THERESA F.

LATINI
187 Sunset Dr.
Holland, MI 49423
612-454-9378
theresa.latini@westernsem.edu

ACADEMIC POSITIONS
Professor of Practical Theology and Pastoral Care 2014-present
Western Theological Seminary (Holland, MI)

Consultant to the PhD Program in Pastoral Care and Counseling 2014-present

Luther Seminary (Saint Paul, MN)

George C. Weinman Chair of Pastoral Theology and Ministry 2012-2013

Associate Professor of Congregational and Community Care Leadership 2008-2012
Luther Seminary (Saint Paul, MN)

Assistant Professor of Pastoral and Congregational Care

Western Theological Seminary (Holland, MI) 2005-2008

Adjunct
Vancouver School of Theology (Vancouver, BC) Summer 2012
Western Theological Seminary (Holland, MI) 2008-2013

EDUCATION
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Practical Theology
Princeton Theological Seminary (Princeton, NJ) 2006

Master of Divinity (M.Div.)

Princeton Theological Seminary (Princeton, NJ) 2001

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Double Major, Psychology and Contemporary Ministry

Roberts Wesleyan College (Rochester, NY) 1996

ORDINATION
Presbyterian Church (USA), Minister of Word and Sacrament 2003
RELATED MINISTRY EXPERIENCE
Parish Associate, Lake Nokomis Presbyterian Church
Minneapolis, MN 2010-2013

Associate Pastor, First Presbyterian Church

Levittown, PA 2002-2005

Spiritual Care Coordinator, Heritage Christian Homes 1997-1998

(serving adults with developmental disabilities)
Assistant Residential Manager
Rochester, NY 1995-1997

BOARDS AND ACADEMIC RESEARCH

Convocation of Christian Leaders 2014
Duke University Divinity School

Ecology of Vocation, Lilly Foundation & Fuller Seminary 2011-2012

Luther Seminary Lead Researcher

Vibrant Congregations, Lilly Foundation Grant 2010-2013

Research Advisory Team for Vocation, Luther Seminary

Word & World 2010-2013

Member, Editorial Board

Christians’ Callings in the World, Lilly Foundation Grant

Faculty Research Fellow for Luther Seminary 2009-2013

Perspectives: A Journal of Reformed Thought

Member, Editorial Board 2007-2013
Guest Volume Editor Aug./Sept. 2009, Oct. 2010
Book Review Editor 2008

Faithful Practices Project, Lilly Foundation Grant

Senior Research Fellow, Princeton Theological Seminary 2004-2006

PUBLICATIONS
Books
Introductory Pastoral Care Textbook, co-authored with Jessicah Duckworth and Carla Dahl
(Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress, forthcoming).
 
Transforming Church Conflict: Compassionate Leadership in Action, co-authored with Deborah van
Deusen Hunsinger (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox, 2013).

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 The Church and the Crisis of Community: A Practical Theology of Small Group Ministry (Grand Rapids,
MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2011).

Curricula
Co-author, “Was Calvin Really a Control Freak?” re:Form Confirmation Curriculum (Minneapolis:
Sparkhouse, 2011).

Co-author, “If God has Already Predestined Me to Heaven or Hell, Why Does it Matter What I
Do?” re:Form Confirmation Curriculum (Minneapolis: Sparkhouse, 2011).

Co-author, “Does the Book of Order Come After the Book of Leviticus?” re:Form Confirmation
Curriculum (Minneapolis: Sparkhouse, 2011).

Co-author, “If the Church is Always Reforming, Why Do We Still Use the Word ‘Presbytery?’”
re:Form Confirmation Curriculum (Minneapolis: Sparkhouse, 2011).

Book Chapters & Peer Reviewed Articles

“Ecology of Vocation,” contributing author, Journal of Religious Leadership 12/1, Spring 2013.

“The Church as Mother: The Theme of Union in Christ in Luther and Calvin’s Ecclesiology,” in
Calvin and Luther: The Unfinished Conversation (Gottingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 2013).

“Grief-Work in Light of the Cross: Illustrating Transformational Interdisciplinarity,” Journal of

Psychology and Theology 36:3, Summer 2009.
 
