Wanda J. Stahl
· Clinical Assistant Professor of Contextual Theology and Practice, Director of Contextual Education and Congregational Partnerships; RetiredBoston University · School of Theology
Active 1997–2024
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About
Wanda J. Stahl is a retired Clinical Assistant Professor of Contextual Theology and Practice at Boston University School of Theology, where she served from 2011 to 2022. She is an ordained Deacon in the United Methodist Church and has a professional background focused on Christian formation and the building of congregational life. Prior to her tenure at BU, she served as Director of Christian Formation for the New England Annual Conference of the UMC for 12 years and has extensive experience in Christian education, spiritual formation, and leadership development. Her current areas of interest include envisioning and implementing strategies for vital ministry, leadership, and formation in the 21st century. Her recent research concentrates on faith communities that meet outdoors in nature, exploring how these experiences influence participants' spiritual practices and their commitment to environmental justice. Throughout her career, she has been actively involved in teaching courses related to spiritual formation, urban ministry, and the integration of theology and practice, and has contributed to various workshops, seminars, and leadership training programs. Her professional affiliations include memberships in several religious education and Methodist organizations, and she has received awards such as the Innovation Incubator Award Grant for fostering ecological conversion through 'Wild Churches'.
Research topics
- Sociology
- Environmental ethics
- Political Science
- Philosophy
- Theology
- Pedagogy
- Public relations
- Social psychology
- Law
- History
Selected publications
Religious Education · 1997-01-01 · 4 citations
article1st authorCorrespondingAbstract Traditional epistemological constructions have focused upon the individual as the center of knowledge formation. These constructions have helped perpetuate the individualistic culture of the United States, a culture that in many ways has adversely affected educational practices and faith formation in white, middle class, Protestant churches. Several recent epistemologies, most offered by feminist scholars, challenge these individualistic theories. They assert that the community, rather…
Religious Education · 2021 · 2 citations
1st authorCorrespondingA growing number of new faith communities in North America are emerging as part of the Wild Church Network. These outdoor church expressions seek to re-acquaint, re-cover, and re-member their faith communities as loving participants of the larger community of Creation. This paper explores theological foundations and spiritual practices grounding the ecclesiologies of these communities. This study is based on data gathered from site visits, surveys, and interviews with Wild Church leaders and par…
Welcome to Dear Earth: Resourcing Spirit for the Anthropocene Era
Religious Education · 2024
Senior authorCorrespondingThe devastating impacts of climate change on daily life are becoming more and more apparent. These challenging times call for religious educators in all contexts to help faith communities bring the lens of climate justice to all aspects of faith formation. In this article, the Religious Education Association (REA) 2024 program chairs share experiences that have shaped their own commitment to climate justice and offer insight into the foci of the upcoming Dear Earth conference.
Meaningful Vocation in a Climate-Changed World: Learnings from Seminary of the Wild
Religious Education · 2024
1st authorCorrespondingSeminary of the wild research data
OpenBU (Boston University) · 2024-08-01
dataset1st authorCorrespondingPractices and strategies for sustaining resilient spiritual leadership are critical in this time of climate crisis. Learnings from participants in the Seminary of the Wild eco-ministry certification program offer guidance for engaging in practices of education and formation that can help people of faith meet the challenges of these times and meaningfully contribute to the flourishing of their communities and the planet.
Frequent coauthors
- 1 shared
Dori Baker
Awards & honors
- Innovation Incubator Award Grant, BTS Center (2018-19)
- Dempster Graduate Fellowship, General Board of Higher Educat…
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