Dean of Formation

at  Uniting Church in Australia Queensland Synod

THE ORGANISATION:

The Uniting Church in Australia (the Church) is a large uniquely Australian Christian denomination in Australia with heritage from historical reformed evangelical denominations. In Queensland, the Uniting Church has around 250 congregations and has early childhood, schools, colleges and large community services (such as UnitingCare Queensland and Wesley Mission Queensland).
The Uniting Church is multicultural, committed to reconciliation with First Peoples, calls for reconciliation across its communities and aims to use its people and property resources wisely and in the furtherance of God’s mission in the world.
The College:
Trinity College Queensland is the denominational college for the Uniting Church in Australia, Queensland Synod. Inaugurated in 1977, the college has in various iterations continued to service the educational needs of the Synod, including its congregations, schools, and other community services by offering unaccredited and accredited study programs that seek to equip the church and feed its missional imagination. The College’s higher education programs have been accredited by the Australian College of Theology since 2020.
Purpose:
The college aspires to be a global leader in providing education for Christian life and ministry as an international and ecumenical community of learners, known for growing and revitalising churches, agencies and schools. This vision is supported by a commitment to utilising best practice and proven pedagogical methods to offer units, resources and events that (trans)form the whole person. This is achieved by combining theological education and spiritual formation in ways that inform missional innovation. It is intended that the outcomes of these initiatives are fully personal and thoroughly practical. The Queensland Synod resources Trinity College Queensland (financially and through its infrastructure) for this purpose of seeing the Church formed for mission.
Values:
Trinity College Queensland is a welcoming community of learners whose pursuit of religious truth is not obstructed by differences in gender, ethnicity or differing theological perspectives. On the contrary, our lives of faith are enhanced by the theological diversity that is reflected in Scripture. These values are expressed in our privacy policy and harassment policy. In the classroom, our faculty and adjunct lecturers do not seek to create clones of themselves, but rather to equip students with the tools for critical thinking and missional innovation in the world. All of our lecturers seek to balance pastoral concern with academic rigour and spiritual fervour. Our goal in education is to offer neither closed nor predetermined answers, but honest answers to the tough questions of life and biblical interpretation.
Position Purpose:
The purpose of this position is to drive and maintain an innovative and flexible program for the formation of ministry candidates within the Uniting Church in Australia, Queensland Synod. The incumbent’s primary responsibility, therefore, is to manage this formation program in a way that supports Trinity College Queensland’s vision to produce mission-ready graduates.

Key Responsibilities:

• Ensure that the formation program complies with Assembly Standards and provide advice to the faculty in response to questions about these Standards.
• Keep accurate records of student formation plans and provide information for the Principal in response to requests from the Board for Christian Formation. The incumbent will undertake other administrative duties that fall within the scope of the role and the capabilities of the incumbent e.g. organising and recording each candidates formation panels.
• In consultation with the Principal and in keeping with developments in ministry formation, advocate for an intentional approach to formation that extends across academic classes, developing short courses, practicums (i.e. supervised field education), UCA specific intensives, and other College activities, such as coordinating and organising chapel services with other candidates.
• Provide pastoral support to Formation Candidates (distinct from chaplaincy).
• Remain in contact with the Presbyteries and PRCs (Pastoral Relations Committees) regarding how candidates are progressing. Stay up to date with new applicants seeking to go before the Synod Selection Panel (SSP) in order to commence ministry formation in the UCA. Documenting and monitoring any issues incurred with candidate issues if/as they arise and clearly communicating outcomes with Presbyteries.
• Liaise regularly with Presbytery Ministers about newly ordained candidates in their first placements (phase 3). Direct new ministers to resources and training as needed.
• In consultation with the Academic Dean and Principal, advise crediting Recognition of Prior Learning for each candidate enrolling into an accredited course at the College.
• Assist formation candidates to access funding/grants.
• In consultation with the Academic Dean and Registrar, ensure formation program and academic study programs complement each other to produce mission-ready graduates.
• Offer an aspirational approach to teaching (all-candidate days and short courses) and preaching (chapel services and across wider church).
• Work within the policies and procedures of the Uniting Church in Australia Queensland Synod and the provisions of the Workplace Health and Safety and other relevant legislation, including support for injured workers and full participation in return-to-work plans.
• Promote the values enshrined within the Basis of Union.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Ordained Minister in the Uniting Church in Australia.
• Minimum qualifications of a MA (PhD or DMin desirable). An additional 0.2 FTE (one day) may be added to the role if the successful applicant is qualified to teach accredited ACT units for the college.
• Completion of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) desirable.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS:

