About - The Association for Theological Field Education | ATFE
Chair's Welcome
ATFE Colleagues,
It was a pleasure to gather in Asheville, now over a year ago, to make new friends, deepen collegial relationships, and share best practices together. Since that time, your Steering Committee has been hard at work. We listened carefully to the ideas and concerns you expressed at the 2019 Consultation, reviewed your evaluations, and are moving forward on several new initiatives. We are committed to:
- Continuing to recruit new members. We will continue our attempt to locate the field educator at each and every ATS school and reaching out to them with an invitation to join ATFE. As always, current members are the best recruiters of new members, so we welcome your help in this endeavor. Dipa Hart, Vice Chair, coordinates ATFE’s membership.
- Continuing to diversify ATFE leadership. We are committed to bringing new ATFE members into leadership roles and ensuring that ATFE committees reflect the various diversities of our guild. If you are interested in serving on the Steering Committee, or know someone who might be, please let me know: chair@atfe.org. If you would like to work with the Research and Publications Committee, contact Chrissy Zaker at czaker@ctu.edu.
- Providing resources in the off years. We will keep you abreast of new items of interest on the website, inform you when new issues of Reflective Practice are available, and encourage your continued professional development through a schedule of webinars. In order to better communicate with our members, we have hired Rachel Sanchez as our Communications Director, and you can reach her at communications@atfe.org.
- Continuing to improve the dues collection process. We have created an invoice for you to submit to your business office for paying your ATFE dues, which are collected each year. John Senior is ATFE’s treasurer, and you should have received an email from him with the invoice if you’re a member.
- Moving to a midweek schedule for the 2021 Consultation. Responding to feedback from some members that attending conferences on weekends is difficult for those with families and for those who lead Sunday worship services, we have decided to convene the 2021 ATFE Consultation on a Tuesday-Friday schedule. We will gather in Tampa, Florida from midday on January 26, 2021 through midday on Friday, January 29, 2021.
We welcome your input and suggestions on these matters, and any others of concern to you, as we move forward. During this second year of the biennium, we will be planning what we hope will be a rich and fruitful gathering in Tampa.
Respectfully,
ATFE Steering Committee Chair Barbara Blodgett (chair@atfe.org), on behalf of your 2019-2021 Steering Committee:
Tom Elliott (atlarge1@atfe.org)
Dipa Hart (vicechair@atfe.org)
Tracy Hartman (chairemeritus@atfe.org)
Dan Poole (secretary@atfe.org)
John Senior (treasurer@atfe.org)
Jenny Whitcher (proposals@atfe.org.)
Nick Works (atlarge2@atfe.org).
Steering Committee
Barbara Blodgett, Chair
Rev. Dr. Barbara Blodgett is Associate Dean for Academic Programs and Assessment at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. She is a minister, educator, and ethicist. Ordained in the United Church of Christ, she has served in parish ministry as well as the national setting of the UCC. She received an MDiv from Yale Divinity School and a PhD from the Department of Religious Studies (Ethics) at Yale University. Her areas of research include pedagogy, pastoral and professional formation, and ministry ethics. She previously served as Donald and Lillian Nunnelly Assistant Professor of Pastoral Leadership at Lexington Theological Seminary, and as Director of Supervised Ministries at Yale Divinity School from 1998-2009. She has published three books– Constructing the Erotic: Sexual Ethics and Adolescent Girls, Lives Entrusted: An Ethic of Trust for Ministry, and Becoming the Pastor You Hope to Be: Four Practices for Improving Ministry—and co-edited one with Matt Floding—Brimming With God: Reflecting Theologically on Cases in Ministry.
Contact Barbara at: Chair@atfe.org
Dipa H. Hart, Vice Chair
Dipa H. Hart is Director of Internships, and Adjunct Professor in Educational Ministries and Leadership at Dallas Theological Seminary. Since 2005, she has engaged students during their field education experiences. She has also served as a hospital chaplain, DTS’s SF Women’s Director, treasurer of Association of Women Ministry Professions (AWMP), co-chaired the Evangelical Association of Theological Field Educators (ATFE) and remains active AWMP. In addition to her role at the seminary, she is currently pursuing a PhD in Organizational Leadership. Her academic interests include ecclesial leadership studies, Christian spirituality, and intercultural engagement. She and her husband have one son.
