Church History & Doctrine CFS Professional Faculty - Foundations of the Restoration/Church History Emphasis
Church History & Doctrine CFS Professional Faculty - Foundations of the Restoration/Church History Emphasis
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Job Description
Job Title: Church History & Doctrine CFS Professional Faculty - Foundations of the Restoration/Church History Emphasis
Posting End Date: August 10 2025
NOTE: Last day to apply is Saturday August 9 2025
Position Start Date: July 1 2026
Required Degree: PhD or equivalent terminal degree in history religious studies education or related field from an accredited university. The required degree must be completed by start date.
Experience:
Hiring decisions in Religious Education will be guided by the SRE document. The candidate should be familiar with the purpose of Religious Education as outlined in this document including the application of and commitment to its principles and guidelines. Candidates must be members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in good standing. The candidate must have the personal character faith testimony and qualities of life that are a powerful role model for students. Candidates must also be sound doctrinally (SRE). Application materials should explicitly speak to the SRE while addressing the following required qualifications and experience.
1. Teaching: The primary responsibility of each religious educator at BYU centers on excellent teaching of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ in a way that helps each student develop faith in and testimony of Jesus Christ become lifelong disciples of Him and strengthen their ability to respond with faith to whatever challenges they may face (SRE). Candidates must demonstrate an unusual potential for excellent teaching of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. High-quality teaching is the primary responsibility of professional faculty. Candidates must have the ability to engage students in large-section classes of 100 manage large numbers of students and organize course materials for scalable efficiency. Preference will be given to candidates with content expertise and teaching experience related to Foundations of the Restoration (Rel C 225) and The Doctrine and Covenants. Further demonstration of an ability to teach other courses offered in CH&D will be helpful. Click here for a complete list of courses currently taught in CH&D. Preference will also be given to candidates who demonstrate a capacity for high-quality student-centered mentoring.
2. Scholarship: There is no scholarship or publication requirement for professional faculty. However scholarship is important to the work of a religious educator in CH&D. The primary purpose of scholarship in Religious Education at BYU is to inform and enhance the impact and effectiveness of teaching the restored gospel. While this position does not have expectations or requirements for producing scholarship the candidate is expected to draw on their scholarly training and expertise to enhance their teaching and support student learning and development.
Duties/Expectations:
Religious Education plays a central role in the mission of Brigham Young University which is to assist individuals in their quest for perfection and eternal life by providing an educational experience that is spiritually strengthening intellectually enlarging character building and leads to lifelong learning and service. The distinctive purpose of Religious Education has been outlined in the Board of Education-approved document Strengthening Religious Education in Institutions of Higher Education (referred to hereafter as SRE) which charges religious educators with teaching the restored gospel of Jesus Christ from the scriptures and modern prophets directly and devotedly in a way that strengthens faith in and deepens student conversion to the restored gospel. The Department of Church History & Doctrine (CH&D) seeks to hire individuals who have demonstrated unusual potential for excellent teaching of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ (SRE).
Foundations of the Restoration (Rel C 225) is one of two cornerstone religion courses offered by CH&D. All undergraduate students are required to take this course. The course seeks to help students study and analyze foundational revelations doctrines practices and historical events of the restored gospel and explain and apply its core principles. As a result we are in search of a religious educator with training expertise and experience in the history and doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As a professional teacher the successful applicant will teach multiple sections of 225 Foundations with large numbers of students. Other classes including the other required department course Rel C 200 The Eternal Family may also be assigned based on department needs. Applicants must demonstrate their capacity for the highest quality of teaching mentorship and citizenship in relation to the qualifications experience and duties outlined below.
1. Teaching: Excellent teaching of the restored gospel is the primary responsibility of each faculty member in Religious Education at BYU. Full-time professional faculty teach six sections (two credits each) of courses offered in CH&D each fall and winter semester and two or three sections (two credits each) during each spring or summer term. Professional teaching faculty are expected to regularly teach more sections and larger class sizes than professorial faculty. The individual hired for this position will primarily teach Foundations of the Restoration. Student-centered mentoring is also expected. Depending on the candidates demonstrated experience and training the course load will also include other courses offered in the department.
2. Citizenship: Full-time faculty represent BYU and Religious Education. They are expected to live their personal lives and to perform their professional responsibilities in accordance with the teachings and practices of the Church. Faculty members are to be respectful and kind towards faculty staff students and our broader civic and religious communities. They are expected to be loyal to the leadership of the Church and the university. Faculty members must be active citizens in CH&D as well as in the college (BYU Religious Education) university and other professional settings. This includes attending department college and university faculty meetings as well as fulfilling committee obligations and other ad-hoc assignments.
