This is a listing of all faculty and staff members who are United Methodist and the leadership roles they have in The United Methodist Church including boards, agencies, churches, etc.
Katheryn Pfisterer Darr- Professor of Hebrew Bible
Professor Katheryn Pfisterer Darr, a 1989 winner of Boston University’s prestigious Metcalf Award for Excellence in Teaching, has authored three books, essays and articles for essay collections and major scholarly journals, respectively, and educational materials for the United Methodist Publishing House. To date, her writings have focused especially on the books of Isaiah and Ezekiel. Her current research/writing project is a study of proverbs appearing in ancient Israel’s prophetic corpus.
A United Methodist, Professor Darr served on the Editorial Board for the New Interpreter’s Bible commentary series (Abingdon Press) and authored the commentary on Ezekiel for that series. She enjoys bringing biblical scholarship not only to her students, but also to pastors and their congregations.
Cristian De La Rosa- Director of Contextual Education and Community Partnerships, Clinical Instructor in Contextual Theology and Practice
The Reverend Cristian De La Rosa is a member of the Rio Grande Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church and came to Boston University School of Theology from the role of National Director for the Hispanic Youth Leadership Academy (HYLA), at Perkins School of Theology. She previously served as Director of Continuing Education and Course of Study School at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary and more recently served with The Association for Hispanic Theological Education (AETH) at the National Director for Tertulias Pastorales, an ecumenical clergy initiative sponsored by the Lilly Foundation.
Reverend De La Rosa is a doctoral candidate in the theology and Ethics where her dissertation is focusing on contextual dynamics of power and agency. Her areas of interest include Feminist Theology, cultural theory, Latin American Liberation Theology, and the Hispanic/Latino community and its religious history. She currently serves as Co-convener for the National Association of UM Latina Clergy Women (ACLAMEN) and as a member of the Faith and Order Committee of the United Methodist Church.
Christopher Evans- Professor of History of Christianity and Methodist Studies
Dr. Evans’ focuses on the history of Christianity, Methodist studies, American religion, and ministry studies. He is the author of several books and articles, including: Liberalism without Illusions: Renewing an American Christian Tradition; The Kingdom is Always but Coming: A Life of Walter Rauschenbusch (recipient of Award of Merit from Christianity Today); Social Gospel Liberalism and the Ministry of Ernest Fremont Tittle; plus three edited volumes and numerous articles. An ordained elder in the United Methodist Church in the Upper New York Conference, Dr. Evans has lectured, preached, and taught in numerous local church, denominational, and ecumenical settings.
Courtney T. Goto- Assistant Professor of Religious Education
Courtney Goto joined the BUSTH faculty as Assistant Professor of Religious Education in the fall 2010. She is a co-Director for the Center for Practical Theology.
Courtney’s dissertation, entitled “Artistic Play: Seeking the God of the Unexpected,” sets forth a practical theology of play through art. In this intersection of art and play, Courtney explores issues of body, imagination, teaching, and learning in adult spiritual formation in two case studies—InterPlay and the Sacramento Japanese United Methodist Church. Her teaching approach is influenced by InterPlay, a movement based in Oakland, California, which engages learners in improvisational theater, movement and vocal music. Courtney’s interests include creativity, imagination, aesthetics, art and practical theology, faith and culture, and technology in teaching. Courtney has done extensive international social justice work representing the United Methodist Church and the World Council of Churches.
Ray L. Hart- Professor of Religion and Theology
Dr. Hart is often cited as one of the primary shapers of the study of religion and theology in America in the last third of the 20th century, especially through his long involvement in the American Academy of Religion (AAR). In 1984 he was elected President of AAR, after serving as that learned society’s first Delegate to The American Council of Learned Societies, and presided over the society’s 75th Anniversary (even now he is involved in planning the 100th anniversary for 2009). When he exited formal offices in AAR, its Board of Trustees established the “Ray L. Hart Award for Distinguished Achievement in the Study of Religion,” which is awarded annually.
The Reverend Dr. Hart has been an ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church since 1952, and remains a member of the Northwest Texas Conference.
