Posts in Learning Centre
Dr. Timothy Harvie
Dr. Timothy Harvie

Timothy Harvie completed his PhD in Scotland and postdoctoral work in Wales, returned to Calgary and began teaching at St. Mary’s. He now lives, along with his wife and daughter, and their two dogs and two cats, in the far south of Calgary. Dr. Harvie has published on diverse figures such as the German political theologian, Jürgen Moltmann, and the medieval scholar Thomas Aquinas. Recently, his research and writing has focused on critical animal studies and environmental theologies and philosophies.

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Learning CentreGuest PostTimothy Harvie
Monetta Bailey, PhD
Monetta Bailey, PhD

Monetta Bailey is an Assistant Professor of Sociology in the Behavioural Science Department at Ambrose University, Calgary, Alberta. She has served there as a faculty member since 2014, prior to which she was a sessional instructor. Her teaching load covers fundamental sociological courses as well as courses related to race, crime and deviance.

My research focuses on the intersection of race, ethnicity, immigration and the justice system where I investigate the factors that are related to youth becoming involved in the justice system, as well as the experiences of these youth once they are in the youth justice system. My interest in the justice system was sparked during my undergraduate degree pursuit at the University of Calgary where I studied Political Science. Through gaining both my MA and PhD in Sociology from the University of Calgary, I have been able to expand my interest in the justice system to look to the social institutions that interact with the justice system. I recently completed my doctorate where I explored the ideas of restorative justice among racialized immigrant youth who are referred to the Extra-Judicial Sanctions Program in Calgary. Once a month, Monetta appears as a crime panelist on a local television news program Alberta Primetime to discuss current issues in criminal justice.

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Learning CentreGuest PostMonetta Bailey
Dr. Niigaanwewidam James Sinclair
Dr. Niigaanwewidam James Sinclair

Niigaanwewidam James Sinclair is Anishinaabe (St. Peter's/Little Peguis) and an Assistant Professor at the University of Manitoba. He is a regular commentator on Indigenous issues on CTV, CBC, and APTN, and his written work can be found in the pages of The Exile Edition of Native Canadian Fiction and Drama, newspapers like The Guardian, and online with CBC Books: Canada Writes. Niigaan is the co-editor of the award-winning Manitowapow: Aboriginal Writings from the Land of Water (Highwater Press, 2011) and Centering Anishinaabeg Studies: Understanding the World Through Stories (Michigan State University Press, 2013), and is the Editorial Director of The Debwe Series with Portage and Main Press.

Niigan obtained his BA in Education at the University of Winnipeg, before completing an MA in Native- and African-American literatures at the University of Oklahoma, and a PhD in First Nations and American Literatures from the University of British Columbia.

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Learning CentreGuest PostNiigaanwewidam James Sinclair
Dr. Jane Barter
Dr. Jane Barter

Dr. Jane Barter (she/her) is Professor of Religion and Culture at the University of Winnipeg. She earned her BA in English at Dalhousie (1991), her Master’s degree from the Atlantic School of Theology (1994), and her PhD from the University of St. Michael’s College at the University of Toronto (2004). Her research interests include Christian political thought and feminist theory.

She has published two monographs of Christian theology: Lord, Giver of Life (Wilfrid Laurier University Press, 2006) and Thinking Christ: Christology and Contemporary Critics (Fortress Press, 2011). Barter has written extensively on sex, gender, and gendered violence. Her current project includes writing a book on witnessing to contemporary atrocities. She is also editing a major volume on Christology for T &T Clark

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Learning CentreGuest PostJane Barter
Marion Ann Taylor
Marion Ann Taylor

Dr. Marion Ann Taylor, an expert and pioneer in the field of the history of women's biblical interpretation, is professor of Old Testament at Wycliffe College at the University of Toronto. Her publications include the award-winning Handbook of Women Biblical Interpreters: A Historical and Biographical Guide.

