed at enhancing the experience of students undertaking Common Awards programmes around the partnership.

**Lecturers (Fixed term) at Durham**

The University is committed to enabling all of our colleagues to achieve their full potential. We promote and maintain an inclusive and supportive environment to ensure that all colleagues can thrive.

The role of a fixed term Lecturer at Durham provides the opportunity to deliver outstanding education and research within an inclusive and supportive environment that is staffed by world class colleagues. Lecturers will be supported to develop their academic careers by training and financial support in research and education, guided by a designated mentor.

The primary focus of this role is on validation work and research but there will also be the opportunity to engage in wider citizenship within the University and beyond.

This role of Lecturer is for a fixed term of four years, because the post forms part of the Common Awards scheme, which is funded through to 31st August 2027. If the Common Awards contract is renewed beyond that point, extension of this post in some form may be possible.

**Lecturer in Theology and Ministry**

The role is full-time, but we will consider requests for flexible working arrangements including potential job shares

**Key responsibilities**:
Working closely with the Professor of Theology and Ministry, the appointee will:
1. pursue research that is, or has the potential to be excellent in terms of originality, significance and rigour, and relevant to the development of Christian thought, practice, ministry and mission in the contemporary world, leading to

a. publications of international significance,

b. activities likely to produce public benefit outside the academic community, and

c. the pursuit of national and international funding opportunities to support research and promote its impact;
2.