Bishop Susan W. Hassinger- Adjunct Professor, Bishop in Residence
Susan Wolfe Hassinger was elected a bishop of the United Methodist Church in 1996, and was assigned to the Boston Area, the New England Annual Conference. She retired from the responsibility as a residential bishop at the end of August 2004.
Immediately prior to being elected as a bishop, Susan had been director of The Office of Resourcing for the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church. In that capacity she worked with congregations and church organizations of various sizes, settings, and racial/ethnic backgrounds in conflict transformation, visioning, team building, and congregational development.
Bishop Hassinger has been part of the design team and first president of JustPeace Center for Conflict Transformation and Mediation. She has also served on a task force on Theological Education and Leadership Formation that included representatives of the Council of Bishops of the United Methodist Church, the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry and the Association of United Methodist Theological Schools. That task force has produced a working document “A Wesleyan Vision for Theological Education and Leadership Formation for the 21st Century.” She has also been a part of a joint task force that produced a study on Holy Communion, “This Holy Mystery,” that was adopted by the 2004 General Conference of the United Methodist Church.
Robert A. Hill- Dean of Marsh Chapel, Chaplain to the University, Professor of New Testament and Pastoral Theology
Dean Bob Hill has been preaching since 1976. As an elder (Upper New York Conference) in the United Methodist Church he has had experience in ten local churches, five different annual conferences, multiple annual conference board assignments, General and Jurisdictional Conference participation, General Board membership (GBHEM), various speaking engagements, and denominational leadership discussions. His views of the present condition of the church, particularly in the Northeast, and prospects for ministry into the future, have provided a complementary perspective to that of some recent Northeastern UMC denominational leadership. His main denominational interests have been in Large Church ministry and Theological Education.
Dr. Hill was given the Harry Denman award for Evangelism in 2003. Currently he serves on the Board of the New England Annual Conference United Methodist Foundation, the Board of Visitors of the Learning Project Elementary School (Back Bay, Boston), the Board of Visitors of Harvard Memorial Church, and the Board of Ministry of Harvard College. He is an active member of the Boston Ministers’ Club and the New Haven Theological Discussion Group, and an inactive Rotarian.
David Jacobsen- Professor of the Practice of Homiletics and the Director of the Homiletical Theology Project
Prof. David Schnasa Jacobsen is committed to helping students and pastors claim their role as “theologians of the Word” in preaching. In his courses, he encourages masters and doctoral students to wrestle with their own theology of the gospel.
Prof. Jacobsen has been a leader in the Academy of Homiletics (Executive Member, Founding Web Editor, Nominating Committee) and in the Society of Biblical Literature (Founder and member of the Steering Committee, Section on Homiletics and Biblical Studies). He is also a member of the North American Academy of Liturgy as part of the Word in Worship seminar. Prior to coming to Boston, Jacobsen was Professor of Homiletics at Waterloo Lutheran Seminary (Ontario) and cross-appointed to the Doctoral Program in Homiletics at the Toronto School of Theology.
Prof. Jacobsen is a clergy member of the Dakotas Conference of the United Methodist Church and has served churches in Pierre, South Dakota and New Johnsonville, Tennessee.
Pamela Lightsey- Associate Dean for Community Life and Lifelong Learning, Clinical Assistant Professor of Contextual Theology and Practice
Dean Pamela Lightsey is a scholar, social justice activist, and military veteran whose academic and research interests include: classical and contemporary just war theory, Womanist theology, Queer theory and theology, and African American religious history and theologies.
An ordained elder in the Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church, Pamela pastored an urban church on the south side of Chicago, has done work for several UM general agencies and has strong connections within several mainline denominations. She has been a member of the Pan Methodist Commission for the last two quadrennials.
Mary Elizabeth Moore- Dean of the School of Theology, Professor of Theology and Education
Dean Mary Elizabeth Mullino Moore sees her primary work as working with others and contributing her small part toward repair of the world (tikkun olam). Her recent books include Teaching as a Sacramental Act, Ministering with the Earth, and Teaching from the Heart, plus the co-edited volumes Children, Youth, and Spirituality in a Troubling Worldand Practical Theology and Hermeneutics. She has also written many articles on education, process and feminist theologies, and justice and reconciliation. Mary Elizabeth is a UMC Deacon.
