Academic Dean & Sessional Lecturer

The Uniting Church in Australia (the Church) is a large uniquely Australian Christian denomination in Australia with heritage from historical reformed evangelical denominations. In Queensland, the Uniting Church has around 250 congregations and has early childhood, schools, colleges and large community services (such as UnitingCare Queensland and Wesley Mission Queensland).

The Uniting Church is multicultural, committed to reconciliation with First Peoples, calls for reconciliation across its communities and aims to use its people and property resources wisely and in the furtherance of God's mission in the world.

The College :

Trinity College Queensland is the denominational college for the Uniting Church in Australia, Queensland Synod. Inaugurated in 1977, the college has in various iterations continued to service the educational needs of the Synod, including its congregations, schools, and other community services by offering unaccredited and accredited study programs that seek to equip the church and feed its missional imagination. The College's higher education programs have been accredited by the Australian College of Theology since 2020.

Purpose :

The college aspires to be a global leader in providing education for Christian life and ministry as an international and ecumenical community of learners, known for growing and revitalising churches, agencies and schools. This vision is supported by a commitment to utilising best practice and proven pedagogical methods to offer units, resources and events that (trans)form the whole person. This is achieved by combining theological education and spiritual formation in ways that inform missional innovation. It is intended that the outcomes of these initiatives are fully personal and thoroughly practical. The Queensland Synod resources Trinity College Queensland (financially and through its infrastructure) for this purpose of seeing the Church formed for mission.

Values :

Trinity College Queensland is a welcoming community of learners whose pursuit of religious truth is not obstructed by differences in gender, ethnicity or differing theological perspectives. On the contrary, our lives of faith are enhanced by the theological diversity that is reflected in Scripture. These values are expressed in our privacy policy and harassment policy. In the classroom, our faculty and adjunct lecturers do not seek to create clones of themselves, but rather to equip students with the tools for critical thinking and missional innovation in the world. All of our lecturers seek to balance pastoral concern with academic rigour and spiritual fervour. Our goal in education is to offer neither closed nor predetermined answers, but honest answers to the tough questions of life and biblical interpretation.

• Position Purpose

This position is comprised of two distinct sets of responsibilities. The first is to fulfil the administrative responsibilities of Academic Dean by (a) ensuring that the college's teaching and learning practices are compliant with the policies and procedures provided by our accrediting body, the Australian College of Theology; and (b) by line-managing the academic faculty and staff (approx. five permanent positions plus adjunct lecturers) at the college so that their professional development is monitored and the educational ethos of the college is consistent across all units and classes. The second is the responsibility to provide teaching to our students in one of the areas of Systematic Theology, Philosophy & Ethics and Evangelism and / or Mission this would equate to one unit per semester or teaching.

• Key responsibilities

A. ADMINISTRATION (Academic Dean) 1.

• Administrative Duties
• Ensure that Trinity College Queensland remains compliant with the policies of our higher education provider with regard to assessment tasks, moderation and teaching practices. Participate in committees of the ACT, as per the direction of the Principal.
• Conduct performance reviews of other teaching faculty that monitors : (a) student feedback from units taught; (b) goals and aspirations for professional / career development; (c) areas for improvement in teaching practice; (d) responding to feedback from colleagues about any work-related stress. (These reviews will be regular conversations, not 6-monthly or annual check-ins.)
• Undertake other admin' duties as and when directed by the Principal / Director of Education for Ministry that fall within the scope of the role and the capabilities of the incumbent.
• Collaboration & Networking
• Liaise with other agencies of the Queensland Synod office, such as Presbyteries, the BCF (Board for Christian Formation), and the MET (Mission Engagement Team) in the delivery of courses and events that aim to equip the whole church.
• Community Engagement
• Co-ordinate public theology events and conferences that are relevant and engaging for the whole church by inviting speakers and panels to be hosted b