​ACADEMIC BACKGROUND

1991
Ph.D., Religious Studies
University of Virginia, Charlottesville
Dissertation: The Social Ontology of Karl Barth

1982
M.Div., Religious Studies (Non-thesis degree)
Yale University Divinity School, New Haven, CT

1979
B.A., History
Greenville College, Greenville, IL
Honors Thesis: The Development of Illinois Party Politics, 1818-1840
Course work in: German, French, Latin, Biblical Hebrew and Koine Greek

ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE

2010-present
WEBSTER UNIVERSITY
Instructor
Teacher of courses Sacred Texts: From Hinduism to Mormonism, World Religions, Nonwestern Religions in America, Introduction to Philosophy, Contemporary Moral Problems, and online coures Advanced Topics in Religion, World Religions, Religion and War, and Spiritual Paths and Journeys

2009-present
EDEN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
Instructor
Teacher of courses in American Church and Religious History, Christian Ethics, Christians and the Common Good, Evangelism, Religion and War

2000-2009
UNIVERSITY OF AKRON
Senior Instructor
Teacher of courses in Humanities in the Western Tradition (discussion leader), U.S. History Since 1877, Judaism and Christianity in the Twentieth Century, Lincoln and his Times, Europe Since World War I, Selected Topics: Comparative Religion, American Highways and American Wanderlust, The Bible and the Qur'an, Buckeye Presidents, American Religious History, Religion and Science: History and Issues.
Won the 2005 Teaching Excellence Award, U Akron Honors College, and the 2009 Distinguished Service Award, U Akron Honors College

1995-2000
INDIANA UNIVERSITY SOUTHEAST
Adjunct Instructor
Teacher of courses in Introduction to Philosophy, Introduction to Western Religions, Studies in Religion, Introduction to New Testament, Introduction to Judaism, Elementary Logic, Religion and Social Issues, European History: Renaissance to Napoleon, European History: Napoleon to the Present

1992-2000
LOUISVILLE PRESBYTERIAN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
Adjunct Instructor
Teacher of courses in Methodist history, Methodist ecclesiology, Methodist doctrine

1997, 1999
UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE
Adjunct Instructor
Teacher of courses in American History: Colonization to Reconstruction, World Religions

1991-1995, 2000
SPALDING UNIVERSITY
Part-time Instructor
Teacher of courses in World Religions, The Christian Tradition, Synoptic Gospels

1991
LINDSEY WILSON COLLEGE
Part-time Instructor
Non-traditional program at Luther Luckett Correctional Center and Kentucky State Reformatory
Teacher of courses in the Religions of the World

1987-1991
NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY
Adjunct Instructor
Teacher of courses in Religions of the World, Judeo-Christian Heritage

1986-1987
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
Graduate Assistant
Assistant instructor for courses in American Religious History, History of Christianity (Patristic period)

1981-1982
ALBERTUS MAGNUS COLLEGE
Teaching Assistant
Assistant instructor for courses in Christology and the Gospel of Mark

1978-1979
ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION
Researcher
Researched county records and archival material for the Vandalia Statehouse State Historic Site

PARISH EXPERIENCE

1992-1994
MIDDLETOWN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, LOUISVILLE, KY
Minister of Programs

1988-1991
TRINITY HEIGHTS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, FLAGSTAFF, AZ
Associate Minister

1984
Ordained elder, Southern Illinois Annual Conference (now the Illinois Great Rivers Annual Conference) of the United Methodist Church

1982-1984
GLENDALE, EDDYVILLE, AND BAY VALLEY UNITED METHODIST CHURCHES, POPE COUNTY, IL
Minister

1981
LUTHERAN CHURCH OF OUR REDEEMER, GLEN BURNIE, MD
Student Assistant Minister
Parish-Based Clinical Pastoral Education program

1980-1981
HAMDEN PLAINS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, HAMDEN, CT
Student Assistant Minister