*For a description of principles and measures used for rank advancement and continuing faculty status following hire see the following: Rank and Status Professional Faculty Review Procedures.
Documents required at the time of application:
Please attach your current Curriculum Vitae (CV) Cover Letter Evidence of Teaching Mission Alignment Statement and References to the faculty application.
1. Current CV: This should include contact information as well as sections on education (degrees earned universities attended majors etc.) teaching experience (courses taught dates universities/seminaries/institutes etc.) publications presentations and other relevant experience.
2. Cover Letter: (no more than 2-3 pages) Address this letter to Anthony Sweat chair of the Department of Church History and Doctrine. This letter is crucial to your application as it affords you the chance to articulate your careful thinking about this posting through the medium of writing. This letter will be reviewed by faculty and administrators. Please refer to the SRE and the qualifications experience and expected duties of the position description outlined above as you concisely and explicitly address the following points: (1) why you want to be a religious educator in CH&D at BYU; (2) how your graduate-school training and experience have prepared you to be successful in the posted position; (3) your teaching philosophy in religious education including how to effectively teach large numbers of students in class and how to engage effectively and faithfully with students on sensitive and complex issues in the history and doctrine of the Church; (4) your commitment to citizenship; and (5) a statement in which you articulate your views and commitment to belonging and inclusion and your plan (i.e. concrete pedagogical practices) to create a learning environment that will help to accomplish the purposes of Religious Education for all students. For further information on BYUs efforts and approach in this area see and refer to the announcement and description of BYUs Statement on and Office of Belonging.
3. Evidence of Teaching: Applications will be strengthened by including as much of the following as possible: a video that demonstrates your ability to teach (links to videos stored in a cloud service); select samples of teaching materials such as PowerPoints assignments or syllabi; and student evaluations of your teaching. Candidates who have taught Foundations of the Restoration are encouraged to include materials from that course. In a Word or PDF document that includes a link to your teaching video please contextual your teaching video and please include a brief description of how the evidence you provide clearly demonstrates your unusual potential for excellent teaching of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ including Foundations of the Restoration.
4. Mission Alignment Statement (no more than one page): BYU is committed to hiring faculty members who enthusiastically embrace and energetically advance its unique mission. To this end please include a one-page statement that addresses how you might as a BYU faculty member: (1) live a life of loyalty to Jesus Christ and His restored Church and align yourself with doctrines and teachings declared by living prophets seers and revelators; (2) demonstrate your intention to build faith in Jesus Christ and testimony of His restored gospel among students and others in the BYU community; and (3) strive to teach your subject matter with the Spirit of God and to keep it bathed in the light and color of the restored gospel (Spencer W. Kimball).
5. References: Please list the individual contact information for each of your three references on the faculty application. At some point during the selection process they may be contacted to submit a letter of recommendation electronically.
Questions regarding the position can be directed to:
Jenet Erickson Religious Education Brigham Young University 270B JSB Provo UT 84602-4201
Note: Failure to attach the required documents may result in your application not being considered.
Mission Alignment Statement
BYU is committed to hiring faculty members who enthusiastically embrace and energetically advance its unique mission. To this end please include a one-page mission alignment statement as part of your application that addresses how you might as a BYU faculty member: (1) live a life of loyalty to Jesus Christ and His restored Church and align yourself with doctrines and teachings declared by living prophets seers and revelators; (2) demonstrate intentionality in building faith in Jesus Christ and testimony of His restored gospel among students and others in the BYU community; and (3) teach your subject matter with the Spirit of God and strive to keep it bathed in the light and color of the restored gospel (Spencer W. Kimball).
Applicants who are not members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints include a one-page mission alignment statement that describes understanding of and commitment to the Mission of Brigham Young University and the AIMS of a BYU Education.
Employment Requirements
All new employees who are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will be required to hold and be worthy to hold a current temple recommend.
All faculty are required to abide by the universitys Honor Code and Dress &Grooming Standards. Preference is given to qualified candidates who are members in good standing of the affiliated church The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Successful candidates are expected to support and contribute to the academic and religious missions of the university within the context of the principles and doctrine of the affiliated church.
Equal Opportunity
Brigham Young University is an equal opportunity employer including disability and protected veteran status.
Required Experience:
Unclear Seniority
Employment Type
Full-Time
