Dean for Spiritual Life / University Pastor

Job Description

Job Description

George Fox University's Department of Student Life is seeking a compassionate follower of Christ to serve as our Dean for Spiritual Life/University Pastor.

About the Job:

As the lead Dean for Spiritual Life/University Pastor, this position encourages and promotes a Christ-like community among undergraduate students, providing opportunities for them to understand the Gospel, grow toward spiritual maturity, and develop a strong vision for God's work in the world. This "movement toward maturity" includes fostering a heart and mind responsive to God's call individually and within the broader community to further Christ's Kingdom "on earth as it is in heaven."

The most visible aspect of this role involves developing and implementing spiritual formation and chapel programs, which include Bible study, worship, discipleship, outreach, and service. Additionally, the Dean provides oversight and supervision for the Office for Spiritual Life, Serve Day, the Human Sexuality Care Initiative (HSCI), and the common student leadership experience. As an active participant on the Student Life Leadership Team, the Dean reports directly to the Vice President for Student Life (VPSL).

Job responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Strategic Leadership & Vision
  
  • Collaborative Vision: Partner with the Student Life and Athletics Team, the Chief Mission Integration Officer, Academic Affairs, Inclusive Excellence, and other departments across campus to help shape a vibrant, Christ-centered culture. Lead the institutional commitment to Christian formation by ensuring worship, Biblical teaching, and discipleship practices are a central part of the campus experience.
  • Campus Integration: Lead the Christ-Centered Community Mission Fulfillment Team, working hand-in-hand with faculty and staff to weave spiritual care and formation into the fabric of George Fox's traditions and daily practices.
  • Strategic Oversight: Provide strategic leadership and data-informed assessment for undergraduate spiritual life programs, guaranteeing alignment with identified goals, objectives, and student needs.
    
• Pastoral Care & Ministry
  
  • Preaching & Teaching: Proclaim and teach Scripture with pastoral care across the campus community, including chapel gatherings. Walk alongside students and staff by leading formative practices such as foundational spiritual disciplines, baptisms, communion, and commissionings.
  • Counsel & Mentorship: Maintain an active pastoral presence, offering prayer, spiritual counsel, and mentorship to both students and employees.
  • Crisis & Grief Response: Provide pastoral leadership, presence, grief counseling, and spiritual support during campus crises, student emergencies, or institutional tragedies, collaborating closely with the Student Life care teams and University Counseling Services.
  • Spiritual Intercession: Commit to faithfully praying for the university, its students, and its employees.
  • Church Relations: Build meaningful bridges with local and regional churches to ignite a passion in students for the local and global church, while maintaining an intentional, supportive connection with the Northwest Yearly Meeting of Friends.
  • Culture of Belonging & Pastoral Care: Partner across campus to cultivate a welcoming, deeply nurturing, and diverse community where every student feels valued and supported. Provide compassionate pastoral care and mentorship for students navigating questions of culture, background, sexuality, gender, etc. Guided by a commitment to a traditional, Biblical ethic and framework, walk alongside students on their faith journeys, helping them flourish in our community. This includes oversight of the Human Sexuality Care Initiative (HSCI).
• Supervision & Operations
  
  • Team Leadership: Direct, equip, and invest in the Spiritual Life staff - including the University Pastors (Chapel and Creative Liturgies,, Spiritual Formation, Service & Soul Care), HSCI Program Coordinator, and the Program and Events Coordinator - cultivating a healthy, collaborative team dynamic.
  • Personnel & Budget Management: Manage departmental budgets thoughtfully and handle hiring, training, and evaluations to support a thriving and flourishing Spiritual Life team.
  • Serve Day: Support the University Pastor for Service and Soul Care in executing George Fox's annual, university-wide Serve Day each fall.
    
• Communicating effectively and courteously with others, including employees, students, and the public, in a spirit of teamwork, respect and customer service.
  
• By actions, words, and lifestyle, be a Christian role model to students, whether through casual contact or in a formal supervisory role.
  
• Demonstrated experience working cross-culturally with respect, appreciation and humility.
  
• Other duties as assigned.
  

We're looking for candidates who have:

• Christian Commitment: An evangelical Christian commitment and lifestyle consistent with the institution's goals. This includes a personally held theological conviction and signed agreement with the George Fox University Statement of Faith and Community Lifestyle Statement.
• Education: Master's degree in a related field required.
  
• Experience: A minimum of five years of full-time ministry experience.
  
• Student Ministry Expertise: Strong understanding of and passion for the spiritual formation of Christian university students. Direct experience working with college-aged students and prior counseling experience are highly desirable.
  