The applicant is invited to provide evidence that they have the following experience and skills:

• Excellent administrative and communication skills.
• A track record of making a positive contribution within a workplace environment.
• Timely delivery of services within previous roles.
• Well-received when teaching and/or preaching in lay contexts (as well as the College’s higher education setting).
• Ability to manage people and programs with pastoral sensitivity and spiritual insight.
• A capacity to manage technology associated with the offering of blended learning (i.e. Moodle).
• Displays attention to detail, timeliness, analytical and focused on outcomes.
• An ability to understand and engage effectively with a wide variety of UCA churches and communities.
• An ability to clearly communicate with others and manage competing views (e.g. cultural and gender diversity).

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• This is an approved placement of the Uniting Church in Australia.
• The incumbent may be required to offer evening lectures when teaching at an introductory or lay education level.
• Faculty/teaching members are required to update online materials relevant to their own courses in a timely manner.
• The Principal may delegate the successful applicant to attend Presbytery Meetings or to contribute in Synod committees that have direct relevance for Trinity College Queensland.
• Attendance of relevant gatherings of Synod in Session (every 18 months in QLD).
• Attend College events (e.g. Open Evenings, Commencement dinners) and activities (e.g. professional development sessions) as required by the Principal.
• Be present at TCQ when the student body is present for community meetings such as chapel, morning and afternoon teas, lunch.
• In consultation with the Principal, travel to regional areas for the offering of lay intensives or to communicate with placement supervisors.
• Possess relevant qualifications approved by our accredited provider, the Australian College of Theology, to be a sessional teaching and teach 1 unit per semester with compensation provided for services rendered (this will add 0.2 FTE to the position status).
• Suitability Card for Child Related Employment (Blue Card) - All adults who work with people under 18 years in QLD are required to undergo a “Working with Children Check” under the screening provisions of the Commission for Children and Young People Act (2000) - Presentation of a current Suitability Card must be made before your appointment to the position can be confirmed.
• The successful applicant must be eligible to legally work in Australia and proof of eligibility may be requested.

• Ensure that the formation program complies with Assembly Standards and provide advice to the faculty in response to questions about these Standards.
• Keep accurate records of student formation plans and provide information for the Principal in response to requests from the Board for Christian Formation. The incumbent will undertake other administrative duties that fall within the scope of the role and the capabilities of the incumbent e.g. organising and recording each candidates formation panels.
• In consultation with the Principal and in keeping with developments in ministry formation, advocate for an intentional approach to formation that extends across academic classes, developing short courses, practicums (i.e. supervised field education), UCA specific intensives, and other College activities, such as coordinating and organising chapel services with other candidates.
• Provide pastoral support to Formation Candidates (distinct from chaplaincy).
• Remain in contact with the Presbyteries and PRCs (Pastoral Relations Committees) regarding how candidates are progressing. Stay up to date with new applicants seeking to go before the Synod Selection Panel (SSP) in order to commence ministry formation in the UCA. Documenting and monitoring any issues incurred with candidate issues if/as they arise and clearly communicating outcomes with Presbyteries.
• Liaise regularly with Presbytery Ministers about newly ordained candidates in their first placements (phase 3). Direct new ministers to resources and training as needed.
• In consultation with the Academic Dean and Principal, advise crediting Recognition of Prior Learning for each candidate enrolling into an accredited course at the College.
• Assist formation candidates to access funding/grants.
• In consultation with the Academic Dean and Registrar, ensure formation program and academic study programs complement each other to produce mission-ready graduates.
• Offer an aspirational approach to teaching (all-candidate days and short courses) and preaching (chapel services and across wider church).
• Work within the policies and procedures of the Uniting Church in Australia Queensland Synod and the provisions of the Workplace Health and Safety and other relevant legislation, including support for injured workers and full participation in return-to-work plans.
• Promote the values enshrined within the Basis of Union