Jean Halligan Vandergrift
Areas of Interest
Congregation and Community, Congregational Transformation, Ecclesiology
Profile
My doctoral research interests are in the ministry of congregational transformation (sometimes referred to as church renewal or revitalization). In my 26 years of pastoral ministry, I have had to lead congregations challenged by declining membership, diminished spiritual vitality, and questions of institutional viability, particularly so in my last pastorate. In each of these contexts, it was always a struggle to lead them out of denial and into significant practical theological reflection and change, opting for new life. I felt called by God to try to understand this widespread contemporary phenomenon to the end of assisting the church, particularly my denomination – The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)- into more intentional and faithful praxis. One of my hypotheses thus far is that a congregation’s ecclesial identity, nurtured by theological reflection and practices such as preaching, is key to their success in transformation, though such identity has rarely been an explicit aspect of the variety of church renewal programs.
Contact
jehv@bu.edu
- Xochitl Alvizo Assistant Professor of Religious Studies in the area of Women and Religion and the Philosophy of Sex, Gender, Sexuality
- Stephanie Arel Andrew W. Mellon Fellow at the National September 11 Memorial and Museum and Visiting Researcher at New York University
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Karelynne Ayayo
Assistant Dean of the School of Ministry
Professor of Biblical and Theological Studies
Palm Beach Atlantic University -
Nell Becker Sweeden
Director, Nazarene Compassionate Ministries (www.ncm.org)
Affiliate Professor of Contemporary Theology, Nazarene Theological Seminary - Holly C. Benzenhafer Ph.D. Student in Practical Theology, Concentration: Spirituality
- Brandon Crowley Ph.D. in Practical Theology and Senior Pastor at Myrtle Baptist Church
- Eunil David Cho Assistant Professor of Spiritual Care & Counseling; Co-Director of the Center for Practical Theology
- Susan Forshey Assistant Professor of Discipleship and Christian Formation, University of Dubuque Theological Seminary
- Yara Gonzalez-Justiniano PhD in Practical Theology: Church and Society
- Courtney T. Goto Associate Professor of Religious Education; Co-Director of the Center for Practical Theology
- Barbara Green
- Choi Hee An Clinical Associate Professor of Practical Theology; Director of the Anna Howard Shaw Center
- Robert Allan Hill Dean of Marsh Chapel; Chaplain to the University; Professor of New Testament & Pastoral Theology
- Christopher B. James Ph.D. Candidate in Practical Theology, Concentration: Church and Society, Evangelism
- Christopher James Assistant Professor of Evangelism and Missional Christianity, University of Dubuque Theological Seminary
- Timothy L. Adkins-Jones Assistant Professor of Homiletics
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Marc Lavallee
Assistant Professor of Practical Theology
Barry University -
Patrick McLeod
Harvard Chaplain for Cru and
Cru Boston Director - Jonathan Mettasophia Ph.D. in Practical Theology and Associate and Youth Priest at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Charlotte, NC
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HiRho Park
Executive Director of Professional Development & UMC Cyber Campus
The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, UMC - David Penn Ph.D. in Practical Theology
- Shelly Rambo Professor of Theology
- Dana Robert William Fairfield Warren Distinguished Professor, Director of the Center for Global Christianity and Mission
- Steven Sandage Albert and Jessie Danielsen Professor of Psychology of Religion & Theology
- Chris R. Schlauch Associate Professor, Counseling Psychology & Religion, Psychology of Religion
- Laurel Scott Ph.D. in Practical Theology, Concentration: Church and Society
- Rebecca Seungyoun Jeong Ph.D. in Practical Theology
- Andrew Shenton Professor of Music, James R. Houghton Scholar of Sacred Music
- Timothy Snyder Ph.D. Student in Practical Theology, Concentration: Church and Society
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Tara Soughers
Ph.D. in Practical Theology:
Concentration: Spirituality - Dr. Tiffany Steinwert Dean of Hendricks Chapel, Syracuse University
- Ashley Theuring Assistant Professor in the Theology Department at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio
- Andrew Tripp Ph.D. in Practical Theology, Concentration: Church and Society
- Danielle Elizabeth Tumminio Ph.D. in Practical Theology, Concentration: Church and Society
- Gregory P. Van Buskirk Ph.D. in Practical Theology
- Jean Halligan Vandergrift Ph.D. in Practical Theology, Concentration: Congregation and Community
- Diana Ventura Ph.D. Student in Practical Theology, Concentration: Spirituality
- Michelle Walsh Ph.D. in Practical Theology, Concentration: Pastoral Theology
- Karen B. Westerfield Tucker Professor of Worship
- Claire E. Wolfteich Professor of Practical Theology & Spirituality Studies; Co-Director of the Center for Practical Theology