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Learning CentreGuest PostMarion Ann Taylor
Joy Schroeder
Joy Schroeder

Dr. Joy A. Schroeder, a Lutheran pastor, specializes in the history of biblical interpretation. She is professor of church history at Trinity Lutheran Seminary and the Department of Religion and Philosophy at Capital University, Columbus, Ohio. She is the author of Deborah's Daughters: Gender Politics and Biblical Interpretation and several other books on the history of interpretation of scripture.

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Learning CentreGuest PostJoy Schroeder
Julianne Gilchrist
Julianne Gilchrist

Julianne Gilchrist is a spiritual director and serves on the leadership team of The Studion School for Spiritual Direction. She is ordained in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and has spent years working in campus ministry. Julianne earned her MDiv at Regent College in Vancouver, BC. She lives with her husband and three kids in Edmonton, where she currently serves as Campus Minister at The King’s University. She and her husband are nurturing a small business that seeks to provide space for those in ministry to rest, reflect, and grow. Her writing and other offerings can be found at juliannegilchrist.com.

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Learning CentreGuest PostJulianne Gilchrist
Ryan Turnbull
Ryan Turnbull

Ryan Turnbull lives in Winnipeg, MB and is a PhD candidate at the University of Birmingham. He teaches at Thorneloe University and is a postulant for ordination in the Diocese of Rupert's Land in the Anglican Church of Canada, attending St. Margaret's Anglican Church. Ryan’s podcast about Canadian political theology, True North Theology, launched in 2022 with the New Leaf Podcast Network. You can read more from him at his website RyanKTurnbull.com

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Advent Author, Learning Centre, PodcastGuest PostRyan Turnbull
James Robertson
James Robertson

Dr. James Tyler Robertson is Assistant Professor of Christian History and Director of Distributed Learning at Tyndale University. He teaches the History of Christianity as well as courses on Canadian Christianity and Evangelicalism. His areas of research are on Church and War, Canadian Religious History, and Historical Theology.

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Learning Centre, Advent AuthorGuest PostJames Robertson
Rachel Tulloch
Rachel Tulloch

Rachel Tulloch is involved with pastoral care and theological reflection at Sanctuary Ministries of Toronto, a community that seeks to embody the good news of Jesus by welcoming those who are poor or excluded in our society. She completed a doctoral degree through University of St. Michael's College, studying the relationship between worship and community life at Sanctuary. Originally hailing from small town Northern Ontario, Rachel currently lives in Scarborough with her husband Glenn and 3 kids, Colman, Ashlyn, and Caleb.

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Learning CentreGuest PostRachel Tulloch
Jesse Sudirgo
Jesse Sudirgo

Jesse Sudirgo is the Director of the Masters of Divinity Church in the City (In-Ministry) Program and Assistant Professor of Contextual Ministry at the Seminary. He has a diverse breadth of experience in multiple disciplines of ministry in both the church and non-profit sectors. He is the former Director of Street-Involved Services at the YSM Evergreen Centre and continues to consult with churches in their engagement with poverty in the city. He brings to his work a conviction for interdisciplinary theological reflection that considers those most marginalized in society. His background in church planting in Boston Massachusetts has shaped his interests in missional lay leadership, community development, and urban poverty.

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Learning CentreGuest PostJesse Sudirgo
Shu-Ling Lee
Shu-Ling Lee

Rev. Dr. Shu-Ling Lee is the Downtown Markham Campus Pastor at Richmond Hill Christian Community Church in the English-speaking congregation. Formerly serving as the Worship Pastor, God expanded his passion for worship into a passion for discipleship, to challenge Sunday worshippers into joining God in His mission where He’s placed them in their local context.

Shu is Canadian-Asian, born and raised. He enjoys basketball, theology and all things geek & tech and on the side, also the co-host for the Canadian Asian Missional Podcast (C.A.M.P.). He is married to Monica and they have three energetic young children.

Shu holds degrees from York University (B.A., Sociology), Tyndale Seminary (M.Div, Worship & Liturgy), and Northern Seminary in Chicago, IL (D.Min, Missional Leadership/Contextual Theology).

