Faculty - Paul E. Pierson Chair in World Christianity

Fuller Theological Seminary School of Mission & Theology
Paul E. Pierson Chair in World Christianity
Endowed Chair Faculty Position Profile

Fuller Theological Seminary invites applicants for the endowed Paul E. Pierson Chair in World Christianity, with a proposed start date of July 1, 2027. The successful candidate will create a dynamic academic space for scholars and students to research the global Christian movement within Fuller's global, ecumenical, and contextually engaged framework.

World Christianity is both a phenomenon and a field of study. It is the observable result of the global expansion of the gospel since the giving of the Great Commission and Pentecost. Its study yields insight into how people receive the faith and share it across local contexts and generations; it reveals the variety of forms of church planted in different cultures as well as their worldwide interconnections; and it generates fresh thinking, drawn from historical example, about witness among people of other religions and service to our neighbors in wider society. In short, the study of world Christianity is the study of mission and evangelism that learns from the experience of other Christians in different times and places.

Qualifications

Background:

• Ph.D. in World Christianity, Mission Studies/Missiology, History of Christianity, Intercultural Studies, Theology, or related fields.
• Established record of scholarly achievement appropriate for an endowed chair position.
• Significant experience in the life and ministry of the church, with demonstrated capacity for cross-cultural engagement and international collaboration.
• Scholarly expertise in world Christianity with demonstrated engagement with theologians, practitioners, and theological discourses from Asia, Africa, Latin America, and other non-Western contexts, and with the interreligious dimensions of Christian witness.

Teaching:

• Demonstrated excellence in graduate-level teaching with an ability to lead and facilitate students in exploring both theoretical and practical dimensions of world Christianity, mission, and evangelism.
• Competence and vision for teaching a diverse student body.
• The ability to speak and teach in Spanish, Korean, or other languages is desirable.
• Proficiency in the use of classroom technology, including the seminary's designated online course management system (Canvas).
• The position will include teaching in traditional and online modalities within the School of Mission and Theology curriculum.

Research:

• Distinguished record of scholarly research and publication in world Christianity or related fields.
• Maintain an active and distinguished research program in world Christianity, grounded in historical study and drawing insight from the social sciences on one side and theology and the humanities on the other.
• Foster scholarship that engages the study of globalization, global politics, and world religions while remaining grounded in biblical faithfulness and theological rigor.
• Advance research that treats Christianity globally, encourages intra-Christian understanding and solidarity, and attends to the missionary origins of all churches and the continued significance of mission initiatives, wherever they originate.
• Research competence in languages relevant to the study of world Christianity is desirable.

Institutional Commitments:

• Commitment to theological education in the service of the local and global church, to shaping leaders for the church's mission and ministry, to the spiritual formation of students, and to supporting women and men in pastoral and other leadership positions.
• Active involvement in a local congregation.
• Disposition to work collegially in a diverse — multi-ethnic, multi-denominational, multiregional — seminary community. Demonstrated ability to foster curiosity and civility toward deep religious, political, and cultural diversity.
• Faith and lifestyle congruent with the mission of Fuller Theological Seminary as expressed in its statements of faith and community standards. Fuller Seminary requires each faculty member to sign its Statement of Faith.
• Commitment to the evangelical and ecumenical heritage of Fuller Theological Seminary.

Administration:

• Proven administrative and leadership capabilities.
• Experience managing budgets and institutional programs.
• Evidence of ability to convene and lead scholarly conversations across diverse constituencies.

Role Responsibilities

Teaching and Scholarship (40%)

• Graduate-level teaching in world Christianity, mission, and evangelism within both traditional and online modalities. Research competence in languages relevant to the study of world Christianity is desirable.

Leadership and Intellectual Direction (30%)

• Provide intellectual leadership for the study of world Christianity across the School of Mission and Theology, shaping curriculum, faculty conversation, and institutional partnerships in this area.
• Steward the resources associated with the Chair, reporting to the Dean of the School of Mission and Theology.

Convening and Engagement (20%)

• Develop and lead conferences, symposia, lectures, and dialogues that promote generative conversation across denominational, cultural, and theological differences.
• Create opportunities for engagement between Fuller faculty, visiting scholars, students, and broader publics on matters of world Christianity and mission.
• Represent Fuller within international networks for the study of world Christianity, such as the Yale-Edinburgh Group on World Christianity and the History of Mission and the Princeton Theological Seminary World Christianity Conference.
• Represent Fuller's work in world Christianity in appropriate academic and ecclesial contexts.

Student Mentoring and Advising (10%)

• Mentor doctoral and master's students in research related to world Christianity.
• Advise graduate students pursuing scholarship at the intersection of history, missiology, and theology.
• Hold regular office hours and complete related administrative responsibilities.

Rank and Other Considerations

Endowed Chair position.

• Rank and compensation commensurate with qualifications and experience.
• Twelve-month contract.
• Teaching load in quarter system negotiable with the Dean in view of the responsibilities of the Chair (baseline of 6 courses per year for faculty; Chair load to be negotiated).
• Sabbatical eligibility with dean approval.
• Location: Pasadena, California, serving the seminary broadly in its digital forward transformation of global impact.
• Date position available: start date July 1, 2027.

Pay Scale: 

• Annual salary the seminary expects to pay: $80,000 - $90,000 annually USD

Application Information

Applicants for the Paul E. Pierson Chair in World Christianity are asked to submit the following materials electronically, using the email address noted below:

• A letter of interest addressing the vision and mission of world Christianity as a field of study and teaching at Fuller.
• A curriculum vitae, indicating education, teaching experience, publications, administrative experience, and other professional qualifications.
• A list of three references with institutional affiliation and contact information, representing academic qualifications and administrative capabilities.
• Note: references will be contacted once the Search Committee identifies a short list of candidates.

Applications will be reviewed beginning October 1, 2026.

Fuller Theological Seminary is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. To the extent required by law, all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or protected Veteran status. As a religious institution, Fuller Theological Seminary is permitted and reserves the right to prefer employees or prospective employees for certain positions on the basis of religion.

Contact Information

Persons with questions about this position or the application procedure may contact us at: piersonchairsearch@fuller.edu. Application materials should be submitted electronically to the same email address.

Dr. Jeffrey F. Keuss, Dean

School of Mission and Theology

Fuller Theological Seminary

135 N. Oakland Avenue

Pasadena, CA 91182

USA