I’m also a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, an avid mountaineer, and dog-lover. My Australian Shepherd, Sadie, is my constant companion, and my Belgian Malinois, Ben, is the source of one of my creative projects - a collaborative comic.
I am a sociologist, a social worker, and an ordained clergy.
I earned my PhD in Sociology from the University of Washington. My main areas of study were Institutional Analysis, Social Movements, and Religion.
Most of my research and writing has been focused on studying congregations from an organizational perspective.
Before getting my PhD I earned an MSW in Congregational & Community Social Work, trained in a non-traditional seminary program and served as an ordained priest at small church.
Currently, I have two primary research projects:
The Black Church Burning Project - which brings together my intellectual interests in religion and ethnic/racial violence, and has strong social justice and community engagement components.
Dying Well - which integrates my sociological research and congregational social work background. This project is focused on how congregations can die in a way that is missional and beneficial to their community. It is a research/writing project but also the area in which I am actively consulting and working with congregations
