Recently, the Rev. Dr. Emily McGowin accepted a position with Wheaton College as their new Associate Lecturer of Theology.

This is a really big deal, because full-time teaching jobs in humanities at institutions of higher education are some of the toughest to secure because most schools nationwide are cutting funding for the humanities. Doctoral programs in the U.S. are awarding more PhDs than ever in humanities fields even as full-time professor positions in those fields have decreased significantly, especially since the economic downturn of 2008.

Moreover, an increasing number of humanities courses are being taught by contingent (or adjunct) faculty, who are short-term, part-time workers (the higher education version of outsourcing). This situation makes the competition especially fierce for positions at liberal arts colleges like Wheaton. There were around 125 applicants for the Lecturer of Theology position Emily applied for.

The interview process was labor intensive and lasted from August to February. After her initial application, Emily and about 20 other candidates had to write a series of five essays, which were evaluated carefully by the search committee. Then, Emily and eleven other candidates had a Skype interview, which covered everything from her personal faith journey to teaching methods to dealing with hot-button theological issues. Finally, Emily and two other candidates were invited to visit the campus individually. Over the course of three days, she provided a teaching demonstration in an existing undergraduate class and performed several in-depth interviews with faculty, committees, and administration. Then, after a few weeks of waiting, the assistant dean called to tell her the good news: The committee unanimously voted to recommend her for the position.

Although women are making gains in higher education across the country, it is still relatively rare for women to hold teaching positions in theology within evangelical schools. For example, among member institutions of the Association of Theological Schools (the accrediting organization for graduate schools of theology, which is not explicitly evangelical) in 2015 women only made up about 23% of total faculty. At Wheaton, Emily will be one of only four women on the Biblical and Theological Studies faculty, which has a total of 31 full-time faculty. Also, she will be one of three ordained women.

The position starts July 1, which means Emily, her husband Ronnie, and their three children will begin a new adventure in the Chicago suburbs soon! We recently asked Emily about all of this and had a great conversation about their discernment process and future plans for ministry.

So what does an Associate Lecturer of Theology do? Tell us a bit about the job you’re taking and why you’re excited about this.

My work at Wheaton will be focused on teaching undergraduates. I will teach the Christian Thought class, which is an introductory theology course required for all students after they finish their scripture courses. I will also teach theology electives. This fall I’m teaching a course in Roman Catholic Theology and in the spring I’ll teach a course on God, Suffering, and Evil–something I’m creating brand new.

I’m excited to be able to help young people learn to think and speak Christian. It’s a privilege to be their first academic guide through the important theological conversations the church has been having for two thousand years. I’m also excited to get to mentor college students. Imparting the information of theology is important, but to help facilitate transformation even more so. So, I’m grateful I’ll get to play a part in the discipleship of so many young adults.

Tell us about the discernment process that led you to accept this position.

I have felt called to teach theology since I was 18 years old. So, when I finished my PhD in 2015, we knew I would seek a position in higher education alongside of local church ministry.

We moved to the Denver area in June 2014 to plant Church of the Resurrection, and we imagined we would stay forever, surrounded by family and friends (as well as mountains and sunshine and incredible weather!). So initially we prayed something would open up in the Denver area but nothing I applied for worked out.

When I visited Wheaton College for the on-campus interview, though, I knew it was a special place. I felt at home on the campus and at ease with professors, administration, and students. I resonated deeply with their commitment to academic excellence, character formation, and Christian service. When they offered me the position, I was simultaneously thrilled and terrified. Thrilled about the opportunity–one that, honestly, very few receive–but terrified at the thought of leaving family, friends, and the church we’ve started.

But Ronnie and I realized pretty quickly that no matter how hard it would be, we needed to walk through this open door. We were in constant conversation with trusted advisors, including Bishop Todd, as well as close friends and family. All agreed with our sense of the situation. So, we said yes.

What are your plans for transitioning leadership at your church plant, which is still quite young?

Our people are very supportive of this move, which has been a blessing. They share our conviction that God has provided this opportunity and we have to take it. But that doesn’t make leaving any easier!

The thing is, our church plant’s momentum had stalled in 2017. As we were strategizing about what to do, this opportunity opened up, and both Ronnie and I knew it was a game-changer. Ronnie was cheering for me from the beginning, of course (he’s like that). He tells me that he knew that if Wheaton picked me then he was all in!

When we brought the news to our team, we prayed for a few weeks for wisdom and discernment. Eventually everyone agreed that momentum couldn’t be regained without our leadership. So, the decision was made to close the church. Everyone felt it would be best for the Kingdom and their individual families to dissolve the church, disperse into other churches, and give our assets back to C4SO to use with another church plant. That was, and is hard. Had this decision been made one year ago, before we encountered a number of setbacks, it’s possible the outcome would have been different. But Wheaton hired me, and now we get to do something brand new. Ronnie is trusting God for the next step in his service to the church and C4SO, too.

What about taking this position excites you?

I’m excited about getting to teach Christian college students and help them prepare to live out their vocations in the world. I’m convinced that the gospel of Christ is compelling in North America today insofar as people encounter vibrant communities of believers–faithful witnesses who embody the gospel in their daily lives.

I’m grateful for the chance to contribute to that in some small way. Also, I’m excited about getting to work with the talented faculty at Wheaton, many of whose work I already admire. And, at a more basic level, I’m excited about getting paid to do what I love. I am very mindful of the fact that this is a privilege.

What are your fears or concerns about this transition? How can we pray for you and your family?

Moving will be hard on our children. Leaving family, close friends, and our church is going to be difficult. Also, they’ve been in Montessori schools since they were very young and this will be their first experience in traditional schools. We are praying that God graciously superintends all of these changes and equips us to help them through it.

We also have financial needs. Moving is expensive and we will be starting out on one income. God has always provided but we need faith to trust that he will do so. Finally, we are asking God to open a door for Ronnie. This is a big step of faith for him to leave everything behind. His heart’s desire is to continue to serve the church and C4SO. We pray his next step will show itself soon.

Do you have any specific plans for continuing to be involved in parish ministry or church planting?

I feel strongly that my calling is at the intersection of the church and the academy. That means I will always be involved in parish ministry in one way or another. I know Ronnie still feels called to church planting, too, so I imagine we will plant another church when the time is right. After our move, we plan for our family to worship with Church of the Savior in Wheaton and we look forward to serving there with Father Ken and Mother Karen Miller. There is much we still have to learn.

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Bp. Todd Hunter recently weighed in on his thoughts about Emily taking this job, saying, “I am so very proud of Emily! It is a huge honor to earn such a job at an institution like Wheaton College. Most people only dream about such things. Go Emily! Your loving and supportive C4SO colleagues wish you all the best and know you will be an edifying, kingdom presence on campus.”

Emily earned a Ph.D. in theology from the University of Dayton, as well as a M.Div. from Truett Seminary at Baylor University, and a B.A. in Biblical Studies from Criswell College. She has taught religious studies and theology for many years in university, high school, and local church settings.

Emily also recently published a book! Quivering Families is an ethnography of the “Quiverfull” movement in America, and reveals the weakness of the evangelical theology of the family and underlines the need for more critical and creative approaches.

You can find more of her writing and speaking at emilymcgowin.com.

We’re praying for the whole McGowin family as they transition to Wheaton this summer!