Christian Chaplain (Casual)

Amherst has taken a leadership role among highly selective liberal arts colleges and universities in successfully diversifying the racial socio-economic and geographic profile of its student body. The College is similarly committed to enriching its educational experience and its culture through the diversity of its faculty administration and staff.

Job Description:

Amherst College invites applications for the Christian Chaplain position. The Christian Chaplain is a part-time casual non-benefited position. The expected range for this position is $30.00-33.00 per hour.

The salary offered will vary based on a number of factors including but not limited to relevant education training and experience tenure status and other nondiscriminatory business considerations. Amherst College is pleased to provide a comprehensive highly competitive benefits package that meets the needs of staff and faculty and their families. Click here for Benefits Information.

The Christian Chaplain is a part-time academic-year casual position with no benefits. The position runs mid-August through May with pauses for certain holidays and school breaks.

The Christian Chaplain serves a vital function in the Center for Religious and Spiritual Life (RSL) by supporting our Christian community (particularly students) as well as the broader campus community. While primarily focused on Christian programming advising and pastoral care the Christian Chaplain also contributes to interfaith contemplative and service programs sponsored by RSL. The Chaplain provides a welcoming ministry to a diverse student population and College community and contributes to campus efforts that advance equity belonging and interreligious understanding. The position primarily involves weekday work hours with occasional evening and weekend responsibilities associated with student programs and campus events including panels vigils Vespers Baccalaureate.

The Christian Chaplain serves as the Colleges primary institutional point of contact for Christian life working in collaboration with external campus ministries while upholding the Colleges values of inclusion and student wellbeing. While Amherst Christian Fellowship is advised and supported by InterVarsity staff the Christian Chaplain remains the professional staff resource for Christian students offering pastoral care and supporting major Christian services and campus ceremonies including the annual Vespers service the twice-semesterly Bi-Semester Service for Black Christian worship and representation of Christian clergy at key campus events such as Baccalaureate and vigils.

10 hours/week during the academic year

Summary of Duties and Responsibilities

Programs:

Provides for religious programming on campus and makes all reasonable efforts to accommodate the religious and spiritual needs of Christian students as well as faculty and staff

Co plans and supports campus wide Christian rituals and services with students and RSL staff and contributes to Religious and Spiritual Life programming such as interfaith panels service events Baccalaureate vigils and retreats.

Participates in College committees as eligible and able

Makes provision for weddings and funerals for the campus community and alumni/ae as requested and as available

Advising:

Advises Christian student groups that may emerge (aside from ACF) including leadership development and mentoring with their student leaders

Develop strategies for contacting and serving uninvolved/under-involved students

Provide one-on-one and group spiritual counseling and pastoral care to students navigating faith doubt identity or belonging within a pluralistic campus context: and when time allows to faculty and staff by request

Serve the campus community in times of crisis

Administrative:

Hold regular office hours

Attend regularly scheduled Religious & Spiritual Life staff meetings OICR team meetings and Student Affairs division meetings.

Communicate in a timely manner with students and staff balancing weekly hours between on-campus commitments and responsive attention to communications

Consult with the Director of Religious and Spiritual Life on matters related to policy crisis response and institutional representation

Stay current with trends in chaplaincy by maintaining membership in the Association for Chaplaincy and Spiritual Life in Higher Education (ACSLHE) or comparable organizations.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelors degree

• Trained in Christian tradition and able to facilitate Christian worship prayer and fellowship gatherings Organizational and pastoral care skills

• Ability to teach Christian tenets and provide a welcoming ministry to a diverse student population and the College community

• Previous professional work and/or volunteer experience preferably in a Christian organization and/or working with college-age adults

• Self-motivation and the ability to work independently while also appreciating supervision and teamwork

• A commitment to creating an inclusive vibrant and pluralistic Christian community

• Ability to effectively engage students at all levels in Christian life and to serve as a resource in a pluralistic setting

• Ability to work flexible hours to engage students and attend events

• Strong oral written and non-verbal communication skills

• An ability to manage logistics and multiple tasks with competing deadlines.

• Creative problem-solving

• Successful completion of required reference and background checks

Preferred

• Master of Divinity or equivalent with a focus on Christian ministry ordination in a Christian tradition Christian religious and/or pastoral work in a higher education setting

• Experience working in higher education chaplaincy or student affairs settings

Interested candidates are asked to submit a resume and cover letter online at Please be sure to upload all requested documents prior to clicking Submit. Applications cannot be revised once submitted. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

Amherst College is committed to an inclusive hiring process and will provide reasonable accommodations for candidates throughout the application and interview process upon request.