University Minister, Beloved Community

TITLE:                  University Minister, Beloved Community

FLSA STATUS:    EXEMPT (Salaried)

DEPARTMENT:    University Ministry

REPORTS TO:     Director, University Ministry

JOB STATUS:      Full Time; 11 months (37.50 hours/week)

DATE AVAILABLE: August through June

 

PRIMARY PURPOSE/POSITION SUMMARY:
 

The University Minister, Beloved Community integrates the University’s mission as a Catholic, Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and the four pillars of the Dominican Order by centering the ways of knowing and ministering, living and praying of Black and African-descended communities that have been historically minoritized in Catholic higher education. The University Minister will engage and mentor students, partner with staff, faculty and community stakeholders to help fulfill Dominican University’s strategic commitment to equity and inclusive excellence. This position seeks to build healthy, faith-based communities that represent the full diversity of God’s creation. It will draw on, celebrate, and engage the cultural wealth, strengths and assets of Black communities, in particular. The University Minister will have a strong personal and theological formation in Christianity, and a knowledge of and appreciation for the sources, methods and experiences of Black communities and the scholarship that emerges from them.

 

This is a grant-funded position with anticipated conclusion in December 2025. These grants are renewable.

 

DOMINICAN UNIVERSITY 
 
Dominican University is a Catholic, comprehensive teaching university located in River Forest, a suburb of Chicago. Dominican University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission as a baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral degree-granting institution. It is highly regarded for its academic rigor and thoughtful accompaniment of students, its intentional affordability and values-based, relationship-centered learning environment. As of Fall 2020, 68 percent of Dominican University’s total enrollment of 3,189 were undergraduates. Students who identify as Hispanic comprise 61 percent of the undergraduate census and more than two-thirds of that undergraduate population self-identify being from minoritized racial and ethnic backgrounds. Over 90 percent receive some type of financial aid. About half of all undergraduates are first-generation college students; half are federal Pell Grant recipients, illustrating their families’ level of income; and more than half are eligible for low-income MAP grants from the State of Illinois. Recognized since 2011 as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), a federal designation of the U.S. Department of Education, Dominican is committed to expanding and enhancing educational opportunities for Latinx students and all students from historically underrepresented groups.
 

EXPECTATIONS FOR ALL DOMINICAN EMPLOYEES:
To support the University’s mission: As a Sinsinawa-Dominican sponsored institution, Dominican University prepares students to prepare students to pursue truth, give compassionate service and participate in the creation of a more just and humane world.

 

JOB COMPONENTS/ DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

 

The Beloved Community is a faith formation and leadership development program for students who are interested in learning from the experiences of Black communities and the spiritualties of African-descended peoples in and around the city of Chicago. Together they work towards Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s vision of achieving concrete peace and agapic love. The Beloved Community builds relationship through service grounded in mutuality and draws from the rich resources of theologies and the cultures and histories of Black peoples in the United States as a lens for the students’ service.

 

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT & DEVELOPMENT 

• Engage, mentor and resource student leaders to provide meaningful service that is highly valued by community partners and contributes to their respective missions
• In conjunction with the Director of University Ministry, establish and nurture mutually enriching community partnerships that participate in the organization’s efforts to address structural inequity and create vibrant faith communities, especially among minoritized peoples 
• Create and develop theological and spiritual formation experiences that are grounded in the sources, methods and resources, strengths and assets, and daily lived experiences of Black communities   
• Utilize assessment data to determine approaches to the growth, replication and scalability of this program 
• Create new and strengthen existing pathways for Black students to utilize fellowship as credit-bearing high impact practices and, in conjunction with the Director of University Ministry, collaborate with faculty to develop new curricula that align with these experiences in order to promote retention and purposeful, timely completion of studies 
• Develop and curate program materials for the growth and possible replication of this program
• Collaborate with the Director of University Ministry on advancement initiatives that support the health and sustainability of the program including grant writing, relationship building, and data informed reporting about Beloved Community
   

Faith Practices, Justice Ministry, PASTORAL MINISTRY AND COLLABORATION 
 

• Grow and strengthen faith practices across the broad range of University Ministry activities through student mentoring and accompaniment, contemplation and prayer leadership, and justice ministry that includes but is not limited to the following areas of practice: Sister Melissa Waters Internship Program, theological reflection, retreats and prayer opportunities, alternative break immersions, etc. 
• Collaborate with University and community stakeholders to create practices that emerge from the rich faith identities and cultural commitments of every student
• In collaboration with the University Ministry team, create and maintain the Ministry Center and all virtual gathering spaces as places of welcome and belonging 
• Provide pastoral presence and spiritual companioning to students, as needed 
• Participate in and contribute to the division of Mission and Ministry and other relevant committees of the University 
• Perform other duties as requested, delegated or assigned 

 

QUALIFICATIONS 
 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: 

• Knowledge of Roman Catholic theologies and histories, specifically those theologies that emerge from African-descended communities in the United States 
• Open to and knowledgeable in ecumenical and interfaith engagement 
• Immersion in and ability to articulate the Catholic social traditions 
• Some experience in community organizing, community development, non-profit program coordination, ministry and/or university education 
• Demonstrated ability to manage small budgets (events, etc.)
• Strong communication skills both verbal and written, and excellent organizational skills 
• Effective interpersonal skills to develop collaborative working relationships across a diversity of racial and cultural backgrounds 
• Ability to prioritize, manage multiple projects and establish goals 
• Willingness and ability wo work varied hours as needed
• Willingness and ability to travel occasionally for retreats, conferences, and alternative break immersions

 

Education and Experience: 

• Master’s degree in theology or pastoral ministry or related field preferred (including but not limited to the humanities, social justice, social work, social policy, education, etc.)

 

EEO Statement

Dominican University is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is dedicated to the goal of building an equity-centered faculty and staff committed to teaching, working, and learning in a multicultural environment. Dominican University believes that justice, equity, and inclusion are critical to our growth and development and seek to recruit, develop, and retain from a diverse pool of applicants who bring varied experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds. If you need accommodations due to a disability, please contact us at hr@dom.edu for assistance.

 

A background screening is required. 

 

TO APPLY:   

 
Apply online at http://www.dom.edu/jobs. Applicants will be asked to submit a cover letter, CV/resume and a list of three references.  References will not be contacted without the candidate’s permission.  Applications will be accepted immediately.  Review will begin on March 15 and continue until the position is filled.  Inquiries and questions may be directed to the hiring manager, Tara Segal (tsegal@dom.edu).