Director of Spirituality and Ministry Program, Saint John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota

The Director will administer the School of Theology’s Spiritual Direction Certificate Program including working with Admissions to recruit students, supervise spiritual direction field experience, and provide on-going program assessment. The Director will have the opportunity to serve as a member of the School of Theology faculty teaching courses in spirituality and prayer and advising students in graduate programs in spirituality, with an emphasis on Benedictine spirituality, and in ministry, with attention to the global nature of the contemporary church and diversity in ministry settings. The Director may also teach undergraduate courses in theology for the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University.

Saint John’s University School of Theology and Seminary (SOT/Sem), immersed in a Catholic Benedictine environment and committed to ecclesial and liturgical renewal, educates men and women for ordained and lay ministry in the church. With an enrollment of approximately 100 students, a faculty of 15 professors, and an administrative staff of 8 professionals, the SOT/Sem is a leading institution for educating theologically grounded and pastorally discerning leaders skilled at drawing forth the gifts of faith communities (https://www.csbsju.edu/sot).

Saint John’s University (SJU), a liberal arts college for men, is located in the central lakes area of Minnesota, surrounded by more than 3,000 acres of pristine forests, prairies, and lakes. The campus is minutes away from St. Cloud, an increasingly diverse regional center with a population of over 100,000, and 70 miles from Minneapolis and St. Paul.  Some SJU staff choose to reside locally, while others commute from the Twin Cities.  Both St. Cloud and the Twin Cities offer a wide range of fine arts, cultural, dining, recreational, and sporting opportunities.

SJU is a Catholic college in the Benedictine tradition enlivened by values of community, hospitality, stewardship, and justice.  The university is dedicated to cultivating an equitable, inclusive community founded on respect for all persons. Students, staff and faculty from many diverse belief systems and backgrounds collectively bring a rich dimension to the academic, cultural, and religious experience at SJU. Learn more in our Statement on Diversity and in our brochure regarding Higher Education in the Catholic and Benedictine Tradition.

With a total enrollment of approximately 1,600 students, SJU has a unique coordinate partnership with the College of Saint Benedict (CSB), a liberal arts college for women. SJU and CSB are committed to the holistic transformational development of men and women within the context of a unified, coeducational experience. All students, faculty, and staff have the opportunity to experience and engage with the two institutions. For further information, see http://www.csbsju.edu/about.

Saint John’s University offers competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits program.

1. Provide strategic leadership and administrative oversight of the Spiritual Direction Certificate Program to ensure the quality of the program and its ability to meet the needs of the students and those they will direct.
2. Engage with faculty and staff of the School of Theology and Seminary, the Spirituality Center of the Saint Benedict’s Monastery, and members of Saint John’s Abbey to identify and implement ways to give the program a distinctly Benedictine character.
3. Work with the Dean and Associate Dean to design and implement the curriculum for the certificate program, including understanding student needs for a schedule of courses that is accessible and maintains the quality and integrity of the program.
4. Collaborate with the staff of the Spirituality Center of Saint Benedict’s Monastery to design and implement the supervision of the practicum in spiritual direction.  Oversee the practicum year and facilitate the monthly practicum seminar.
5. Build support for the program with church leaders, religious communities, and others locally and nationally and work with the Admissions staff to recruit students for the program.
6. Serve as advisor to students in the program, assisting them as appropriate with on-going discernment and scheduling.
7. Teach 2-3 courses per year in the graduate School of Theology. The Director may also have the opportunity to teach a course(s) in the undergraduate theology program for the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University.
8. Perform other duties as may be assigned by the Dean.

1. An earned doctorate in spirituality, theology, or a related field as well as a graduate certificate in spiritual direction
2. Significant ministry experience as a spiritual director
3. Demonstrable potential for excellence as a teacher in the graduate classroom setting
4. Readiness to gain expertise in online instruction
5. Demonstrable potential for success as an administrator including effective strategic planning and organizational skills
6. Strong familiarity with Roman Catholic traditions of spirituality, especially the Benedictine tradition, as well as an appreciation of other Christian spiritual traditions and contexts for doing the ministry of spiritual direction
7. The personal, pastoral, and spiritual skills and maturity to mentor students preparing to be spiritual directors

Preferred:

1. Appreciation of other Christian spiritual traditions and contexts for doing the ministry of spiritual direction
2. Academic expertise in monastic studies, liturgy, or practical theology