Robert C. Neville- Professor of Philosophy, Religion, and Theology
Dean Neville was ordained deacon in the Methodist Church in 1963 and elder in the United Methodist Church in 1966, with membership now in the Missouri Conference of the United Methodist Church, having served summer pastorates in Missouri in 1956 and 1962.
The past president of the American Academy of Religion, Dean Neville is also past president of the International Society for Chinese Philosophy, the Metaphysical Society of America, and the Association of United Methodist Theological Schools. He is currently president of the Highlands Institute for American Religious and Philosophical Thought. He has served as a member of the Accrediting Commission of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada and the Commission on Theological Education of the United Methodist Church. He is a member of the editorial boards of The Journal of the American Academy of Religion and Soundings. He was Associated Editor for Behavioral and Neurological Articles for the Encyclopedia of Bioethics. He has published numerous books and articles.
Dana Robert- Truman Collins Professor of World Christianity and History of Mission, Co-Director of the Center for Global Christianity and Mission
Dr. Robert’s research and teaching interests span the fields of mission history, the history of world Christianity, and mission theology. At Boston University she has directed nearly sixty doctoral dissertations, and former students hold teaching and ministry positions around the world. Her most recent books are Christian Mission: How Christianity Became a World Religion (Wiley-Blackwell, 2009), now in its third printing; and Converting Colonialism: Visions and Realities in Mission History, 1706-1914 (editor, Eerdmans 2008). She wrote the study Joy to the World!: Mission in the Age of Global Christianity for the 2010-2011summer schools of mission for The United Methodist Church. With M.L. Daneel, she edits the book series “African Initiatives in Christian Mission” (University of South Africa Press). She serves on the Committee on Faith and Order for the United Methodist Church.
Wanda Stahl- Director of Contextual Education and Congregational Partnerships, Clinical Assistant Professor of Contextual Theology and Practice
The Rev. Dr. Wanda Stahl is an ordained Deacon in the United Methodist Church. Prior to accepting her position at BU, Wanda served as Director of Christian Formation for the New England Annual Conference of the UMC for 12 years. Wanda received her M.Div. from Boston University School of Theology and her Ph.D. in Religion and Education from Boston College. She has completed programs in Individual Spiritual Guidance and Leading Contemplative Prayer Groups and Retreats from the Shalem Institute in Bethesda, MD and considers it a privilege to accompany people on their faith journeys in a variety of settings.
In recent years, her concentrated study and leadership have been in spiritual formation and the building of congregational life. She has served the New England Conference with distinction and has carried leadership and speaking roles in the denomination.
Bryan Stone- Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, E. Stanley Jones Professor of Evangelism, Co-Director of the Center for Practical Theology [NAZARENE, WHICH IS A METHODIST BODY.]
Dean Bryan Stone has served as the E. Stanley Jones Professor of Evangelism in the School of Theology since 1998 and has a background in new church development, urban pastoral ministry, and faith-based non-profit development. His most recent books are Evangelism After Christendom: The Theology and Practice of Christian Witness and Sabbath in the City: Sustaining Urban Pastoral Excellence, co-authored with Claire Wolfteich. His research, publishing, and teaching interests are in the areas of evangelism, congregational development, urban ministry, ecclesiology, theology and popular culture (including especially film studies), Christian pacifism, and Wesleyan, liberation, narrativist, and post-liberal theologies.
Karen Westerfield- Tucker- Professor of Worship
Karen Westerfield Tucker is a United Methodist elder (presbyter) affiliated with the Illinois Great Rivers Conference. She was on the faculty at Duke University for fifteen years, and has taught seminary and continuing education courses throughout the United States and Canada, and in Asia, Pacifica, and Europe. Her academic and research interests include North American liturgical history and theology, Methodist/Wesleyan liturgical history and theology, liturgy and pastoral care, and hymnody.
Dr. Westerfield Tucker is the author of American Methodist Worship and she conceived and edited The Sunday Service of the Methodists: Twentieth-century Worship in Worldwide Methodism, and with Geoffrey Wainwright edited The Oxford History of Christian Worship. She is a writer for the Wesley Works Project, and is working on a book drawn from her research as a Luce Fellow. Dr. Westerfield Tucker is also editor-in-chief of the society’s journal Studia Liturgica. She serves on the Executive Committee of the World Methodist Council, relates to the Council’s Committee on Ecumenics and Dialogue, and is a member of the international dialogue between the World Methodist Council and the Roman Catholic Church. She is also a member of the national dialogue between the United Methodist Church and the Roman Catholic Church.
