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Assistant Professor of Contextual Learning and Director of Leadership for Ministry Programs

The Rev. Dawn Davis, DMin
My passion is to help develop ministry leaders – from a wide variety of backgrounds and experience – who are growing spiritually, grounded in excellent academic training, and understand how to be contextually relevant.

I have two main areas of responsibility at Huron: overseeing field education for students for ordained ministry and teaching, broadly in the area of contextual theology and spiritual formation. My doctoral research focussed on measuring the effectiveness of spiritual formation through a small-group process. It combined insights from the Bible, patristic literature, and medieval and modern philosophy with the findings of contemporary social cognitive theory. My research interests are in measuring spiritual vitality and ministry readiness within a context-driven, online theological formation program.

Besides my work at Huron, I am the creator of Revive: Equipping Lay Leaders to be Spiritual Leaders. This video-based program seeks to transform lay leaders in the church into confident lay spiritual leaders. In my previous position, I was Faith Formation Coordinator for the Diocese of Niagara. I am also the principal author of I Intend: A Discipleship Program for Congregations and Individuals. This is a faith-based stewardship program grounded in spirituality and published jointly by the Anglican Church of Canada and the United Church of Canada. Besides my theological studies, I also have a background in human resources, especially training and development, and I earned my Certified Human Resources Professional designation in 1999. I spent a decade first as Director of Human Resources and then combined that portfolio with congregational development to lead the Ministry Resources Department in the Diocese of Toronto. I also produced and guided the script for the award-winning sexual misconduct video, Sexual Misconduct in Our Churches: Learn to Spot It, Learn to Stop It. This was the first sexual misconduct video program produced in Canada, and has been used by many churches and secular organizations. It won awards from both the Canadian Corporate Television Association and the U.S. International Film and Video Festival. During this time, I was also seconded to the steering committee of Fresh Start, a program of The Episcopal Church USA designed for clergy and parishes in transition. Following that, I became the first director of Fresh Start Canada. Following my time in diocesan administration, I spent 10 years as Rector of a large congregation in the GTA. I have also served as Rector of a four-point coastal parish in Nova Scotia, and Associate Priest at All Saints Cathedral in Halifax.
The Rev. Dawn Davis, DMin

Degrees and certificates:

Doctor of Ministry, Spiritual Formation, Tyndale University

MBA Essentials for Managers Certificate Program, Joseph L. Rotman School of Business, University of Toronto

Certified Human Resources Professional, Human Resources Professionals Association of Ontario

Master of Divinity, Atlantic School of Theology

 

Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Dalhousie University

Ordination dates: Deacon, 1987; Priest, 1988