“Nonviolent Communication: A Humanizing Educational and Ecclesial Practice,” Journal of
Education and Christian Belief, Spring 2009.

“Body Modification: Adolescence, Popular Culture and Practical Theology,” International Journal
for the Study of Youth Ministry vol. 4 no. 2, 2005, 69-85.
 
“Spiritual Formation: Old Wine and New Wineskins,” 2002 Proceedings: Leading with Hope: The
Vocation of the Religious Educator (Philadelphia, PA: Association of Professors and Researchers in
Religious Education, 2002), 186-200.

Periodical Articles & Book Reviews

“Imagination, Empathy, and Angst: How TV Shapes Community, Word & World, Summer 2012.

“Pastoral Implications: John 3:1-17,” Lectionary Homiletics, July 2012.

“Pastoral Implications: 1 Samuel 15:34-16:13,” Lectionary Homiletics, July 2012.

“Pastoral Implications: I Samuel 17 (1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49,” Lectionary Homiletics, July 2012.

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 “Pastoral Implications: March 3:20-35,” Lectionary Homiletics, July 2012.

“Let’s Have (a) Sex (Talk): Review of Sex & the Soul, “Perspectives: A Journal of Reformed Thought,
March 2012.

“The Work of Love: Toward a Practical Theology of Vocation,” New Theology Review 4 (2011).

“Empathic Leadership,” InPrint, Twin Cities Presbytery, September 2011.

“TV as Mediator of Community,” Perspectives: A Journal of Reformed Thought, October 2010.

“Hell without the Fire and Brimstone: Preaching as Pastoral Care, Working Preacher, March 6,
2010; ChurchLeaders.Com, June 16, 2011 (reprint).

“Earthquakes, Stormy Seas, and a Sleeping Savior,” Perspectives: A Journal of Reformed Thought, April
2010.

“Confessing and Healing in Small Group Community,” Word & World, Winter 2010.
 
“Adolescent Passion: Connecting Church and Culture,” Perspectives: A Journal of Reformed Thought
August/September, 2007.

“Nonviolent Communication and the Image of God,” Perspectives: A Journal of Reformed Thought
May, 2007.
 
Review of Pastoral Theology in the Classical Tradition, by Andrew Purves, Princeton Seminary
Bulletin (2005).
 
Review of The Shape of Practical Theology: Empowering Ministry with Theological Praxis, by Ray S.
Anderson, Princeton Seminary Bulletin (2005).

Blogs
Bi-weekly postings, The Twelve: Reformed Done Daily. http://the12.squarespace.com/theresa-latini/
(2011-present).

ACADEMIC PRESENTATIONS, WORKSHOPS, LECTURES

“Attuned to the Living Sacred Text: Insights from Interpersonal Neurobiology for Practical
Theology,” Association of Practical Theology, April 2012; with Carla M. Dahl

“Transforming Conflict from the Inside Out: Building Communities of Care,” Northeastern
Seminary Conference on Ministry Lecture Series, March 2012.

“The Church as Mother: The Theme of Union in Christ in Luther and Calvin’s Ecclesiology,
Response to J. Todd Billings,” Calvin Studies Society and North American Luther Forum, April 2011.

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 “Today’s Changing Family and the Families of the Bible,” Midwinter Convocation, Luther
Seminary, February 2011.

“The Secret of Contentment: Beyond Moral Deliberation,” Midwinter Convocation

Sermon, Luther Seminary, February 2011.

“Women’s Voice: Authentic, Assertive, Compassionate,” Women Leading, Luther Seminary,

February 2010.

“Preventing Clergy Sexual Misconduct,” Western Theological Seminary, January 2010, 2012.

“God and Family Systems Workshop,” Hope College, November 2009.

“Hope for Mad Men and Mad Families,” Hope College Chapel, November 2009.

Consultant, Googling Youth, Calvin Theological Seminary, June 2008.

“Teaching Nonviolent Communication and Teaching as Nonviolent Communication,”

Reimagining Educational Excellence Conference, Calvin Theological Seminary, October 2007.