1980
HALEY CHAPEL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, VANDALIA, IL
Interim Minister

​1980
Ordained deacon Southern Illinois Annual Conference (now the Illinois Great Rivers Annual Conference) of the United Methodist Church
GRANTS AND AWARDS (funded and awarded)
  • University of Akron Honors Department, May 2005. Teaching Excellence Award.
  • Artworks Photography Show, May 2000. Won first and second place ribbons for landscape photography.
  • Town and Country Art Show, June 1999. Won first, second, and third place ribbons for artwork and photography.
  • Louisville Institue for the study of Protestantism and American Culture, Religious Leaders Grant, 1995 Project Title: "The Ministry of All Believers: Foundations for Volunteer Programs"
  • National Council on Religion and Public Eductation, 1993 Thayer S. Warshaw Essay Award, with Dr. Beth Stroble, for "'Religion is a Personal Thing': Students' Portfolio Assignments in a World Religions Class"
  • Illinois State Historical Society, 1993 Certificate of Excellence for High on the Okaw's Western Bank
  • University of Virginia, Graduate Assistantship, 1986-1987
  • United Methodist Conference, Scholarship, Study in Jordan and Israel, 1983
  • Yale Divinity School, Academic Assistantship, 1980-1982
  • United Methodist Conference, Scholarship, Yale Divinity School, 1979-1981
  • National Endowment for the Humanities, Youth Grant, 1979 Project Title: "Vandalia, The Capital of Illinois, 1819-1839"
  • Greenville College, Scholarship, 1975-1978.
RELATED ADMINISTRATIVE AND SERVICE EXPERIENCE
​
  • Served on the Board of Directors of the Yale Alumni Fund, 2022-present.
  • Chaired the Archives and History Commission, Illinois Great Rivers Conference of The United Methodist Church, 2015 to 2018.
  • Participated in and presented programs to two interfaith groups in St. Louis, 2011-present.
  • Served as Class Secretary for Yale Divinity School Class of 1982, 1987-1994 and 2013 to the present. 
  • Reviewed theological manuscripts as assigned reader for Peter Lang Publishers (1993) and Scholars Press (1998).
  • Coordinated 100+ volunteers, including sixteen committee chairs on church planning council, in context of the volunteer ministries program of church position; planned and directed programs in children, adult and youth education, stewardship, community service projects, church-wide events and programs, and worship in context of parish ministries.
  • Participated in alumnal fund drives as Yale class fund agent for seven years (1987-94).
  • Prepared documents using WordPerfect 5.1 and 6.0, MacWrite, Microsoft Word, Aldus PageMaker, IBM Microsoft Word for Windows, WordStar and Wang; trained others in Word for Windows at the Louisville Community Foundation.

COMMUNITY SERVICE
  • Participated in several volunteer ministries  at our Missouri church, 2010-present.
  • Participated in prayer ministry/prayer education group at our Ohio church, 2007-2009.
  • Served as faculty advisor for local chapter of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, 2006-2009.
  • Participated in volunteer projects for the local high school band’s parents’ group, 2004-2008.
  • Team-taught a Sunday school class at our Ohio church, 2002-2009.
  • Participated in church-related visitation programs, 2002-2004, 2008-2009.
  • Led twelve committee chairs on church council on ministries, 1997-1999.
  • Served on the boards of CROP Walk (1989-90), Desert Southwest Annual Conference Nominations (1989), Native American Ministries (1989-91), YouthWorks (1993), Eastern Area Community Ministries (1994)
  • Supported Haitian refugee sponsorship, 1994, Louisville
  • Coordinated volunteers for The Methodist Children's Home, Wesley Manor, Wesley House, YouthWorks, Neighborhood Visitor, Eastern Area Community Ministries, 1992-94, Louisville
  • Coordinated volunteers in planning financial and educational policies and managing personnel issues for a new child development center, 1992-94
  • Served as staff liaison for church-directed preschool, 1992-94
  • Planned evangelistic outreach events, 1992-94, Louisville
  • Assisted in planning CROP Walk, 1989 and 1990, Flagstaff, Arizona
  • Assisted in planning, and participated in, two successful ecumenical community worship services, 1989 and 1990, Flagstaff, Arizona
  • Participated in community service club projects, 1982-84, Golconda, Illinois

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS