I have been doing a series of posts discussing the need for (1) local churches to consider hiring people who have done the hard work of earning doctoral degrees who will not be able to find employment in the job market of academia and (2) for local churches to take education more seriously as part of discipleship. I will continue writing on this topic tomorrow Wednesday (in the meantime, you can read Pt. I, introduction; Pt. II, the concerns of pastors; and Pt. III, what do congregations need to know? if you have not done so already), but today I want to take a moment to discuss (bemoan?) the new “Jobs Report” released today by the Society of Biblical Literature and the American Academy of Religion.
The Jobs Report is a collection of information regarding hiring trends from 2001-2010. These are the key findings (I have highlighted in red the points that I want to discuss):
- The decade under consideration experienced significant fluctuation in the number of job advertisements. Sharp decline marked 2008 to 2009 (-45.8%) and ad numbers in 2010 were just below ad levels for 2001 (494 and 511 respectively).
- In 2008 81.6% of positions listed were tenure track, but this figure decreased to 51.1% in 2009 and 61.0% in 2010. These findings may indicate that the job market for the 2009 academic year fundamentally changed, not only shrinking but apparently reconfiguring with a greater emphasis on non-tenure-track employment.
- Hiring for new positions and vacancies accounted for 85.1% of position listings.
- For ads posted with SBL and AAR from 2001 through 2010, the three most important skills or experiences desired or required by employers were (in order) holding a Ph.D., prior teaching experience, and interdisciplinary teaching or research.
- Data may suggest that demand for Ph.D. and M.A. instruction has increased with little correlative effect on the demand for B.A., M.Div., and Th.D. or D.Min. instruction.
- Jobs posted with the organizations were almost exclusively full-time rather than part-time.
- Fields of study for positions themselves were diverse but populated three major categories. Positions dealing with modern religions and their histories, including comparative and world religions, accounted for 31.6% of ads. Positions in biblical studies and related disciplines —including Ancient Near Eastern languages and literatures, Second Temple Judaism, and early Christianity —accounted for 29.0% of ads. Positions in theology, philosophy, philosophy of religion, and ethics accounted for 21.9% of ads.
- Positions in Islam were the major driver for the growth of positions dealing with modern religions and their histories between 2008 and 2009, increasing fourfold and accounting for 32.9% of such positions in that period.
- New Testament and early Christianity positions drove the rebound for positions focused on biblical studies, accounting for 39.5% of such positions in 2010.
- Positions in theology have led growth among positions in theology, philosophy, philosophy of religion, and ethics, doubling from 2008 to 2010 and accounting for 61.0% of such positions in that period.
- Not-for-profit, as opposed to public, institutions prevail in terms of the total number of positions.
- Most jobs at public institutions represent institutions with Master’s and Doctorate programs. Similarly, most jobs at public institutions represent institutions with student enrollment figures of at least 10,000.
- A majority of positions (64.3%) indicated that hires would teach undergraduate students, while 43.5% of positions indicated that hires would teach Master’s students and 27.0% of positions indicated that hires would teach doctoral students.
- Positions at Special Focus institutions and Doctorate-granting institutions report the lowest course load at 5.0 and 5.1 courses per annum. Associate institutions report 5.4 courses per annum, while Baccalaureate institutions report 5.9 courses per annum. Master’s institutions reported the highest course load at 6.7 courses per annum.
- Most hires would teach three to six courses per annum: 77.6% of not-for-profit institution ads and 77.2% of public institution ads indicated that hires would teach three to six courses per annum. Not-for-profit institutions, however, more frequently indicated a higher course load: 66.5% of not-for-profit institution ads indicated that hires would teach five to eight courses per annum, which compares with 51.8% of public institutions ads.
- Institutions located in 28 countries posted ads with the organizations from 2001 through 2010, representing six of the seven continents. The overwhelming majority of institutions posting job ads with the organizations are located within the United States (90.2%). Five countries posted at least twenty ads from 2001 through 2010: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, New Zealand, and The Netherlands.
John Byron summarizes my concern when he writes (in Thinking about a career in biblical studies? You might want to reconsider):
“It shows that more and more positions are non-tenure track, require the ability to teach on a variety of topics, and usually require experience. In other words, there seems to be less hiring of ‘freshly minted’ PhD’s and more shifting around of those who are already working.”
If you have graduated with your doctorate recently it is going to be hard to find work. If you do find work it may be as an adjunct with a load far greater than that which should be placed on someone who is “part time” with no medical, dental, or retirement.
This isn’t a problem for people who people who are experts in biblical studies alone. I’ve read more than one article from people who did doctoral work in fields like history and philosophy (i.e., the humanities) who either (A) couldn’t find work or (B) found that academia was an abusive master who kept them away from their family, friends, and even places where they’d prefer to live. Many have been asking, “Is there an alternative?” For example, a few days ago L. Maren Wood contributed an article to The Chronicle of Higher Education titled “What Doors Does a Ph.D. in History Open?” discussing how people in the field of history are finding that tenure track jobs are rare, sometimes over demanding, and not the only option. Could it be that one can benefit from the hard work of doctoral studies and then find employment that allows them to enjoy putting to use what they learned without working eighteen hour days to beat out one’s competitors for a tenure track position?
I think many students of biblical studies (or Christian theology) may need to seriously consider ways of marketing themselves to local churches (speaking to Christians, synagogues, mosques, and other places of worship for people of other religious convictions). Is it possible that C. Michael Patton’s Credo House is one example of the possible alternatives? What other ideas might arise as people think of new and exciting ways to use their education?
