Director of the Center for Preaching

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Director of the Center for Preaching Milligan University invites applications for the full-time position of Director of the Center for Preaching with an anticipated start date of January 2, 2024.
Reporting to the Academic Dean of the Seminary, the primary duty of this position is to develop and lead a Center for Preaching at Milligan University, a premier Christian liberal arts institution associated with the Stone-Campbell Movement.
The vision of the Center for Preaching is to strengthen and expand the preparation, support, and development of engaging and effective preaching.
The Center will implement a series of training and support programs that will cultivate and sharpen the call and development of future and early career preachers and promote innovation in younger and veteran preachers.
These programs will support and enhance the quality of preaching in our constituent churches and provide valuable insight into how best to nurture compelling preaching at this crucial moment in the Church’s history.
Responsibilities include: Oversee a research project to determine effectiveness and best practices regarding preaching in churches in Milligan’s surrounding region using focus groups and other methods to conduct research Design a program that encourages high school students to develop a comfort level in public speaking and to explore the calling to preach Attend and conduct workshops at annual Tennessee Christian Teen Convention Visit church youth groups to introduce concepts of compelling preaching Work with preachers across the country to mentor students in developing and delivering a sermon at their church and debriefing the experience at a retreat Create and lead a retreat of younger and veteran preachers to share learning about preaching from a multigenerational perspective Develop a program that places up to ten new preachers (in their first seven years) into a year-long cohort, led by an experienced, mentor preacher, to further develop their capacity in preaching models and strategies based on research of best practices of thriving congregations Develop rubric for evaluating and reporting on various program initiatives Prepare and submit an annual report of grant activities to grantor Skills/Traits include: A respected preacher with a minimum of 10 years of experience as a preaching minister A strong networker with broad connections throughout the independent Christian Churches Demonstrated leader, organizer, and strategic thinker Entrepreneurial spirit who can design and execute new programs Ability to manage the program’s overall grant-funded budget Passionate about the mission of Milligan and Emmanuel and, especially, the ministry of preaching and enthusiastic about working with a diversity of churches and preachers Qualifications Successful candidates will have at least a master’s degree (MDiv and/or doctoral degree preferred), an extensive background in preaching ministry, a commitment to the Stone-Campbell Movement, and a passion for the local church preaching ministry.
Successful candidates should also demonstrate a strong Christian faith and commitment to Milligan’s mission as a Christian liberal arts university.
Primary duties and responsibilities will involve travel both regionally and nationally.
Application Process: Applicants should submit an employment application, cover letter, and resume/curricular vitae via email to Dr.
Ron Kastens, Dean of the Seminary, at CenterforPreaching@milligan.
edu.
Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.
Questions about the position or application may be directed via email to the email address above.
Milligan is an EEO employer and considers applications for all positions without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, age, veteran status, or disability-if such disability may be accommodated without undue hardship-in provision of employment opportunities and benefits pursuant to federal requirements.
Employee Benefits Milligan University offers all full-time employees (those who work a minimum of 30 hours per week) the option of participating in group insurance plans for medical, dental, vision, and other voluntary insurance plans.
A portion of the medical insurance plan is funded by the University.
The University also provides a 100% employer paid group life insurance and long-term disability policy for each full-time employee.
See the current Milligan Benefits Guide for a summary of our insurance plans, options, and carriers.
In compliance with the Transparency in Coverage final rule, Milligan’s medical insurance carrier, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee, provides Machine-Readable Files for commercial price information on their website, located here: https://www.
bcbst.
com/tcr.
Employees may join Milligan’s 403(b) Retirement Plan with either Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association (TIAA) or Pension Fund of the Christian Church (PFCC) at any time.
Employee contributions for retirement plans are made through payroll deduction.
The University matches employee contributions up to 7% of gross compensation for employees working more than 1,000 hours a year (excludes students and adjunct faculty).
Employees also receive the benefits of dining in the University’s cafeteria at reduced rates and using the Gilliam Wellness Center and swimming pool.
For Administrative and Staff Employees, the University provides paid time off for Holidays, Vacation Time, and Sick Time.
The paid time off policies are included below: Holidays The University observes the following paid holidays: New Year’s Day Martin Luther King, Jr.
Day Good Friday Memorial Day Juneteenth Independence Day Labor Day Day before Thanksgiving Day Thanksgiving Day Day after Thanksgiving Christmas Eve Christmas Day Additional paid days off may be declared by the President.
Employees also receive 4 floating holidays per calendar year that may be used at any time.
Vacation Vacation time is accrued at the following rates: Exempt (salaried) Employees Non-Exempt (hourly) Employees 10 days after 1 year 10 days after 1 year 15 days after 2 years 15 days after 5 years 20 days after 4 years Sick Days Sick Day benefits are accrued from the date of employment for a total of 10 days per year, up to a maximum of 90 working days.