Christian Chaplain (Casual)

Job Description

The Christian Chaplain is a part-time, casual, non-benefited position at Amherst College. The expected range for this position is $30.00-33.00 per hour, with the salary varying based on relevant education, training, and experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree
• Trained in Christian tradition and able to facilitate Christian worship, prayer, and fellowship gatherings
• Organizational and pastoral care skills
• Able 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
• Able to effectively engage students at all levels in Christian life and to serve as a resource in a pluralistic setting
• Able 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

Benefits

The College provides a comprehensive, highly competitive benefits package that meets the needs of staff and faculty and their families. Click here for Benefits Information.

Programs

The Christian Chaplain serves as the College's primary institutional point of contact for Christian life, working in collaboration with external campus ministries while upholding the College's 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.

Responsibilities

• 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
• Advises Christian student groups that may emerge (aside from ACF) including leadership development and mentoring with their student leaders
• Develops strategies for contacting and serving uninvolved/under-involved students
• Provides 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
• Serves the campus community in times of crisis
• Holds regular office hours
• Attends regularly scheduled Religious & Spiritual Life staff meetings, OICR team meetings, and Student Affairs division meetings
• Communicates in a timely manner with students and staff, balancing weekly hours between on-campus commitments and responsive attention to communications
• Consults with the Director of Religious and Spiritual Life on matters related to policy, crisis response, and institutional representation
• Stays current with trends in chaplaincy by maintaining membership in the Association for Chaplaincy and Spiritual Life in Higher Education (ACSLHE) or comparable organizations