The Solomon Academic Trust (SAT) Is Seeking an International Partnership Facilitator

The Solomon Academic Trust (SAT) is seeking an International Partnership Facilitator.

Purpose:

To set up an international partnership that will facilitate the development of regional study centres that share the ethos of the Centre for Muslim-Christian Studies, Oxford (CMCS).

The Facilitator will be responsible for setting up a legal structure for the International Partnership, for facilitating the foundation of the first centres - in Korea, in Ghana and possibly in the USA – and for planning and fund-raising for the longer term. The post is 0.5 time for 2 years, with extension to a third year if funding permits.

The International Partnership:

An initial consultation of interested parties, including people with plans for centres in Ghana, South Korea and the USA, described the aim of the proposed partnership as developing 'a family of Christian-based academic centres with a commitment to training Christian leaders and bringing Muslim and Christian students and scholars together, recognising that the settings for that shared study will need to vary according to context.'

Such centres will:

• Often have relationships/links to a university

• Teach and resource teachers in theological colleges

• Resource centres educating disciples of Jesus from Muslim background

The centres will share an agreed ethos:

• Academic excellence

• Integrity and truth-speaking in both our studies and our relationships

• Hospitality and transparency as the context for joint study

• Building respect between Muslims and Christians

• We believe that Christians should learn about Islam from and with Muslims as well as from and with Christians and ‘secular’ scholars. We expect Muslims to reciprocate.

• Our Christian basis is ‘The Christian faith in accordance with the historic creeds which acknowledge the human and divine Jesus as Messiah, and in accordance with the Bible as the trustworthy, final authority’. On that basis, we work with Muslims, with Christians from other traditions, and with any others who wish to share in study.

The centres would share a vision of learning as a key to the transformation of people and situations, and of the importance of integrating academic study with practical engagement; and all this grounded in biblically faithful discipleship of Jesus Christ.

Responsibilities:

The Facilitator would be responsible for implementing the following plans:

Year 1: Set up international partnership and communications structures (Swiss Verien or UK charitable trust). Identify and liaise with stakeholders in UK, Korea, Ghana, USA and, potentially, elsewhere. Organise visits from Oxford staff to Korea. Establish quarterly virtual meeting of partners and annual face-to-face meeting (to continue throughout). Explore viability of a US centre.

Year 2: Development of plans for international resource cooperation. Foundational work for starting the Ghana Centre by the end of year 3. Visit of Oxford staff to Korea. Foundational work for a US centre. Assess long term facilitation needs, identify income sources, begin fund-raising and produce a business plan.

Year 3: Implementation of international resource cooperation e.g. exchange of scholars. Ghana Centre starts. Begin US centre by placing one Muslim and one Christian scholar in a US university. Foundational work for the South Korea Centre to begin by the end of year 4. Work towards implementation of long-term plan.

The facilitator would be responsible for all administration relating to the above, and would be expected to be involved in financial management and record-keeping.

Person Description:

Essential:

• Excellent relational and negotiation skills, with ability to relate to people of different cultures and faiths.
• Ability in strategic planning.
• Experience of dealing with charitable trust structures, and/or other organisational structures.
• Sufficient IT literacy to be able to set up virtual communications and to deal with financial records.
• Sharing the purpose, vision and doctrinal basis of The Solomon Academic Trust and CMCS Oxford and commanding the respect of the Christian, Muslim and other institutions and individuals with whom he or she will deal.

Desirable:

• Experience of international networking, especially amongst Christian organisations.
• Knowledge and experience of Christian-Muslim relations. Academic qualifications in this area would be an advantage.
• Understanding and experience of academic administration.
• Proven fund-raising ability.

Other details:

Salary: £35,000 p.a. pro rata

Location: The Facilitator will need to come to regular meetings at CMCS Oxford, where a desk will be available. Other work could be done from home. The Facilitator will also be expected to travel to meet stakeholders when necessary.

Benefits: Holiday entitlement: 5 weeks (i.e. 10 working days) plus public holidays when they fall on one of your regular working days.

Pension arrangements: Solomon Academic Trust operates a pension scheme with the National Employment Savings Trust and pays a pension contribution equivalent to 3% of the monthly salary into the scheme.

Right to work: Only applicants who already have the right to work in the UK can be considered.

Starting date: 1st January 2017

Duration: The post will be for two years, extended to three years by mutual agreement.

Applications: Submit a c.v., a letter of application and contact details for two referees either by email or in hard copy before 1stNovember 2016.

The Centre for Muslim-Christian Studies, Oxford, is a unique learning and teaching community. It is an independent Christian centre established in 2008 doing research, teaching and public education on the interface between Christianity and Islam. We promote the study of Christianity amongst Muslims as well as the study of Islam amongst Christians; but we focus on developing cutting edge thinking at the interfaces, looking at scriptural, historical, sociological and political as well as missiological dimensions. Muslims and Christians work together in a context of Christian hospitality.

The Ethos of The Centre for Muslim-Christian Studies

Our Vision: To see Muslim-Christian relationships transformed through shared academic study and by following the example of Jesus Christ

Our Purpose: Equipping leaders, resourcing scholars, developing Biblically-based thinking at the Muslim-Christian interface through teaching, research and consultancy.

Our values:

• Academic excellence
• Building respect between Muslims and Christians
• Truth-seeking and truth-speaking in both our studies and our relationships.
• Hospitality as the context for joint study.
• We believe that Christians should learn about Islam from and with Muslims as well as from and with Christians and ‘secular’ scholars. We expect Muslims to reciprocate.
• Our basis is ‘The Christian faith in accordance with the historic creeds and reformation confessions, which acknowledge the human and divine Jesus as Messiah and accept the Bible as the trustworthy, final authority’. Christian staff are expected to live by their faith as well as to study it.

Summer School for Christian and Muslim leaders-in-training, August 2015