• Ministry Gifts: Demonstrated gifts in preaching, teaching, pastoral discernment, and discipleship.
  
• Core Skills: Strong organizational, planning, and interpersonal skills. Ability to communicate effectively in English, both orally and in writing (including telephone communications), and the ability to understand and follow complex instructions.
• Legal authorization to work in the United States. This position does not offer visa sponsorship; therefore, only applicants who do not require sponsorship for employment visas, now or at any point in the future, should apply.
• A commitment to the University's Theology of Racial and Ethnic Diversity.
  
• A desire to work with a diverse community of students and employees who represent various cultures, backgrounds, abilities, ethnicities, political views, and expressions of Christian faith.
• A personal commitment to Jesus Christ and express their Christian testimony in a church. In addition, employees agree to live in agreement with the Community Lifestyle Statement and affirm the theological commitments expressed in the Statement of Faith.

Preference Will be Given to Those Who Have the Following Attributes:

• Experience directly working with college students and counseling experience is desirable.
• Some pastoral work in a local church or university setting.
  
• Supervisory experience.
  
• Master of Divinity or doctoral degree.
  

Job information:

• Hours Per Week: 40
• Primary Work Location: Newberg Campus
• Working Conditions: Physical requirements are those of a normal office environment.
• Supervisor: Vice President for Student Life

George Fox University has been transforming student's lives for over 125 years. We are a Christ-centered community that prepares students spiritually, academically, and professionally to think with clarity, act with integrity, and serve with passion. Our vision is to be the Christian university of choice known for empowering students to achieve exceptional life outcomes. We put students first, with Christ at the center of our work, embracing change in order to improve. We are looking for enthusiastic candidates to join us in creating transformational experiences for our students.

Being a part of our community means a commitment to faith and to a lifestyle that is consistent with the university's mission as described in the Statement of Faith and Community Lifestyle Statement on our website.

As a Christ-centered community, George Fox University is an institution that values diversity as an essential dimension of God's design for human communities.

What is most appealing about working at George Fox University?

• Faith-friendly: Our culture is unique for higher education. At George Fox you can pursue academic excellence while integrating scriptures, praying with staff members and students at work, and helping to make an impact on the world in a way that promotes Christian values.
• Unapologetically Christian: As a university, we have an enduring commitment to Christ, his kingdom and the truth of God's Word.
• Live out your calling: You are able to use your God-given talents and abilities while having a profound influence on students as they deepen their relationship with Jesus Christ.
• Equip students for kingdom work: You can be a part of helping students discover their callings, at which they will be able to glorify the kingdom of God just as they have seen you do.

For your personal well-being we offer:

• A strong Christian vision and mission-led organization with opportunities for your growth and contributions.
• Wonderful Christian peers and a vibrant student population.
• A beautiful and peaceful campus environment with areas to walk and coffee shops and restaurants close by.
• Free Fitness Center membership.
• Free parking.
• Rich employee benefit package.
  

Application Procedures - kindly apply only through this website

When completing the online application, please upload the following as Word or .pdf documents in the section marked Letter of Interest and Curriculum Vitae or Resume :

• Letter of Interest
• Curriculum Vitae (CV) or Resume
• Other supporting materials may be requested at a later stage of the review process.

Interested applicants are encouraged to apply immediately as review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

We invite you to Be Known at Oregon's largest private and nationally recognized Christian University!

**This position is subject to close at any time, regardless of the date on the posting.
**Have questions or need assistance with our application process? Contact View email address on ziprecruiter.com

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy

The university is an equal-opportunity employer. Every employee has the right to work in surroundings free from all forms of unlawful discrimination. It is our policy to make decisions about applicants and employees without regard to sex, age, race, color, marital status, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other status to the extent prohibited by applicable local, state, or federal law. This prohibition applies not only to the recruiting and hiring process but to all facets of the employment relationship, including promotion, pay, training, classification, performance reviews, discipline, and termination.

George Fox is owned by the Northwest Yearly Meeting of Friends Church and its mission is distinctly Christian. Employees are required to agree with and abide by the university's faith statement and its statement of community responsibilities. Within the context of this agreement and commitment, employment opportunities are otherwise available to all persons on the basis of their experience and skills.

In the recruiting process, the university may make special effort to solicit applicants from underrepresented groups. This is done as an affirmative step to increase the representation of these populations in the university's workforce to better match their availability in the labor market. Hiring decisions are based on the applicants' qualifications as they relate to the needs of the position.