The Scottish Episcopal Institute is seeking a new Chaplain. The Chaplain provides spiritual, religious and pastoral support to students, staff and to all in the SEI community.
Person: The Chaplain is someone with a vested interest in ministerial/theological education and accompanying formation, familiar with the kinds of pastoral concerns raised during the time that candidates prepare for ordained and licensed ministry. Whilst Anglican/Episcopal ordination is desirable for this role, it is not required, and qualified lay persons of the Scottish Episcopal Church (or a Church in full communion with it) are encouraged to apply.
Responsibilities: The Chaplain is proactive in providing pastoral care in concert with the ethos of the Scottish Episcopal Church and the Scottish Episcopal Institute: to pray, to participate in worship, to listen, to encourage and to support students, staff and families. The Chaplain is also tasked to engender a sense of community among all associated with SEI, and to counsel students, staff and families around self-care, wellbeing and pastoral supervision.
Specific duties include:
- To proactively contact the IME1 students across each year of their formation to enhance their welfare as candidates for ministry.
- To attend Orientation Week for a 24-hour overnight.
- Attend a 24-hour period for each of the five residential weekends: Friday afternoon to Saturday afternoon.
- To offer a reasonable amount of pastoral support at the request of SEI students, staff, or families. Means of contact should be shared with the SEI community and kept updated.
- To be prepared to administer (if a Priest), or direct others toward a Priest, when the Sacrament of Penance is requested (Canon 29).
The above specific duties may be renegotiated with the Principal, where reasonable, for the good of the Chaplain and the SEI community. The Chaplain is encouraged to make other contributions to the community in line with their unique gifts and skills, as appropriate.
Term and workload: SEI Chaplain is a three-year non-stipendiary post. The Chaplain is appointed by the Principal following an expression of interest and application. A renewal of the three-year term is possible, for a total term of up to six years. The Chaplain will be compensated for travel expenses, accommodation and incidentals. Potential Chaplains are encouraged to discuss applying for this role, as appropriate, with their Bishop, Incumbent, Vestry and/or employer to consider the personal and time demands of the Chaplaincy.
Relationship to SEI Staff: What is shared with the Chaplain is confidential and outwith appraisals, assessments and line-management structures of SEI. Therefore, the SEI Chaplain is a non-teaching member of the SEI staff team who is uninvolved with evaluation of any kind within SEI and is available in a purely pastoral capacity. The Chaplain, in turn, is supported by the Principal and, more generally, by the Management Committee (Board of Studies) and the Institute Council. The Chaplain will be included in circulation of SEI-related non-confidential matters including news, minutes and action points, that would normally be circulated to staff.
Application Process: Those interested should write a covering letter outlining their sense of call to theological-education chaplaincy, current ministerial responsibilities and other relevant experiences to the Principal, the Rev Canon Prof Michael Hull. The covering letter (one side of A4) and a CV (two sides of A4) should be sent directly to Ms Margaret Acton, the Principal’s PA, at MargaretA@scotland.anglican.org. A review of materials will begin on Monday 13 October and continue until the role is filled and interviews will be arranged on ad hoc basis.