Wesley J. Wildman- Professor of Theology and Ethics [ORDAINED WITHIN THE UNITING CHURCH OF AUSTRALIA, WHICH INCLUDES THE FORMER METHODIST CHURCH]
Dr. Wildman’s research and teaching interests are in contemporary Christian theology, philosophy of religion, and religion and science. Dr. Wildman is ordained in the Uniting Church of Australia (a union of Methodist, Presbyterian, and Congregational denominations) and has served churches in Sydney and in Piedmont, California. He was involved from 1996-2000 in the Crosscultural Comparative Religious Ideas Project, based at Boston University, and is a member of the ongoing research group for the Divine Action Project, sponsored by the Vatican Observatory and the Center for Theology and Natural Sciences in Berkeley. In Boston University’s Graduate School, Dr. Wildman directs the doctoral programs in Christian Theology, in Comparative Theology, and in Science, Philosophy, and Religion.
Susan Morrison- Adjunct and Visiting Faculty teaching “Integration of Theology and Practice”
The Rev. Susan J. Morrison has facilitated Integration of Theology and Practice groups with Field Education students for the past 12 years. As an ordained clergywoman in the United Methodist Church she has served churches in Danvers, Andover and Lexington.
Active in the NE United Methodist Conference, she serves on the Board of Church and Society. Currently, she is a Spiritual Director at Bethany House in Arlington, MA. and provides a ministry of presence and spiritual companioning at three residential settings for survivors of brain injury through Supportive Living, Inc.
Thomas W. Porter, Jr.- Lecturer
Thomas W. Porter, Jr. is a trial lawyer, mediator, teacher and minister. He teaches at STH where he directs a concentration in Religion and Conflict Transformation. He is the Co-Executive Director of JUSTPEACE Center for Mediation and Conflict Transformation in The United Methodist Church. He recently edited the book, Conflict and Communion: Reconciliation and Restorative Justice at Christ’s Table. He has produced the first draft of a book entitled Engaging Conflict Well: the Soul and Art of Conflict Transformation.
He was a founding partner of the trial firm of Melick & Porter LLP in 1983 and has been a trial lawyer since 1974, representing religious institutions, universities, hospitals, professionals, nonprofit organizations and others. He was a founder and the president of the Council of Religion and Law, a society of law professors, theologians, lawyers and ministers, from 1978 to 1985. He was a member of the board of Union Theological Seminary, chairing its educational policy committee, from 1992 to 2001.
Thomas Thangaraj- Visiting Professor (Spring 2012) Images of Christ in World Christianity and TT841 Christian Encounter with Hinduism [CHURCH OF SOUTH, WHICH INCLUDES THE METHODIST COMMUNION OF INDIA]
Dr. M. Thomas Thangaraj retired in 2008 as Professor Emeritus of World Christianity at the Candler School of Theology, Emory University, after 20 years of service. His area of research during his doctoral studies was in the area of relation between Saiva Siddhanta (South Indian Hindu philosophical tradition) and Christianity, especially around the concept of guru. He has been actively involved in programs of inter-religious dialogue both at the national and international level.
He has published widely both in English and in Tamil, and his most recent publications are: The Crucified Guru: An Experiment in Cross-Cultural Christology, Relating to People of Other Religions: What Every Christian Needs to Know, and The Common Task: A Theology of Christian Mission. He is currently working on a popular book, tentatively titled as, Negotiating Diversity: Crossing Boundaries as a Spiritual Practice.
Apart from his academic interests, Professor Thangaraj is keenly interested in South Indian music, both classical and popular, and also in the art of hymnody in Tamil. Twenty of his hymns are now incorporated in the official hymnbook of the churches in Tamilnadu. A few of his hymns in English are published in the United States, Sweden, Germany, Norway, and Denmark. He served on the Assembly Worship Planning Committee for the Assembly of the World Council of Churches held in Zimbabwe, Africa in 1998.
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