Jean Halligan Vandergrift

img_2121Areas 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
  • 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
  • Susan Forshey Assistant Professor of Discipleship and Christian Formation, University of Dubuque Theological Seminary
  • Yara Gonzalez-Justiniano PhD in Practical Theology: Church and Society
  • Barbara Green
  • Choi Hee An Clinical Assistant 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 and Pastoral Theology; Concentration Advisor in Pastoral Theology
  • David Schnasa Jacobsen Professor of the Practice of Homiletics, Director of the Homiletical Theology Project, Co-Director of the Center for Practical Theology; Core Examining Faculty Member in Practical Theology; Concentration Advisor in Homiletics
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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 Associate Professor of Theology; Concentration Advisor in Church and Society
  • Dana Robert Truman Collins Professor of World Christianity and History of Mission; Co-Director of the Center for Global Christianity and Mission; Concentration Advisor in Mission, Mission and Evangelism
  • Steven Sandage Albert and Jessie Danielsen Professor of Pastoral Psychology and Theology
  • Chris R. Schlauch Associate Professor of Pastoral Psychology and Psychology of Religion; Concentration Advisor in Pastoral Theology
  • Laurel Scott Ph.D. in Practical Theology, Concentration: Church and Society
  • Rebecca Seungyoun Jeong Ph.D. in Practical Theology
  • Andrew Shenton Associate Professor of Music, James R. Houghton Scholar of Sacred Music
  • Timothy Snyder Ph.D. Student in Practical Theology, Concentration: Church and Society
  • 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, Concentration Advisor in Liturgical Studies
  • Claire E. Wolfteich Associate Professor of Practical Theology and Spiritual Formation, Co-Director for the Center for Practical Theology; Core Examining Faculty in Practical Theology, Concentration Advisor in Spirituality, Church and Society