Mary Elizabeth Moore appointed Dean
President Robert A. Brown and Provost David K. Campbell today announced the appointment of Professor Mary Elizabeth Moore as Dean of the School of Theology, effective January 1, 2009.
Professor Moore, a distinguished scholar of Theology and Christian Education, holds a Bachelor’s degree and Master of Arts in Psychology from Southern Methodist University, and a Master of Arts in Religious Education and a Ph.D. from the School of Theology at Claremont. She is currently Professor of Religion and Education and Director of Women in Theology and Ministry at Candler School of Theology and, in addition to teaching, has held leadership roles at Candler, Emory and Claremont. Professor Moore is a past president and current committee member of the International Academy of Practical Theology, is a member of numerous professional Centers and Associations, has authored several books and has contributed to journals and periodicals. She has a special interest in theologies concerned with embodied faith, socio-economic justice, and interdisciplinary relationships.
A Louisiana native who has spent the bulk of her career in California and Georgia, Moore says she is looking forward to moving to New England. “I experience this invitation from Boston as a real calling,” she says. “I leave Emory with sadness, but I go to Boston with joy.”
An ordained deacon in the United Methodist Church, Moore’s current research focuses on eco-feminist theology and spirituality, sacramental teaching, and reconciliation theory and practice. She is particularly concerned with the meaning of the Hebrew phrase tikkun olam, translated as “repair of the world.”
“This phrase embraces the ideals of justice, compassion, peace, and ecological integrity,” she says. “I measure the value of my research and writing by its contribution to tikkum olam, and while the School of Theology does not hold the phrase at the center of its vision, I know it hopes to contribute to those same values.”
Dr. Moore’s Publications:
- Ministering with the Earth (Chalice Press 1998)
- In the Beginning — and in the Middle (1997)
- Resources for Sacred Teaching, Vol. 1 & 2 (1995), coeditor
- Teaching from the Heart: Theology and Educational Method (Trinity Press 1991, 1998)
- Called to Serve: The Diaconate in the United Methodist Church (1987), coauthor
- Education for Continuity and Change: A Traditioning Model for Christian Religious Education (Abingdon Press 1983)