Panelist, Googling Youth in Troubled Times, Calvin Theological Seminary, July 2006.
“Small Groups in Mainline Evangelical Congregations,” Best Practices Conference, Princeton
Theological Seminary, April 2006.

“Spiritual Formation: Old Wine and New Wineskins,” Association of Professors and Researchers in
Religious Association 2002 Annual Meeting.

“Introduction to Family Systems Theory,” Thomas Jefferson Hospital Clinical Pastoral Education,
Philadelphia, PA, April 2001.

COURSES TAUGHT
Ph.D. Seminars
History and Emerging Trends in Pastoral Care and Practical Theology
Cross-Disciplinarity in Pastoral Care and Practical Theology
Theological Anthropology and the Turn to Relationality
Pastoral Care in Context and Community

Masters Level Courses

Foundations of Pastoral Care
Congregational Care: Equipping Caregivers
Care of Self, Care of Others: Practicing Compassionate Communication
Building Communities of Care
Pastor as Person
Introduction to Congregational Studies

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 Introduction to Counsel and Care
Adolescence, Popular Culture, and Practical Theology
Small-Group Ministry in the Church

Independent Studies
Pastoral Care and Interpersonal Neurobiology (PhD)
Object Relations Theory and Pastoral Care (PhD)
Marriage and Family Ministry (PhD)
Practical Theology and Alcoholism (PhD)
Transformation and Developmental Psychology (PhD)
Nonviolent Communication in the Church
Family Systems Theory and Church Leadership
Transforming Conflict from the Inside Out (MTh)
Pastoral Care with Women in Intercultural Korean Marriages (MTh)
Small-Group Ministry in the Church

Continuing Education
Transforming Conflict from the Inside Out
Entering into the Spirit’s Power: Claiming Your Voice as a Woman in Ministry
Leading Healthy Communities
Pastoral Care with Kids
Faith in Daily Life: Rethinking Vocation

Other
Supervisor, Nonviolent Communication Practicum for Ph.D. students
Team-teacher, Boundaries Workshop (offered 3x/yearly)
Faculty Oversight, Nonviolent Communication Practice Group
Cross-cultural Immersion Trip to China (2009, 2011)
Cross-cultural Immersion Trip to Chiapas, Mexico (2007)
 

THESIS ADVISING
Ph.D. Pastoral Care and Counseling
“Hadithi, Hadithi, Hadithi - Njoo! (Story, Story, Story - Welcome!): A Chai Theology for
Intentional Engagement with African Immigrant Women,” Lucy Mungai, 2010. (Reader)
“Clinical Pastoral Education and African Communal Practices of Care: Implications for
Developing Mutual Church Leadership in Nigeria,” Sekenwa Moses Briska, 2011. (Adviser)
“The Living Well: An Ecclesial Response to Alcoholism in Ghana,” Hilliard Dela Dogbe, 2012.
(Adviser)
“The Practical Theologian as a Chaplain: Facing Life in a Wet House,” Beverly Lonsbury,
projected 2013. (Reader)

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 “Religionless Christianity: A Christological Response to Young People Leaving the Church,”
Jason Lief, 2013. (Reader)
“Trauma Within the Cameroonian Context,” Michael Jinteh, 2014. (Adviser)
“The Kingdom of God: Guiding Pastoral Care for Female Victims of Domestic Violence in
Mexico,” Dynna Castillo Portugal, 2014. (Adviser)
“Relational Pastoral Care and Counseling: A Mixed Methods Study of Relational Spirituality and
Grief,” Joel Jueckstock, forthcoming. (Reader)

M.Th. Pastoral Theology, Pastoral Care: Clinical Pastoral Theology

“AIDS in Uganda: A Christian Pastoral Response,” Samuel Tindewensi, 2009. (Adviser)
“Listening to Whispered Stories: Searching for Narrative Therapy’s Contribution to Overcoming
Domestic Violence in the Indonesian Toba Batak Context,” Julius Simaremare, 2009. (Reader)
“Healing the Broken Body of Christ: Torture, Brokenness, and an Ecclesiological Response,”
Kate Reuer, 2010. (Reader)
“Cross-Shaped Stories: Theology of the Cross and Congregational Life,” Andy Willis, 2011.
(Reader)
“Han: A Response to Suffering in Korean Theology,” Norman P. Belland, 2011. (Reader)
“Mission as Inculturation: A Study of Matteo Ricci’s Perspective, In the True Meaning of the Lord of
Heaven,” Yoseob Song, 2011. (Reader)
“Widowhood Care In 1 Timothy 5:3-12: A Paradigm for African Indigenous Churches,”
Millicent Yeboah Asuamah, 2012. (Reader)

