Lip-Bu Tan Chair Church Job Pasadena area,Texas USA,Education / Teaching

Position: Lip-Bu Tan Chair for the Future Church

Lip-Bu Tan Chair for the Future Church

School of Mission and Theology

Fuller Theological Seminary invites applicants for the endowed Lip-Bu Tan Chair for the Future Church to begin July 1, 2027. This position leads in the research and scholarship necessary for depth and innovation in the global evangelical church today and tomorrow.

The Chair will demonstrate exceptional commitment to excellence in teaching, scholarship, and the formation of students for ministry within and beyond the church. The position requires expertise in contemporary Church studies with demonstrated capacity for innovative research that addresses the challenges and opportunities facing the Church globally in the 21st century. The successful candidate will engage in cutting‑edge research, data‑driven analysis, and strategic thinking that equips the Church for mission and ministry in rapidly changing contexts.

Position

Responsibilities

Research Leadership:
Lead innovative research and scholarship on contemporary Church studies and transformation. Develop data‑driven research initiatives that provide actionable insights for Church leaders and practitioners.

Teaching:
Quarter system teaching load in traditional and online modalities within the School of Mission and Theology curriculum. Use of the seminary's designated online course management system (Canvas) is required. Develop and teach courses that explore the future of the Church, contemporary ecclesiology, Church innovation, and missional transformation. Faculty have a baseline of 6‑course per year. The Chair will have a teaching load with a 2‑course admin reduction that's negotiable with the Dean.

Scholarship:
Maintain an active and distinguished research program focused on the depth and innovation needed for the Church today and tomorrow. Produce scholarship that combines theological rigor with empirical research, data analysis, and forward‑thinking vision. Advance research that serves as a catalyst for the Church to thrive in diverse global contexts.

Convening:
Develop and lead conferences, symposia, lectures, and dialogues that bring together Church leaders, scholars, practitioners, and innovators. Create networks and partnerships that advance contemporary Church studies and facilitate new insights to benefit and foster collaboration between the academy, local congregations, and denominational bodies

Fundraising:
Locate and cultivate donors in order to fund the convening role of the chair.

Service:
Active involvement in the School of Mission and Theology, broader seminary, and academic guild is expected as part of your role as a faculty member.

Professional Development:
Participate in professional development workshops and be actively engaged in disciplinary guilds focused on ecclesiology, missiology, congregational studies, and related fields.

Advise and Mentor Students:
Mentor doctoral and master's students in research related to contemporary Church studies and the future Church. Advise graduate students pursuing scholarship and ministry focused on innovation and transformation in the global ministries of the Church. Hold regular office hours. Complete related administrative responsibilities.

Faith:
Actively participate in the life of the church. Integrate faith formation in teaching. Model faithful engagement with Church renewal and transformation rooted in biblical and theological conviction.

General Requirements

Faith and lifestyle congruent with the mission of Fuller Theological Seminary as expressed in its statements of faith and community standards. Fuller Seminary requires each faculty member to sign its Statement of Faith. Commitment to the evangelical and ecumenical heritage of Fuller Theological Seminary. See the Fuller Theological Seminary website.

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