Principal

POSITION DETAILS

Position: Principal

Term: 5 Years (renewable)

Appointment: By the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, on a recommendation of the Board of Governors of The Presbyterian College, Montreal.

ABOUT THE COLLEGE

The Presbyterian College is a vibrant community of worship, learning, and friendship. We have our life with the risen Jesus, we experience joy in his presence, and we discover our calling through the Spirit he breathes on us. Our roots are deep within the Presbyterian and Reformed tradition, which we inhabit and share with gratitude. We welcome students from diverse theological traditions and the global church. We are discovering what it means to live in Christ’s love for the church, our world and communities.

The mission of The Presbyterian College, Montreal, founded in 1865, is to enrich the theological, biblical, and cultural understanding of Christians, to strengthen them in the faith-filled pursuit of their vocations, and to deepen their relationship with Jesus. We fulfill this mission through degree programs, through creative workshops, seminars, and training, and through intentional formation in spiritual practices.

We fulfill our mission and purpose within a dynamic and diverse faith‐based community in the Montreal School of Theology and in relation to McGill University. McGill is one of Canada’s foremost universities, located in one of North America’s most vibrant and cosmopolitan cities.

The primary commitments of the College, based on its Strategic Plan, are:

• Theological Education in French through expansion of our Master of Theological Studies program (Practical Theology) which supports French-speaking communities and congregations in Quebec and elsewhere by equipping transformational leaders for church and community.
• Forming congregational leaders through theological reflection, the building of leadership competencies, and imaginative engagement with culture who will support communities of worship and witness and guide the church creatively and faithfully in the secular age.
• Establishment of a Christian Study Centre that welcomes McGill University students into reflection on theology, vocation, and culture and equips them to integrate faith with their academic and vocational formation as they discern what Christian faith and ethics mean for the companies, organizations, and communities.
• Deepening Spiritual Life through engagement with scripture and pursuing practices of hospitality, prayer, fasting, sabbath, peacemaking, and charity for the formation of our hearts and the enrichment of our life with Christ.

OVERALL RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PRINCIPAL

The primary role of the Principal is to uphold, nurture, and advance the mission of The Presbyterian College under the oversight of the Board of Governors. In the fulfillment of this mandate, the Principal works in three particular areas

The College

The Principal of the College, subject to the constitution and bylaws of the College, has primary responsibilities in

• providing administrative and executive oversight for academic programs and other work of the college,
• participating in the Governance of the College as a member of the Board of Governors,
• implementing the current Strategic Plan under the oversight of the Board of Governors, with a commitment to review it in 2028,
• student recruitment and marketing,
• fundraising and development, and
• public relations

In addition to these primary responsibilities, the Principal also has responsibilities in:

• teaching in the academic and non‐academic programs of the College and of the Montreal School of Theology with the possibility of also teaching within McGill University’s School of Religious Studies at the invitation of the Director of the School and according to the Principal’s own wish and interest,
• presiding at formal College events, such as the annual Convocation, lecture series’ and graduate gatherings,
• oversight of the Leadership Centre and the Practical Theology program (in French), and
• human resources oversight of employees as defined within the bylaws.

The Educational Consortium

The Principal of the College shares in a team‐based leadership within the consortium of The Montreal School of Theology and the School of Religious Studies (McGill University). This includes serving on:

• the School Council of the School of Religious Studies,
• the B.Th. Committee of the School of Religious Studies, and
• the Academic Committee and the Board of the Montreal School of Theology, which may include sharing in chairing the Academic Committee and Directorship of Montreal School of Theology on a rotating basis.

The Broader Church

The Principal of Presbyterian College shall have a high visibility within the broader church, especially The Presbyterian Church in Canada. It is expected that the Principal will develop and maintain a fruitful relationship within:

• the structures and bodies of The Presbyterian Church in Canada,
• other theological institutions, and
• the broader church and related organizations.

QUALIFICATIONS OF THE PRINCIPAL

As a leader within this faith community, the Principal sets the tone for Christian life, discipleship, and maturity in faith. As a leader within a learning community, the Principal engages in theological study at the highest level while sharing the theological ethos of the College. As a leader developing future congregational leaders and having a public profile in the larger church, the Principal has a record of effective congregational ministry and a vision for the global church. Being a leader within an organizational context, the Principal has demonstrated strong leadership and organizational skills.

These four inter‐related areas (a personal and vibrant faith, a strong academic background, effective congregational ministry and broader church experience, and high‐level organizational skills) are the key areas around which the Board has identified the following requirements.

The Board is seeking a Principal who is a proven credible church leader and who:

• is actively engaged in personal spiritual disciplines and discipleship,
• has a doctoral degree in theology (PhD, ThD, D.Min) or related discipline,
• shares a theological perspective that fits within the wider Reformed and Presbyterian tradition and history of the college,
• has the capacity to work within a team context at the College (in particular, with staff, with the Professor of Pastoral Leadership, the Director of the Practical Theology program, the Director of Programs of the Leadership Centre, and with the Board of Governors),
• has oral French sufficient for professional/spiritual communication or willingness to achieve this,
• is able to maintain focus on high‐level organizational issues while ensuring that day‐to‐day operations are well managed,
• is able to work collaboratively with partner organizations, including the Montreal School of Theology, McGill University and others, and
• is prepared and capable of assuming a leadership role with respect to the financial management and resource development needs of the College.

TIME ALLOCATIONS

The Board realizes that the position description of the Principal of Presbyterian College is a demanding one. Therefore, in order to ensure a successful transition into the position, the Board has developed the following estimated allocation of priorities over the first two or three years:

Recruitment, Marketing, Fundraising and Development 30%
Teaching, Mentoring, and Research 30%
Administration 40%

REMUNERATION

Remuneration shall be in keeping with guidelines established by the General Assembly of The Presbyterian Church in Canada and as these are implemented by the Board of Governors of The Presbyterian College.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Candidates are asked to submit a curriculum vitae, a covering letter, and the names and contact information for three references to the Chair of the Search Committee, Dr. Marilyn Scott, at mscott@pcmtl.ca. Review of applications begins on August 31, 2026. Presbyteries of the PCC are invited to nominate suitable candidates for this position.