Contact Dipa at: ViceChair@atfe.org
Dan Poole, Secretary
Rev. Dan Poole is Assistant Professor of Ministry Formation at Bethany Theological Seminary. He was born in Indiana and grew up attending the Wabash Church of the Brethren. After serving for 18 years in congregational ministry, first at the Elizabethtown Church of the Brethren as Associate Pastor and then at the Covington Church of the Brethren in Southern Ohio for 13 of those years, he was called to serve at Bethany. Poole has been the Coordinator for Ministry Formation since August of 2007 through 2017, and served a one-year appointment as the Visiting Instructor for Ministry Formation in 2017-18, until he was called to his current position. Dan received his DMin from Columbia Theological Seminary and holds an MDiv from Bethany Theological Seminary. Dan and his spouse Kelli have one adult son, Kevin.
Contact Dan at: Secretary@atfe.org
John Senior, Treasurer
John directs the School of Divinity’s Art of Ministry program, which includes its field education curriculum. His research and teaching focus on pastoral formation for ministry, field-based learning, ministry leadership in both ecclesial and public settings, and the role of theological education in preparing leaders for a wide variety of institutional contexts. Trained in Christian ethics and the sociology of religion, Senior is also interested in political theology and ethics and earth-centered approaches to ministry and the moral life. He is currently working on a book project on structural evil. Senior is an ordained Teaching Elder in the Presbyterian Church (USA).
Contact John at: Treasurer@atfe.org
Jenny Whitcher, Communications Director
Rev. Dr. Jenny Whitcher is the founder of Juniper Formation, an ecumenical nonprofit ministry that collaborates with denominational leaders, clergy, and local churches to prophetically reimagine the Church; develop prophetic ministers; and maintain and renovate closing and closed church properties as sacred and public spaces engaged with the community through missional ministries of justice, healing, and formation work. She previously served as the faculty Director of the Office of Professional Formation and Term Assistant Professor of Religion & Public Life at Iliff School of Theology. Whitcher is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Denver & Iliff School of Theology, her M.A. from the University of Denver, and B.A. from New York University. Full bio.
Contact Jenny at: proposals@atfe.org
Thomas W. Elliott, Jr., Member At-Large
Rev. Dr. Thomas W. Elliott, Jr., is Associate Professor in the Practice of Practical Theology and Methodist Studies, and Director of Contextual Education II, Teaching Parish Program, and Internships at Emory’s Candler School of Theology. An elder in the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church, Elliott served as the pastor of rural, town and suburban churches for 26 years prior to joining the Candler faculty in 2013. Ties to local churches, campus ministries, and non-profits in the Atlanta area and beyond are beneficial as he assists students in their second year contextual education placements in ecclesial settings, directs the Teaching Parish program, and structures internship opportunities. Elliott frequently serves as guest preacher in churches and worships at Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church on Emory’s campus. Elliott serves on the board of directors for the Salem Campground, one of the oldest existing camp meetings in the nation, and is also on the board of directors of the United Methodist Children’s Home and Project Transformation North Georgia.
Contact Thomas at: AtLarge1@atfe.org
Nick Works, Member At-Large
Rev. Nick Works is Assistant Director of Practice in Ministry and Ministry at Wesley Theological Seminary
Contact Nick at: AtLarge2@atfe.org
Tracy Hartman, Chair Emeritus, ex officio
Tracy is the former Daniel O. Aleshire Professor of Practical Theology at Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond where she taught preaching and directed the seminary’s field education and Doctor of Ministry Programs for eighteen years. She teaches preaching and directs the seminary’s Supervised Ministry and Doctor of Ministry programs. She is the author of Letting the Other Speak: Proclaiming the Stories of Biblical Women and co-author of New Proclamation Commentary. She also contributed to the Feasting on the Word and Feasting on the Gospels commentary series. Her forthcoming book will help congregations think theologically about risk and change. Dr. Hartman served as preacher and preaching instructor for the First Annual Pastor’s Conference and as preacher and lecturer for the First Annual Lay Women’s Conference at Baptist Theological Seminary at Zimbabwe. She is active in Baptist life and has served as staff member and interim pastor to several Virginia churches. She enjoys preaching throughout the region. Professor Hartman was a member of the first class of M. Div. students at BTSR and won the Miller Award for Academic Achievement upon her graduation in 1995. Her Ph.D. work at Union Theological Seminary included ground-breaking research into the relationship between parish setting and preaching style for women pastors.
Contact Tracy at: ChairEmeritus@atfe.org