Campus Pastor

Position Description for Campus Pastor
Campus Edge Fellowship at Michigan State University

“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it” – Psalm 24:1

Mission and Background
Campus Edge Fellowship (https://campusedgemsu.com) is a Christian ministry that provides support, solidarity, and fellowship to the graduate students and professional academic community of Michigan State University (MSU). We seek to offer a hospitable Christian community in which to address questions of spirituality, strengthen our faith, and enlarge our understanding and experience of God.

Campus Edge was formed with the support of River Terrace Church, Classis Lake Erie, and the Christian Reformed Church. Our approach to scripture and life is simple. All the world belongs to God and God’s word speaks to how we live every aspect of our lives. Our core beliefs fit within the Reformed tradition, but all faith backgrounds and perspectives are welcome at Campus Edge events and discussions.

Campus Edge is located across the street from Michigan State University, a large public research university in East Lansing, Michigan with over 40,000 undergraduates, 10,000 graduate and professional students, and 5,500 faculty and academic staff. The campus and surrounding community offer a dynamic range of cultural and sporting events, as well as affordable housing, excellent school districts, and nearby amenities, like a Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods within 1 mile.

Job Description
Campus Edge Fellowship is seeking a campus pastor to lead its mission. MSU is a large public campus with many strong undergraduate Christian groups; however, both graduate and professional students, as well as faculty and staff, are under-served, and a vision for integrating faith with life and learning is lacking. The candidate should have a thirst for knowledge across a variety of areas, be able to imagine and implement a vision for campus ministry, and be able to create a safe, respectful, and trusting environment for meaningful dialogue and discipleship. The campus pastor will report to the Campus Edge Fellowship Board (https://campusedgemsu.com/campus-edge-fellowship-board/).

Expectations
Full-time optimal, with negotiable benefits. It is expected that the campus pastor would spend substantial time meeting with students and groups of the university community and be a familiar and frequent presence in and around campus.

Guiding Principles and Responsibilities

● Spiritual Formation and Mentorship
o Deepen people’s faith with a secure foundation that welcomes intellect and reason
o Help discern God’s calling on their life and how their studies support that calling
o Ask how their life or work might contribute to the lives of others
o Invite participants to find worship that sustains them and encourages their faith
o Build a strong faith and life view that can be shared with others in honest and meaningful dialogue in the academic environment
● Spiritual Leadership
o Provide pastoral care to students, staff, and faculty.
o Develop opportunities for graduate students to use and develop their spiritual leadership
o Teach students how to seek Christ and develop a relationship with Him in every part of life
● Spiritual Community
o Provide opportunities to build relationships through activities, events, and studies.
o Give students a safe space to talk about their experiences/concerns/lives as Christians and to grow together.
o Form a bridge from students and faculty to the local church and larger Christian community.
● Building Support
o Maintain linkages to River Terrace Church and supporters of the ministry through active inclusion and communication of campus ministry opportunities.
o Communicate regularly and build relationships with participants and supporters of the ministry.
o Oversee day-to-day and donor operations of the ministry and facilitate board operations.

Qualifications
Required
● Theological Education
● A Reformed theological perspective
● A passion for campus ministry and connecting with students from a variety of backgrounds
● Leadership experience
● Proficiency in use of word processing software like Microsoft Word and prominent social media platforms for social networking and communication that reaches students.
Other strengthening qualities
● An MDiv. or advanced theological degree from an accredited seminary
● Experience mentoring students
● Experience with graduate education at a secular university
● Experience in fundraising
● A passion and willingness to work within the structures of supporting churches and denominations

Interested candidates should submit resume or minister profile
by email:
info@campusedgemsu.com

or by mail:
Campus Edge Search Committee
1509 River Terrace Dr.
East Lansing, MI 48823