Senior Lecturer in Systematic Theology

Sankt Ignatios Theological Academy (Botkyrka folkhögskola)

Sankt Ignatios Theological Academy is a joint venture between Botkyrka folkhögskola and Sankt Ignatios foundation, in close cooperation with Stockholm School of Theology (Teologiska Högskolan Stockholm), and the Educational Association Bilda (Studieförbundet Bilda). The aim is to support a new generation of ecclesiastical leaders and scholars within Eastern Christianity, as well as educating the people through parish education and seminary education. The Academy is therefore both an Academic school as well as a school for People?s Education. The Board of the Foundation consists of the canonical bishops of the Eastern churches resident in Scandinavia. Botkyrka folkhögskola has a joint board of Eastern Christian parishes and Reformed parishes.

Field Description
Systematic Theology investigates the origin and the content of the Christian beliefs. It undertakes the task of a comprehensive analysis and new synthetic articulations of these beliefs, as they stem from the Scriptures and the Christian Tradition, and as they are interpreted by the Church. Systematic Theology studies the evolution of how the Christians expressed what they believe. It also explores the Christian revelation as mirrored in the documents of the Christian tradition, such as the Scriptures, the proceedings of the Councils, the writings of the Church fathers and mothers etc. The content of the Christian beliefs needs to be articulated all the time afresh, because each historical era requires its own formulas and reception of the Christian messages. For this purpose, Systematic Theology utilises the methods of historical criticism that help distinguishing between the relative historical articulations of the Christian revelation and the perennial core of the Christian truth that claims for itself a continuation in the future.

Major Responsibilities and Expectation
As a Senior Lecturer you will hold one of the chairs in Eastern Christian Studies within the Academy. Under your supervision you will guide and coordinate three major areas: Church History, Apostolic Scriptures and Exegetical Theology as well as Patristic Theology, historical and contemporary. You will also take part and lead the development of the people?s education in parishes and at the seminaries, together with the chair of Systematic Ecclesiology, and the coordinators for our three research areas; Syriac Christian Studies, Political Ecclesiology and a possibly third area Arabic Christian Studies.

The position is a temporary position and half time. If the Academy gains sufficient needs as planned, the position will be full time and permanent.

Qualifications
Doctoral degree, recognized within the European System of Higher Educational Institutions, within the field description, and with relevant publications and/or experiences. The Academy uses English and Swedish as teaching languages, but for networking and research connections we use several languages. We already cover Arabic and Syriac, and now we need to cover Greek and Russian. The position therefore requires very good verbal and written communication skills in English, Russian and Greek. If Swedish is not your native language, you are encouraged to learn basic Swedish within a few years from the time you are offered a full time permanent position. The position also requires a thorough knowledge of Patristic Greek and Church Slavonic. We also expect the applicant to have sufficient experience in inter-Christian and inter-orthodox relations on an utmost international level.