Who We Are: Chesterton House is an independent Christian study center founded nearly 25 years ago. We are strategically located next to Cornell University and an affiliated chaplaincy within Cornell United Religious Work. Chesterton House provides Cornell students with a comprehensive Christian college experience in a beautiful two-acre residential campus with a vibrant common life. Designated an Oases of Excellence in Higher Education by the American Council of Trustees and Alumni, Chesterton House is a recognized leader as an innovative campus ministry model. Our programming focuses on an intensive living-learning experience in an intentional Christian community combined with extensive academic and intellectual programs both on and off Cornell's main campus. Our high-intensity programming calendar reaches 5000+ attendees / year both in Ithaca and around the world through our virtual events. Programming focuses on the integration of faith and learning, moral formation and community building, and academic / intellectual development of the Christian mind, effectively akin to a small Christian college. The ministry aims to facilitate the discovery of the intellectual riches of the historic Christian faith, thereby empowering more faithful Christian living for students, staff, faculty, and alumni of Cornell University. Chesterton House has been the center of a Christian intellectual culture with a mission towards both equipping Christians to engage with cultural and intellectual challenges as well as speaking to a non-Christian context in a Christian voice. The organization has a long track record of engagement at high academic levels with numerous visiting scholars, including Alvin Plantinga, Miroslav Volf, Oliver O’Donovan, Stanley Hauerwas, Eleonore Stump, Carl Trueman, Abigail Favale, Sherif Girgis, Matthew Milliner, John Inazu, Ross Wagner, Wesley Hill, Kavin Rowe, Jonathan Tran, Jon Levenson, Brad Littlejohn, Sarah Coakley, Warren Kinghorn, Ruth Okediji, and many others.
About The Role: Post-Doctoral Academic Associate Chesterton House seeks an in-person Post-Doctoral Academic Associate to further its mission to provide a Christian college experience for Cornell's community by facilitating the introduction of the historic Christian intellectual tradition. We provide up to a three-year postdoctoral position (assuming satisfactory progress reviewed annually) beginning July 1, 2025, with a combination of hands-on campus ministry work, teaching in the Christian intellectual tradition, and research. Designed to launch candidates into either academic or alt-ac/ministry careers (particularly in church and parachurch ministry), associates will be engaged in research for 20% of their time (one research day a week), given a research stipend to be used for travel and books, and be guided into setting a regular writing schedule with internal progress reviews to provide support and accountability. Chesterton House is an affiliate of Cornell University and because Associates are registered as associate chaplains, they are provided with access to Cornell's world-class library and research facilities. For 80% of their time, this position would be involved in a wide variety of teaching, administrative tasks, ministry, and chaplaincy work under direct supervision of our staff. This includes: Program management, planning, and implementation. Assisting our Executive Director and Academic Director in planning and executing our academic program. Supporting the innovative new curriculum being developed in our Logos Seminar, which introduces students to the moral theology in the classical Christian tradition and its critics in an atmosphere of challenging and charitable open inquiry. Serving as a TA and occasionally teaching modules as well as developing curriculum for Logos Seminar. (This would require engaging philosophy, Biblical studies, church history, and touching on empirical social psychology, economics, and other disciplines in an open ended manner.) Substantial student contact while preparing readings, leading discussions groups, occasional lectures, or moderation of panel speaker events. Building our network of global Christian scholars who visit both virtually and in person, providing guest lectures, panel discussion events, small group meetings, and other programming for a wide range of interdisciplinary senior scholars. Assistance running our Theological Society—an advanced undergraduate / graduate level working group.
Duties include organizing paper presentations, selected readings, and visiting speakers (both virtual and in person). The Academic Associate will have the opportunity to present several works in progress themselves as well as soliciting other readings and original work in progress or recently published work in fields of theology, philosophy, Biblical studies, or cognate areas.
Who We are Looking for: The Ideal Candidate The ideal candidate is someone pursuing academic excellence while also being eager to engage in daily, hands-on ministry. The organization is heavily team-oriented, unlike many more solitary academic environments, and requires a level of social energy, active team involvement, and commitment to have significant student contact outside of formal class settings. The chosen candidate will actively mentor students as part of our delegated pastoral care system. Candidate must embrace the religious mission of Chesterton House, including our Statements of Belief and Practice, and evidence a clear understanding of, and commitment to, excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service as well as the integration of Christian faith into their work. Candidate must exemplify humility and teachability to learn methodologies outside their specialty, and curiosity and intellectual breadth in advancing the mind and heart of the whole church, not merely within their specific disciplines.
Starting Date, Location, and Hours: Role to start Summer, 2025 Chosen candidates must live locally near our campus in Ithaca, NY. (Relocation assistance available.) Must be willing to work irregular hours and weekends as necessary. Some work may be completed remotely.
Required Qualifications: Must be 18 years or older. Must have a doctorate (PhD/DPhil, not D.Min) in fields including or adjacent to: theology, Biblical studies, philosophy, church history Must possess technological fluency and be able to run the technology utilized in our academic programming. Teaching experience and recognized outstanding teaching abilities. Must be willing to work as a team player and be adaptable to quickly changing priorities. Strong written and verbal communication skills and the willingness to communicate well with staff of varying levels. Must have excellent soft skills and a pastoral heart toward students and staff. Must be comfortable establishing relationships with highly esteemed scholars in many disciplines and with various theological backgrounds. Must be able to provide professional references and pastoral references from clergy or lay leaders. Agreement with Chesterton House Statement of Belief and Practice. Ability to work together across a wide variety of Christian denominational and doctrinal differences. A robust personal faith walk, demonstrated through private spiritual disciplines and active involvement in a local orthodox and confessional Christian church.
Desirable Qualifications: Hands-on ministry experience with college students. Degree in ministry (M.Div, ThM, MA) with fieldwork experience Residential/intentional Christian community living experience. Curriculum-building experience.
Job Title: Post-Doctoral Academic Associate
Compensation and Benefits: Chesterton House offers a competitive salary and full benefits package. $60K-75K depending on relevant experience and qualifications. Benefits include health, dental, life insurance, and 403b retirement benefits. Conference travel, and book budget provided. Relocation assistance available.