FA-Faculty

Job Title:  Church History & Doctrine Professorial CFS Track

Job Classification: CFS-Professorial 

Required Degree: PhD

Posting close date: January 10, 2022

Start date of this position:  July 1, 2022

Religious Education and the Department of Church History & Doctrine at BYU

Religious Education plays a central role in the mission and aims of Brigham Young University, which “is to assist individuals in their quest for perfection and eternal life” by providing an educational experience that is spiritually strengthening, intellectually enlarging, character building, and leads to lifelong learning and service. The purpose of Religious Education at BYU has been recently outlined in the following Board of Education-approved document, “Strengthening Religious Education in Institutions of Higher Education” (referred to hereafter as SRE), charging religious educators with the distinctive purpose “to teach the restored gospel of Jesus Christ from the scriptures and modern prophets” in a way that strengthens faith and deepens student conversion. Thus, the Department of Church History & Doctrine (CH&D) seeks to hire individuals who have demonstrated “unusual potential for excellent teaching of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ” (SRE). CH&D delivers two religion courses required of all BYU undergraduate students–The Eternal Family (Rel C 200) and Foundations of the Restoration (Rel C 225). The department also offers Survey of World Religions (Rel C 351) which fulfills GE requirements for undergraduate students. These and other elective courses related to the history and doctrines of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are key to the purpose of Religious Education. The following posting seeks for a religious educator with experience and expertise in any of the above areas who can demonstrate the highest quality teaching, scholarship, and citizenship. All qualified individuals, including women, people of color, and people with disabilities, are encouraged to apply.

Required Qualifications and Experience: 

Hiring decisions will be guided by the SRE document. The candidate should be familiar with the purpose of Religious Education as outlined in this document, including the application of and commitment to its principles and guidelines at BYU and CH&D. Application materials should explicitly speak to the following required qualifications & experience:

Qualifications

1. PhD, or equivalent degree, from an accredited university. Must have PhD or equivalent in hand by the time of employment, or the contract may be terminated.

2. Candidates must be members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in good standing. The candidate must “have the personal character, faith, testimony, and qualities of life that are a powerful role model for students. Candidates must also be sound doctrinally” (SRE). 

Experience   

1. Teaching: The work of religious educators at BYU centers around “excellent teaching of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ in a way that helps each student” develop faith in and testimony of Jesus Christ, become lifelong disciples of Him, and strengthen their ability to respond with faith in whatever challenges they may face (SRE). Thus, it is imperative that candidates demonstrate an “unusual potential for excellent teaching of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ” (SRE) to students in courses taught in CES [Church Educational System]” (SRE). Preference will be given to candidates with undergraduate teaching experience related to the following courses: The Eternal Family (Rel C 200), Foundations of the Restoration (Rel C 225), and/or Survey of World Religions (Rel C 351). Further demonstration of an ability to teach other courses offered in CH&D will be helpful. Click here for a complete list of courses currently taught in CH&D. 

2. Scholarship: Scholarship is important to the work of a religious educator in CH&D at BYU. The candidate must demonstrate “potential for scholarly work” that is of “high quality” and, in broad terms, advances “the purposes of religious education” at BYU (SRE). The primary purpose of scholarship in Religious Education at BYU is to enhance the effectiveness of teaching the restored gospel. The candidate must be literate and active in their academic discipline. The candidate is expected to draw on their expertise to support student learning and development as well as produce scholarly work directed to Latter-day Saints and academic audiences. 

Duties/Responsibilities*: 

1. Teaching: Full-time faculty teach four sections (two credits each) of classes offered in CH&D each fall and winter semester. Typically, this will consist of teaching two different class preps with at least one prep being a required religion course. Candidates also typically teach two sections (two credits each) of classes offered in CH&D either spring or summer term (normally consisting of one class prep). Each of these classes will normally contain between thirty and seventy students. Depending on the candidate’s demonstrated experience and training, course load could include The Eternal Family (Rel C 200), Foundations of the Restoration (Rel C 225), and/or Survey of World Religions (Rel C 351), as well as other courses taught in the department. Funds will be provided to hire a student assistant to help with grading, if desired.

2. Scholarship: Full-time faculty must produce scholarly work directed to Latter-day Saints. In addition, faculty are expected to remain active in their discipline(s) and produce scholarly work directed to an academic audience. All “scholarship must be of high quality and must advance the purposes of religious education” (SRE). Full-time faculty are required to publish an average of one peer-reviewed publication per year. Funds are available by application for research and for travel to conferences in which the faculty member is participating (i.e., giving a presentation, moderating a session, or participating in some other way). 

3. Citizenship: Full-time faculty represent BYU and Religious Education. They are expected to live their personal lives and to perform their professional responsibilities in accordance with the teachings and practices of the Church. Faculty members are to be respectful and kind towards faculty, staff, students, and our broader civic and religious communities. They are loyal to the leadership of the Church and the university. Faculty members must be active citizens in CH&D as well as in the college (BYU Religious Education), university, and professional settings. This includes attending department, college, and university faculty meetings as well as fulfilling committee obligations and other ad-hoc assignments.

*For a description of principles and measures used for rank advancement and continuing faculty status following hire, see the following Religious Education Rank and Status Document. 

Information required at the time of application:

1. Letter of intent (no more than 3-4 pages): Address this letter to the Department of Church History and Doctrine chair, J.B. Haws. This letter is crucial to your application and will be reviewed by faculty and administrators. Please refer to the SRE and the purposes, qualifications, experience, and expected duties of a religious educator outlined above as you concisely and explicitly address the following points: (1) why you want to be a religious educator at BYU in CH&D; (2) how your PhD and experience have prepared you to be successful in the posted position; (3) your teaching philosophy in religious education; (4) your research philosophy and agenda in religious education; (5) your commitment to citizenship; and (6) a diversity statement in which you articulate your views and commitment related to belonging and inclusion and how you plan (i.e., concrete pedagogical practices) to create a learning environment for all students that will help to accomplish the purposes of Religious Education as expressed in the SRE document. For further information on BYU’s efforts and approach in this area, see and refer to the announcement and description of BYU’s Statement on and Office of Belonging. 

2. Current CV: This should include contact information as well as sections on education (degrees earned, universities attended, majors, etc.), teaching experience (courses taught, dates, universities/seminaries/institutes, etc.), publications, presentations, and other relevant experience. 

3. Evidence of Teaching: Applications will be strengthened by including as much of the following as possible: a video that demonstrates your ability to teach the restored gospel of Jesus Christ at BYU (links to videos stored in a cloud service); samples of teaching materials such as PowerPoints, assignments, or syllabi; student and peer evaluations of your teaching; and other forms of teaching evidence. The evidence you provide needs to clearly demonstrate your unusual potential for excellent teaching of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ in CH&D. 

4. Samples of Scholarship: Provide up to three samples of scholarship.

5. References: Please list the individual contact information for each of your three references on the faculty application. At some point during the selection process, they may be contacted to submit their letters of recommendation electronically. 

Equal Opportunity Employer

Brigham Young University is an equal opportunity employer.  All faculty are required to abide by the university’s Honor Code and Dress & Grooming Standards. Preference is given to qualified candidates who are members in good standing of the affiliated church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Successful candidates are expected to support and contribute to the academic and religious missions of the university within the context of the principles and doctrine of the affiliated church.