A New Testament scholar who serves as Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program, Dr. Pittman has broad teaching and research interests in biblical studies and practical theology. Her experience in ministry has included both seminary teaching and congregational leadership. She has served as Assistant Professor of New Testament Studies at Tainan Theological College and Seminary, Tainan, Taiwan—as a missionary appointed by the Common Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ—and, among other pastoral positions, most recently as Minister of First Christian Church, Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Although she joined the regular full-time faculty July 2005 in the Practice of Ministry, she has served since 2001 as an adjunct member of the faculty in New Testament and Preaching, offering courses such as The Gospel of John, Interpreting the Book of Revelation, Introduction to Preaching, and Preaching the Lectionary.
In addition to numerous sermons in books and journals, Dr. Pittman has recently published New Proclamation, Series A, Easter through Christ the King, 2011 (Augsburg Fortress Publishers 2011). She has also written homiletical essays for Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary, Year C, Volume II (Westminster John Knox Press, 2010), “Ties That Bind Too Tightly: A Reflection on Relinquishment and Self-Differentiation in Women’s Leadership” in n A Passion for Christian Unity: Essays in Honor of William Tabbernee (Chalice Press, 2009) and “The Epistolary Tradition: James, 1-3 John, 1-2 Peter, Jude,” in The Chalice Introduction to the New Testament, ed. Dennis E. Smith (Chalice Press, 2004). Dr. Pittman also publishes adult Sunday School curricula including “God’s Project: Effective Christians,” in The New International Lesson Annual 2004-2005 (The United Methodist Publishing House, 2004) and “New Creation in Christ” in Mature Years, Spring 2009 (The United Methodist Publishing House, 2009).
When she is not teaching, working with students in the Doctor of Ministry program, or developing new doctoral specializations with faculty colleagues, Dr. Pittman continues to research the Johannine literature of the New Testament, particularly as it relates to intersections of ordained ministry, women in pastoral leadership and images of Christian community. She is currently working on a book project at these intersections and contemporary ecclesiolatry.
Dr. Pittman is an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and an accredited spiritual director. She is a member of the Society of Biblical Literature, Spiritual Directors International, the Association for Doctor of Ministry Education, and a founding member of the Forrest-Moss Institute.