Also, I think local churches need to reevaluate what matters to them and what matters when discipling people. This could be a redeemable situation if (A) people with doctorates adjust to being educators in the local church rather than the college/seminary and if (B) the local church is willing to support/hire people to do this work rather than hiring another associate pastor who has skills sets better fit for small business advancement than discipleship. Let’s think through this together. What can local churches do to maximize this time when there are more people with doctorates realizing that there may not be a job opening at the seminary or college?
the archives near Emmaus 
Hi Brian,
I am really only familiar with the evangelical, confessionally reformed, and conservative slice of this issue, but within that grouping I think that matter is pretty straightforward: Theologically conservative Christians generally place very little value on top level academic work. In fact, many think that serious academic work is largely dangerous to the life and health of the church. That is the real issue. Everything else is about rearranging the deck chairs on a sinking ship.
We see the lack of support for serious academic work in many ways. Let me just suggest a few:
1. The growth of online and distance learning programs in theology is almost entirely geared toward the evangelical wing of the church. By far the number one reason for people to pursue distance learning vs. resident training is cost. Part of the reason why churches are open to calling pastors who have not received intensive academic training is because many people don’t care whether or not their pastor is theologically competent (or they wrongly assume that this is easily achieved).
2. It is much easier for a theologically liberal student to get financial aid to attend a liberal or a moderate seminary than it is for a conservative student to attend an evangelical or conservative school (Compare the cost of attending Princeton to Gordon-Conwell or Westminster).
3. Evangelicals like to start new schools but are generally not interested in adequately funding institutions of higher learning. Many (most?) evangelical seminaries have grossly inadequate endowments for pursuing both academic excellence and affordability.
4. Where are the top conservative fully funded PhD programs in Biblical studies and theology? The closest evangelicals get is Wheaton which provides half of the stipend (or less) that top schools such as Notre Dame, Duke, Harvard, Yale, etc … provide.
Items such as this are symptoms. The problem is that we don’t really care that much about first rate biblical scholarship (i.e. enough to pay for it).
So, while I think that churches calling men with PhD’s to serve as pastors or as non-ordained teachers in a local church is a great idea – that will only happen if we first decide that such scholarship is worth paying for.
mvpc
You make some great points. I agree that theologically conservative groups do not value education as they ought. This needs to change, but I hope that more progressive thinking congregations will find a way to hire educators so that we don’t have to rely on the more conservative churches too much.
I hadn’t thought of how online learning may contribute to this problem, but you make a good point. Why hire teachers when you can record lectures once every few years from your core professors or guest speakers and give students online classes? Hmmm….
You are correct about the funding problem and the multiple seminary problem as well. When I was in Portland, OR, it became painfully obvious that there was no good reason for both Western Seminary and Multnomah Biblical Seminary to both exist in the same town, especially with some few evangelicals living in the northwest. Also, both schools offer essentially the same programs. It is stupid to be frank. It hurts both schools. There was a time when Multnomah was the undergrad and many of their students went to Western as the local seminary. Now you have two seminaries fighting for the same students to do the same educating.
What the local church needs are not academics who will teach a variety of theories but men of God who will teach the truth so that the congregations will grow in Christ. Your concept of education probably differs from God’s.
That’s always possible!
I am currently in a PhD program in humanities, and I took this route because I have a bachelor’s degree in biblical studies and a master’s degree in theological studies. My adviser warned me against backing myself in an academic corner by having one specialty, so I chose humanities in order to have more options (i.e., history, philosophy, etc.). Furthermore, I am a full-time minister, so I have the flexibility to work on my degree and see to the duties I have at church. Since I’m so close to two universities, I also have the ability to adjunct (though I don’t right now). Rather than going all the way through school and then looking, I figured I’d work my way through and network to see what could come of it. I think networking is key (e.g., journal conferences), because it doesn’t matter what you know, but who you know. At least that’s what I’ve found. Working with a church through school also gives me a bargaining tool, because as a minister, I can negotiate to have tuition reimbursement for my educational expenses while in school as a part of my compensation.
Steven
It would wonderful if I could find employment with a local church. I am tied to the San Antonio area until at least mid-2015, so that limits my options a bit. It will be hard to work somewhere that cannot be an outlet for my learning or where the employer doesn’t value my education (whether Starbucks or an office job). I hope I find something similar to what you’ve found.
Brian, I’m sorry for the situation you find yourself in. I’m sure it is rather frustrating. My journey actually began with the cart before the horse in a manner of speaking. I didn’t go to college immediately out of high school, but I entered the work force. I have worked and schooled full time since 2004 — with a hiatus here and there — and am now close to finishing my first year of PhD work. It hasn’t been easy, but it has worked out. We’ve sacrificed a lot, and I’m certain you have too. The one thing I’ve had going for me is not being tied down to one location, so that would pose a unique problem. I hope you’re able to find something that is fitting and a blessing to you. Brotherly, SH.
How about a job like this one in Rwanda? The PC (USA) will consider candidates from other denominations. They also pay a salary, you don’t have to raise support.
https://onedoor.pcusa.org/(S(draapwxhbrxbtpzkknakkj2x))/User/Pages/jobsearch_position_description.aspx?position_id=20080360
Erin,
Sorry, I didn’t see your comment until now. I think I’d be open to some sort of missions-like teaching setting. Of course, my spouse would have to be on board as well. Not sure if Rwanda would be a place she’d live at this juncture in our lives. But maybe something like that (though not now, I’m locked into the San Antonio area for a few years).