Members-In-Residence

The purpose of the Center of Theological Inquiry is to encourage research into the content and significance of the Christian faith and to promote its critical engagement with non-theological disciplines, various religious traditions, and with other forms of spirituality.

Because truly interdisciplinary work is beyond the reach of individual scholars working in isolation, the Center has designed its program to encourage cooperative scholarship.

Devoted exclusively to research and supported by the generous hospitality of an invigorating community, the Center invites scholars who have demonstrated their gifts for constructive theology, as well as younger men and women who have shown unusual promise, to become full-time, resident members for a period of up to ten months, from September to June. By providing possibilities for intensive scholarship, both individual and collaborative, the Center works to develop theological leadership for the future.

The Center is an ecumenical and international community of research scholars. Their work in residence is enriched by the Center’s commitment to interdisciplinary thinking across all branches of advanced theological inquiry. Resident Members are expected to participate in the life of this community.  It centers on the regular evening meetings of the Resident Colloquium, where scholars present aspects of their work-in- progress to their fellow members for cross-disciplinary discussion. Occasional lunch-time Luce Hall Seminars give resident members the opportunity to present their work to a wider audience in the Princeton academic community, if they wish to do so. Scholars are expected to attend the weekly Members’ Lunch, which provides further opportunities for informal discussion on research.  They are also invited to take part in the other aspects of the Center’s common life, including weekly worship and afternoon tea.

The Center's location of the perimeters of Princeton University, Princeton Theological Seminary, and the Institute for Advanced Study, and the close, collegial relations among faculty and visiting scholars at these institutions, offer Center members a rich calendar of lectures, symposia and other opportunities for reflection and participation in the wider academic community. Collaborative activities abound. Easily accessible to the cultural treasures of both New York and Philadelphia, the community of Princeton is itself a major center for education, music, theater, sports and the arts.

Related Local Resources

Application for Appointment and Deadlines

Applicants to the Center should submit the following:

  1. a typed completed membership application (consisting of two pages)
  2. a curriculum vitae, including a representative list of publications
  3. a statement of proposed research no more than three pages long
Application Deadline Procedure

All applications for any time period during an academic year are due on September 30 one year prior to the year for which you are applying.  Example:  Applications are due September 30, 2008 for 2009-2010 academic year.

Selection Process

An Advisory Panel of senior scholars will consider the applications, judging the suitability of applicants, the consonance of their research proposals with the aims of the Center, and the relationship of their intended projects with those of other resident members. The Advisory Panel will give due consideration to letters of reference sought by the Centers from named academic referees on the application form.

Applications received by September 30 will be acknowledged by letter and all applicants will be notified of the Center’s decision by January 31.

Information for Applicants

 Membership Application 

Period of Membership - Residential membership is for a period of up to 10 months, September to June.

Other Commitments during Membership - Please list on the application form other obligations during the period for which application is made. Membership in the Center is for full-time research and association with other resident scholars, and it is expected that members will keep other commitments to a minimum.

Statement of Proposed Research - Limited to three pages, this document should delineate the issue addressed by the intended research, why it is significant for the Christian faith and critical scholarship today, the distinctive character of the argument advanced, and what theological contribution it will make to the academy and the church. The proposal should be prepared specifically for submission to the Center of Theological Inquiry. Upon completion of the period of membership, the progress and development of the research paper will be evaluated in a formal interview.

 Financial Assistance Request 

Where there is demonstrable need, modest financial assistance may be requested on the membership application form provided. Since the Center does not ordinarily replace the salary of a member or bear the cost of benefits such as pension or insurance plans, applicants are urged first to seek support from other sources, e.g. sabbatical payments or research grants.

If financial assistance is requested, please note the following:

Anticipated Income - Indicate here your net monthly income after the deduction of taxes and fixed payments for insurance and benefits (not including voluntary deductions for saving plans, etc.).

Medical Insurance - Each individual applicant is responsible for obtaining medical insurance for themselves and any accompanying dependents. The Center is obliged to assure itself that members are covered for medical expenses.

 Housing 

Residential accommodation in townhouses with two or three bedrooms is provided rent-free. However, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service considers the fair market rental value of this accommodation (currently set at $700 per month) as a grant from CTI, and the Center is required to report it as income.

Each member is also provided with a study office in Luce Hall comfortably furnished with desk, chairs, and bookcases. Each study has its own telephone with a direct line from the outside and e-mail accessibility through CTI's computer network. Members are encouraged to bring their own computing equipment whenever practical. If this is not possible, CTI will provide a computer and software.

Cost of living in Princeton is estimated as $2,500 per month for a family of four, including the cost of utilities for a townhouse. In January 2008 estimates of some monthly expenses are as follows:

Estimated Monthly Expenses

Utilities - Electricity for lighting and natural gas for heat, hot water and cooking $200.00
Telephone - Basic charge without long distance $30.00
Water $45.00 per quarter, paid in January, April, July and October $15.00
Trash Collection paid monthly $20.00
Auto Rental - Approximate monthly rental for a compact car, including insurance $1000.00
Food -
          one person
          two to five people
$200.00 - $275.00
$375.00 - $725.00

Please keep in mind these are only estimates and they are meant to be the cost of an average month. Utilities will vary during the year depending on your use of heat and air conditioning and current energy costs.

NOTE for Non-resident Aliens - Under U.S. Tax Law, 14% must be withheld from grants made to members, including housing, unless there is a tax treaty between the United States and the member's home country.

Application Forms

Applications can be downloaded.

Please fill out, print, and submit forms to CTI:

Mailing Address:

Center of Theological Inquiry
50 Stockton Street
Princeton, New Jersey 08540

E-mail:

cti@ctinquiry.org

Fax:

609-683-4030

 

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