Fall 2010 Edition

To access the interviews with each faculty member, click on the person's name.

Sarah Morice Brubaker, Instructor in Theology

An engaging scholar with a deep commitment to ecumenism and to theological dialogue within the whole church, Sarah Morice Brubaker joined the PTS faculty July 1, 2009.  Her special teaching and research interests include: Christology, feminist theology and gender theory, theology and culture, place studies, theological anthropology, and postmodern thought.

In addition to published sermons and book reviews, Ms. Brubaker’s most recent academic presentations have included: “Re-Placing the Doctrine of the Trinity: Horizons, Violence, and Postmodern Christian Thought;” “Christ’s Resurrected Body as Key to a Nonviolent Theology of Location;” “What Sort of ‘Where?’ The Christian Church in Place;” and “Some Questions for Male Christian Pacifists.”

Lisa Wilson Davison, Johnnie Eargle Cadieux Professor of Hebrew Bible

An ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Dr. Davison has served churches in Texas and Kentucky, as well as a one year appointment as Campus Minister for Culver-Stockton College (Canton, MO).  Prior to joining the PTS faculty in 2010, she taught for 13 years at Lexington Theological Seminary and for 1 year at Lynchburg College (Lynchburg, VA).

Dr. Davison is a member of the Society of Biblical Literature, Forrest-Moss Disciple Institute, and the Association of Disciples for Theological Discussion.  She is often invited to speak to local congregations and retreats on the topics:  books in the Hebrew Bible (Christian First Testament), women in the Bible, sexuality and the Bible, contemporary issues and the Bible, and Christian use and misuse of the Hebrew Bible (Christian First Testament).

Mindy McGarrah Sharp, Assistant Professor of Congregational Care and Ethics

McGarrah Sharp focuses her teaching and research in the areas of pastoral theology and ethics.  With a firm belief that both self-awareness and intercultural awareness are vital for ministry, she is especially interested in bringing resources from the interdisciplinary field of postcolonial studies into conversation with theological study and formation.  In her courses, she hopes to help students develop ways of caring for the variety of needs within increasingly diverse congregations, hospitals, and other ministry contexts.  In addition to the introductory courses in pastoral care and ethics, Dr. McGarrah Sharp also challenges students to think about how questions of diversity impact specific areas of care with persons, families, and congregations.  She was influenced to think more critically about culture with her experience as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Suriname, South America.  She is also trained as a hospital clinical ethics consultant.

Richard F. Ward, Fred B. Craddock Associate Professor of Homiletics and Worship

Prior to coming to Phillips, Richard F. Ward was Associate Professor of Preaching at the Iliff School of Theology in Denver, Colorado.  He brings to the study of preaching a rich background in performance studies and practices. He is particularly interested in the arts of storytelling and oral interpretation of scripture as they inform and enrich the ministry of preaching. Dr. Ward is the author of Speaking from the Heart: Preaching with Passion and Speaking of the Holy: The Art of Communication in Preaching and a number of contributions and articles for the disciplines of homiletics, performance theory, and communication studies. He is also the co-editor of Craddock Stories with Mike Graves and Fred Craddock, also published in 2002. At present, Dr. Ward serves on the Editorial Board for Feasting on the Gospels after serving on the board for Feasting on the Word: A Lectionary Commentary Series for Westminster John Knox Press.