Director of Spiritual Life

Director of Spiritual Life 

The position of Director of Spiritual Life at Zion Christian School is crucial because it directly supports the school’s core mission: to provide a transformative education grounded in the authoritative Word of God, partnering with families and churches to equip students to live and learn for the glory of God. This isn’t just about adding Bible classes; it’s about ensuring that every aspect of the school’s life, from curriculum to student conduct, is viewed through a distinctly biblical and Reformed Christian lens.

Here’s a breakdown of why this role is so important for Zion Christian School:

• Preserving and Strengthening Identity: In an increasingly secular educational landscape, the Director of Spiritual Life is vital for intentionally preserving, strengthening, and passing on Zion’s unique Reformed Christian heritage. This heritage, rooted in historic confessions like the Belgic Confession, Canons of Dort, Westminster Confession, and the Heidelberg Catechism, provides a framework for understanding Scripture, the gospel, and the world.
• Ensuring Coherent Biblical Instruction: The Director provides focused leadership to ensure that biblical instruction is not only present but also coherent and well-developed across all grade levels, from elementary through high school. This includes overseeing the Bible curriculum, teaching directly, and equipping faculty.
• Integrating a Reformed Worldview: A key responsibility is to help faculty integrate a Reformed biblical worldview throughout the entire curriculum, not just in isolated Bible lessons. This means demonstrating how Christ’s lordship applies to all areas of knowledge and life.
• Cultivating a Christian School Culture: The Director plays a significant role in shaping a school culture characterized by faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ and marked by Christian piety, wisdom, repentance, service, and love for Christ. This involves addressing student conduct not just as behavior but as matters of the heart.
• Supporting Student Discipleship: The position aims to equip students to understand, articulate, defend, and live out their Christian faith. It provides support as students grapple with spiritual, cultural, moral, and intellectual questions, fostering their growth in faith and application of biblical truth to their lives.
• Partnering with Homes and Churches: While the school serves alongside Christian homes and churches, the Director of Spiritual Life strengthens this partnership by reinforcing biblical truth and encouraging students to apply it faithfully. This role acknowledges and respects the primary responsibilities of parents and the local church in spiritual formation.

In essence, the Director of Spiritual Life is the linchpin for ensuring that Zion Christian School remains true to its foundational identity and mission, providing an education that shapes not just minds but also hearts for Christ.

Below are the roles and responsibilities of the Director of Spiritual Life at Zion Christian School. The position is crucial for ensuring the school’s mission of providing a transformative education grounded in a biblical and Reformed Christian perspective.

Key Responsibilities:

• Bible Curriculum Leadership: Develop, maintain, and review a comprehensive, biblically faithful, and confessionally Reformed Bible curriculum for all grade levels.
• Teaching: Instruct students in Bible, theology, apologetics, and related courses, modeling excellent, biblically grounded teaching.
• Reformed Worldview Integration: Equip faculty to integrate biblical and Reformed beliefs throughout all areas of instruction.
• Student Discipleship and School Culture: Cultivate a school environment characterized by  fruits of true faith while developing opportunities for student mentoring and discipleship.
• Student Conduct and Discipline: Provide biblical counsel and perspective on student discipline matters.
• Faculty and Staff Support: Offer biblical and theological resources and support to faculty and staff.
• Church and Parent Partnership: Maintain constructive relationships with parents and supporting churches, reinforcing biblical instruction.
• Pastoral Advisory Council: Coordinate a council of pastors to provide theological and pastoral input.
• Strategic and Administrative Responsibilities: Develop spiritual-life goals, report on progress, manage the spiritual-life budget, and stay informed on relevant developments.
• Senior Leadership Team Member: Serve in a key administrative role in the school, working with the Head of School and the Board to develop the mission and vision of Zion Christian school. 

Qualifications:

• Profess personal faith in Jesus Christ and demonstrate a mature Christian life.
• Affirm the Bible as the authoritative Word of God.
• Wholeheartedly support Zion Christian School’s philosophy, mission, and statement of faith.
• Affirm and teach consistently with the Belgic Confession, Heidelberg Catechism, Canons of Dort, and Westminster Confessions.
• Be an active member of a faithful Christian church consistent with Zion’s Reformed commitments.
• Demonstrate Christian character marked by humility, wisdom, integrity, and compassion.
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field; graduate theological education from a confessionally Reformed seminary is strongly preferred.
• Experience in the secondary classroom is preferred;  Christian school leadership, or pastoral ministry is also desirable.
• Pay is competitive and based on ability and experience and includes benefits of tuition discounts, medical, dental, and vision insurance.  

The desired outcome is students whose minds are shaped by Scripture, hearts directed toward Christ, and lives demonstrating the fruit of Christian faith, preparing them to serve Christ faithfully.

This position will begin in late summer/fall of 2027.  

For those interested in the application or for additional information, contact Bob DeRuiter at bderuiter@zionchristian.net.