Dean of Bethel Seminary

Bethel University seeks a passionate, dynamic, and culturally competent leader to serve as the dean of Bethel Seminary. The dean provides vision and leadership to the Seminary on two campuses, one in Saint Paul, MN, and one in San Diego, CA. The dean will be responsible to evaluate and draw on the strengths of Bethel Seminary and develop a vision that will meet the variable academic needs of students engaging ministry, defined broadly, to a changing world.

The dean has the primary responsibility to develop a strategic vision, provide leadership, and manage educational programs that serve all Bethel Seminary students. This individual is responsible to grow the Seminary enrollments and increase academic quality while overseeing the Seminary’s financial performance. In addition to leading the Seminary, the dean serves as a campus dean for either the Saint Paul or San Diego campus. A key partner in the work will be a campus-based leader at the corresponding campus who will report to and be hired with significant input from the Seminary dean. 

Responsibilities

• Lead the seminary. This includes casting vision for the future, planning for strategic change, and empowering the seminary to fulfill its educational mission and meet its goals successfully.
• Represent Bethel Seminary to internal and external constituents. Serve as an advocate and voice of the seminary to the rest of the university. Network with key church leaders and others through speaking and preaching engagements. As requested, support University Advancement efforts to raise funds for the Seminary.
• Manage seminary resources. This includes hiring and supervising faculty and supporting faculty development, overseeing program and curriculum development, and overseeing accreditation efforts, loads, schedules, and budget management.
• Partner with CAPS/SEM/GS leadership to coordinate policies, systems, and practices in the Seminary with those in other schools.
   

Required Skills

• Ample and current evidence of discipleship of Jesus Christ and participation in a home local church (Note: the Dean must join a Converge Worldwide congregation in the vicinity of St Paul or San Diego after hire).
• Ability to clearly articulate and demonstrate support for the University's and Seminary's mission to a variety of internal and external audiences.
• Wholehearted agreement with Bethel University  Affirmation of Faith and a commitment to live by the Covenant for Life Together
• Demonstrated ability to promote innovation and lead change
• Demonstrated ability to work, lead, and teach in a culturally diverse environment, to build a culturally diverse team, and to network with culturally diverse churches.
• A commitment to supporting an environment that empowers women, both students and colleagues, as they follow their God-given call.
• Demonstrated knowledge of critical issues and trends in the church, seminary education, and higher education in general. Knowledge of Association of Theological Schools accreditation requirements would be helpful.
• Commitment to and knowledge of online education.
• Clear and effective communication, including verbal, written, and listening skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to collaboratively work and lead.
• Demonstrated organizational skills, including problem solving and attention to detail.
• Demonstrated managerial skills in hiring, budget advocacy and management, personnel supervision, and ability to handle confidential information.
• Willingness to establish primary residence in the Twin Cities (preferred).  Current residents of southern California have the option of residing in San Diego.

Required Experience

• At least six years of experience in seminary or university; experience as a faculty member who served as a department chair or in another academic leadership position strongly preferred.
• Pastoral/professional church staff experience strongly preferred.

Required Education

Seminary degree required and doctoral degree in a seminary-related academic discipline (Old Testament, New Testament, Theology, Church History etc.) strongly preferred.

Additional Information

Search Timeline

• Review of applicants will begin on April 1, 2018 and continue until the position is filled.
• Preferred start date is summer 2018, with the latest possible start date of summer 2019.

Required materials

Candidates should complete an application and include a cover letter; curriculum vitae; four professional letters of reference, at least one of which must come from your local church pastor or pastoral supervisor/denominational leader, and at least one of which must be an academic reference.

About Bethel Seminary

Bethel Seminary embraces evangelical education from global and pietistic perspectives. The Seminary was founded by Swedish Baptists, and remains rooted in the churches of Converge Worldwide (Baptist General Conference). The Seminary encourages discussion from a variety of theological approaches and traditions. It serves students from more than 60 denominations, including Anglican, Assemblies of God, Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, and Southern Baptist.

Bethel Seminary was established to prepare Swedish speaking Baptist immigrants to serve as pastors. It opened its doors during the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 and had one student that year. The Seminary grew, moved to Minnesota, and inspired the establishment of a junior college in 1914. That college launched a four-year baccalaureate curriculum in 1947. Bethel added its adult college in 1989, and additional (non-seminary) graduate programs soon thereafter.  Today Bethel is a comprehensive university serving an increasingly diverse student body of more than 5,000 students in four schools: Bethel Seminary, the College of Arts and Sciences, The College of Adult and Professional Studies, and the Graduate School. The university ranks as a leader among Midwestern Universities in “America’s Best Colleges” in US News & World Report.

Bethel Seminary has more than 570 students enrolled in Saint Paul, MN, San Diego, CA, and online. Students study in nine different degree programs (five of which are fully online), and seven certificate programs. Fourteen full time faculty and more than 60 adjunct faculty teach and have a strong record of scholarship and church leadership. The Commission on Accrediting for the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) has accredited the Seminary since 1966, and the Higher Learning Commission has accredited the University since 1959.

The Seminary’s mission is clear:

• The passion of Bethel Seminary is to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ among all people in culturally sensitive ways. As a Spirit-empowered, biblically grounded community, Bethel strives to develop and equip whole and holy persons to serve and lead, so that churches and ministry agencies can become all they are called to be and do all they are called to do in the world, for the glory of God.

A compelling philosophy of education enables the Seminary to achieve this mission. This philosophy focuses on three centers of education: Bible and theology, spiritual and personal formation, and transformational leadership. We believe the 21st century church needs leaders who possess theological wisdom, personal and spiritual wholeness, and leadership skills. Our educational approach seeks to provide integrated learning focused on a holistic educational experience for each student.