Being an Independent Scholar [1]

Rowan Williams and Margaret Barker DD

When I was reading for my doctorate a few years ago, my intention was somehow to find a tutor post in systematic theology. Life hasn’t worked out as I planned. I do do some teaching, but it’s voluntary and for the diocese in which I live. And I preach and lead the occasional short course in my local church. To be honest, I’m quite happy with this. Such teaching has its own peculiar demands, but it also means I can carry on with my research on providence, etc., as time and responsibilities allow, without having the pressure of needing to publish. So, all in all, while I could always do with a bit more cash to help ends meet, the fact that I’m not in a tenured teaching post is not something that concerns me at the moment.

But I’m aware of a number of people working on or completing doctorates who probably want to establish themselves by taking on a teaching post in an institution. No doubt, some of them will find opportunity; but others won’t. And so I’ve asked Margaret Barker, former President of the Society for Old Testament Study and a well-published independent scholar in Biblical Studies, to produce an article for this blog outlining how life works for someone who’s convinced of his or her calling as a scholar, but is unsure about how to proceed when the job market isn’t favourable. I shall be serialising her article on this blog over the next few days, and I hope that you’ll find it interesting and helpful.