From Shirley V. Hoogstra, Vice President for Student Life
Thank you for your interest in the college chaplain’s role at Calvin College. Facilitating the development of students who want to serve God with everything they are is close to my heart, and to the mission of this college. I’m delighted that God has placed an interest in this work on your heart as well.
The chaplain plays a unique part in the life of a Christian institution of higher education. At Calvin College, he or she serves in a variety of theological and pastoral functions, with attention to staff and faculty but working primarily for the faith formation of students. The college chaplain also oversees a staff of associate chaplains and coordinators who minister in a variety of ways. See our faith Web site for more information about the opportunities available to our students.
After the recent retirement of our long-term chaplain, the college has been reflecting on the nature of Christian formation on campus. This spring faculty members met to discuss their hopes regarding students’ faith formation. Whatever their starting point when they begin their studies here, we hope that all of our students exhibit growth in three classic areas. We hope they:
- gain further knowledge of God, the world, and themselves;
- form increasingly godly affections;
- put their commitments into practice, in a variety of ways.
We want to offer students an education that is as seamless as possible, with opportunities to learn and grow inside the classroom as well as outside it.
We joyfully recognize that God forms all of us in many different ways and through the influence of many different people. We devote staffing resources to the Christian formation of our students because we believe God uses people with specialized areas of study and gifts both directly and indirectly in the lives of our students, and in the life of the college as a whole.
We invite you to learn more about Calvin and the college chaplain’s role through this Website. We will be accepting applications through November 30, 2008, and we hope to have the successful candidate begin work during the summer of 2009. Please join us in prayerfully and actively considering the next steps in this process.
Shirley V. Hoogstra
Vice President for Student Life