ACADEMIC ADMINISTRATIVE LEADERSHIP

Course Scheduling and Hiring Adjuncts for 6 programs in Congregational and Community Care, offered in
both residential and distance learning formats (2008-present).
Faculty Point Person, Ph.D. Program in Pastoral Care and Counseling, ~15-18 students yearly (2008-
present). Includes curricular redesign; development of policies and procedures; oversight of
course development; clinical work oversight; advising for students during all stages of the
program; annual orientation for new students; planning of 3-4 Ph.D. colloquia yearly; orientation
for new faculty members; meeting with prospective students; overview of applications and
recommendations for admission. Currently serving as an adviser or reader for 14 Ph.D. students
in coursework, comprehensive examinations, dissertation stages of the program.
Faculty Point Person, M.Th. Program in Pastoral Care: Clinical Pastoral Theology, ~3 students yearly
(2009-2011, 2013). Includes student advising; meeting with prospective students; overview of
applications and recommendations for admission. Currently advising 3 M.Th. students.

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 Faculty Point Person, M.A. Program in Congregational and Community Care, ~15 students yearly (2009-
2011, 2013). Includes curricular redesign; student advising; meeting with prospective students.
Faculty Point Person, M.A./M.F.T. Dual Degree Program, 8 students (2013). Includes regular
meetings with faculty and staff at St. Mary’s University; student advising; meeting with
prospective students.
Faculty Point Person, M.A./M.Div. Dual Degree Program, 6 students (2013). Includes regular
meetings with faculty and staff at Augsburg College; student advising; meeting with prospective
students.
Task Force Chair, Program Redesign and Curriculum Revision (2012). Includes leading a team of
faculty, staff, and students in developing and presenting proposals to full faculty.
Search Committee Chair, Congregational and Community Care Leadership, 2 positions (2010-2011).

OTHER COMMMITTEES AND WORK GROUPS (SELECT PORTION)

Faculty Concerns Committee member
Graduate Theological Education committee member
VP for Student Affairs and Enrollment search committee member
Professor of Children, Youth, and Family search committee member
Vocational Formation workgroup member
New Horizons in Theological Education workgroup member
Boundaries Workshop task force member
Faculty Retreat task force member
Academic Rigor task force member
Church in Public Life task force member
Pretenure teaching and learning group member

ACADEMIC AFFILIATIONS
Member, Society for Pastoral Theology (SPT)
Member, American Academy of Religion (AAR)
Member, Association of Practical Theology (APT)

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
ATS Mid-career Women Faculty and Mid-career Faculty Workshops
Pittsburgh, PA March 2012

Nonviolent Communication Leadership Program

Nonviolent Communication Training Institute, Prescott, AZ 2008-2010

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 Restorative Justice Training
University of Saint Thomas, Saint Paul, MN October 2008

Nonviolent Communication and the Living Energy of Needs 7-Day Workshop

Winter Harbor, ME May 2008

Association of Theological Schools, Women in Leadership Conference

Pittsburgh, PA October 2007

Peace in Me, Peace in My Relationships, Peace in the World

Five-Day Intensive Workshop November 2006

Clergy Misconduct: Sexual Abuse in the Ministerial Relationship (3-day training)

Faith Trust Institute January 2006

Association of Theological Schools/Wabash Conference for Newly Appointed Seminary Professors

Pittsburgh, PA October 2005

CHURCH AND COMMUNITY SERVICE

Since 2005, over 75 presentations at congregations (other than parish associate site), educational
institutions, Clinical Pastoral Education sites, presbyteries and synods throughout the United
States, Canada, and China. Presentations have taken the form of preaching, adult education,
workshops, conferences, and retreats.

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