Draft job description for the rector of the LTS in Tshwane

 

1. Introduction:
   

 

1. The mission of the LTS is to train Lutheran pastors, missionaries and deacon[esses] for the ministry of the Lutheran Church in Africa.
   
2. The vision of the LTS is to faithfully serve the Lord of the Church by training and equipping its graduates to eventually:
   
   1. provide pastoral care of his people in congregations/churches throughout the continent as competent servants in the office of the ordained ministry with word and sacrament;
      
   2. reach out to the unreached people in Africa and beyond with the gospel, teaching them all Christ has taught by the apostles and prophets, baptizing them in the name of the triune God to work at building the Lutheran Church to the ends of the world faithful to Christ's mandate and promise; and
      
   3. practice works of mercy amongst those, who need it most like orphans, widows, foreigners, the ill, the poor, migrants, refugees, the marginalized and those, who are suffering from distress and calamity.
      
   4. Assist the graduates of the Seminary and also the ordained clergy of the Church to continue with life-long education, formation and specialisation.
      
   5. Developing a Lutheran theology addressing contextual and relevant issues in Africa in a confessional framework in cooperation with the Lutheran Churches throughout the continent and abroad.
      

      
       

1. The office of the rector
   

 

1. The rector is the executive director of the LTS and as such responsible for the successful management of this international institution to fulfil its continental mission and global vision.
   
2. He is accountable to the Board of Directors of the LTS, who appoint him on behalf of the LTS shareholders.
   
3. His service agreement is determined by the Board of Directors of which he is a ex-offico member. This is to stipulate issues of remuneration, housing, vocational leave, medical aid, pension, utilities etc.
   
4. He is appointed for a term of six years with the option of extension every year subject to an annual evaluation by the Board. If he is not to be re-employed, he is to be informed at least a year ahead of dismissal/retirement.
   
5. He and his family are to be an active member of one of the congregations making up the "Arcadia Lutheran Ministry" and thus an active member of one of the shareholder Churches of the LTS.
   
6. As an ordained pastor in the service of the LTS he is to be included as an active member in each of the shareholder's pastor's conventions and fraternals at national and diocesan levels.
   

   
    

1. Duties of the Rector
   

 

1. He is duty-bound to teach in obedience to the triune God the pure word of God which is revealed in the Holy Bible and affirmed by the normative Confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.
   
2. The constitution and regulations of the LTS are binding for the rector.
   
3. As the salvation of people is dependent on the proclamation of the gospel through the ministry, the rector must strive through his teaching and mode of life, by word and deed and his conduct to set an example. In the execution of his calling he is deemed to be a steadfast and trusty servant of the Lord and a faithful minister of the Lutheran Church.
   
4. The rector is to implement the vision of the LTS. He is to do this in various ways. For instance by:
   
   1. sharing it with its board of directors, colleagues, partners, friends and interested parties locally and abroad in person, via electronic media and print/writing and the publication of a regular newsletter
      
   2. working on getting their support and cooperation in this implementation process.
      
   3. addressing questions of theological program, curriculum, Semester timetables, various courses and levels of education, training and formation [basic or introductory; theological and diaconical; advanced or post-graduate/ vicarage/ internship/practicals] and finally accreditation/registration.
      
   4. teaching, training, guiding and forming theologians via the traditional means in at least one of the main disciplines of theology: biblical, historic and/or dogmatic studies.
      
   5. leading by example in liturgical practice and regular devotional service as promoted by the Lutheran Church.
      
   6. sharing actively in the daily routine of the Seminary, the congregation and the Church
      
      1. making use of technical means of communication, education, presentation and professional expertise.
         
   7. recruitment and admission of suitable students/candidates to partake in this ongoing program and life-long training.
      
   8. supervise and evaluate overall student morale, commitment and capability to handle the rigors of academic study.
      
   9. identification, recruitment, employment, support, supervision and development of short- and long-term Seminary staff in administrative, pedagogical and theological capacities to build the best possible team of co-workers at LTS, who's joint venture it is to implement this program/curriculum etc. optimally.
      
      1. Concentrating on efficient team-work so that co-workers complement each other in expertise, networks, support systems, personality and background to achieve an optimal long-term "core group"
         
      2. Provide opportunity for continual formation and staff development by regular sabbaticals, exchange programs and encouraging ongoing research, presentation and publication of theological studies at national/international conferences, magazines and institutes.
         
   10. building, maintaining, renovating, expanding and improving the facility to accommodate and facilitate this program optimally:
       
       1. Housing for staff/students with sufficient room for study and leisure
          
       2. Classrooms with necessary equipment and furnishings
          
       3. Library, computer space and copying/printing opportunities
          
       4. Sanctuary and devotional space
          
   11. Cooperating with the confessional Lutheran Churches in Africa to facilitate:
       
       1. Participation in Conventions, Pastoral Convocations and Conferences of the LCSA, FELSiSA and MLC are part of his duties.
          
       2. Recruitment and sustainable support of more candidates studying theology and preparing to become Lutheran pastors serving in the office of the ministry, or deaconesses serving in auxiliary services of the church;
          
       3. Testing and evaluating possible candidates for the office of the ministry in the Church.
          
       4. Cooperating with the Lutheran Churches to facilitate a optimal vicarage and internship for graduates of LTS;
          
       5. Assisting and promoting ongoing training and education of the ordained clergy [Conferences, conventions, workshops, papers and publications];
          
       6. Availing staff, expertise and programs of the LTS for support of Church programs and ministries as required by the Lutheran Churches in Africa.
          
       7. Theological studies on issues prioritized by the Church and its agenda in line with the pastoral, missiological and diaconical perspective outlined above.
          
       8. Partaking in ecumenical discourse of the Lutheran Churches in Africa and in matters of confessional church relations.
          
       9. Assisting with confessional positioning and projection of theological profile of the Lutheran Church in Africa.
          
       10. Getting to know the Lutheran Churches and focussing Seminary training on the needs of the Church focussing on Africa, but not neglecting the only holy Christian Church [Dialogue/exchange/ communication].
           
   12. Interaction and cooperation with theological institutions and faculties worldwide:
       
       1. Encouraging theological expertise in all fields, especially pastoral studies, missions and diaconia.
          
       2. Support, coordination with and utilization of the Lutheran Chair at the University of Pretoria in close cooperation with the sister institutions in LTH Oberursel, CTS Ft.Wayne and CS St. Louis;
          
       3. Cooperation, exchange and partnership with [confessional] Lutheran Seminaries in Africa: Accra and Matongo; but also worldwide [ILC]
          
       4. Dialogue with LWF institutions like LTI [Pietermaritzburg]; Arusha [Tanzania]; Madagascar and Addis Ababa [Ethiopia]
          
       5. Participation in theological debate at provincial, national and continental level by taking an active interest to promote the mission and vision of the LTS.
          
       6. Identification, learning and relevant application of best practices, benchmarks and standards in theological education in Africa and globally at LTS.
          
       7. Placement of magisterial and doctoral students into first-class programs and institutions worldwide.
          

          
           

1. Rules & Regulations
   

 

1. The rector may only engage in supplementary activity (subsidiary post or appointment, incidental occupation) extraneous to his calling if this can be reconciled with his calling and conscientious performance of his vocational duties.
   

The involvement in extraneous activities, irrespective of whether they are gratuitous (honorary offices) or for reward, including profit sharing, requires the consent of the LTS Board of directors.