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Learning CentreGuest PostShu-Ling Lee
Jon Nip
Jon Nip

Jon Nip is the Pastor of Connection & Care at Scarborough Chinese Baptist Church in the English-speaking congregation. Having previously served in youth & family ministry and in multiethnic churches, God renewed a passion for the immigrant Chinese church to work among multiple generations, languages, and cultures. and to be a part of building bridges toward discipleship in community and missional engagement.

Jon was born in Ottawa and has spent half of his life in Toronto. He enjoys playing music, running, watching movies, and enjoying one of his many sci-fi and geeky related hobbies! Along with Shu, Bernard, and Xenia, he also co-hosts the Canadian Asian Missional Podcast (C.A.M.P.). He and his wife love life together with their two wonderful kids!

Jon graduated from Tyndale Seminary (Masters of Divinity, Youth & Family) and in the summer 2022, he is enrolled to start his Doctorate of Ministry in Contextual Theology at Northern Seminary.

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Learning CentreGuest PostJon Nip
Tim Tang
Tim Tang

Rev. Dr. Timothy Tang was born in Toronto where he now lives with his wife and three children. Tim has been a pastor at the East Toronto Chinese Baptist Church where he has been ministering since 2001, first as the English speaking congregational pastor, and now as the Intercultural Pastor-at-Large. As the son of international students, Tim leverages his personal experience of being a new Canadian to his present work in areas of ethnocultural inclusion at local and national levels. He has recently been seconded as the Director of the Tyndale Intercultural Ministries Centre under the Open Learning Centre at Tyndale University.

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Learning CentreGuest PostTim Tang
Dr. Betty Pries
Dr. Betty Pries

Dr. Betty Pries is CEO at Credence & Co. where she leads a dynamic team of consultants alongside supporting a diverse range of client groups. Betty is also the author of the book, The Space Between Us: Conversations about Conflict Transformation.

Betty brings over 27 years of experience to her work as a coach, trainer, facilitator, mediator, and consultant. Betty is highly regarded as a Conflict, Change, and Leadership Specialist. She works especially with complex challenges, supporting leaders and their organizations to be at their best. Betty’s capacity to care deeply, listen well, and provide wise and thoughtful support allows her to help her clients engage in tough, meaningful, and important conversations, set directions, and achieve positive organizational change.

Betty specializes in engaging and transforming dynamics related to organizational health: leadership and executive coaching, conflict management, change management, strategic planning, facilitation of tough conversations. Betty brings a wealth of experience to her work, having worked with a wide range of organizations, both nationally and internationally, with businesses, public institutions, not-for-profit organizations and a diverse range of congregations.

Betty has extensive education, training, and experience in coaching, mediation, negotiation, consensus building, consultation, facilitation, and organizational health. As Co-Founder and CEO at Credence, Betty’s great joy has been the opportunity to mentor and support the growth of the Credence team. Betty has a PhD from the Free University Amsterdam on the topic of conflict transformation. She is a Chartered Mediator with the ADR Institute of Canada and a member of the ADR Institute of Ontario. Betty is a regular instructor at the University of Waterloo.

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Learning CentreGuest PostBetty Pries
Downtown Windsor Community Collaborative
Downtown Windsor Community Collaborative

Downtown Windsor Community Collaborative (DWCC), a new monastic community of neighbours who live in walking distance of one another in downtown Windsor.

Bob is husband to Margo, a father of four adult daughters, and a known character in his neighbourhood. He’s a man full of inspiring ideas, a love for his neighbours, and a joy like no other. From alley parties to soccer in the park, breakfast club to walking his neighbourhood, Bob is always found in the crowd, bringing laughter to his friends. He is a catalyst of ideas, a connector of people, and he’s the visionary leader of the DWCC.

Steve is husband to Emily, a father of four young kids, and he can often be found supporting others from behind the scenes. He’s a details guy with a keen eye, and he helps create and curate space and life-giving liturgy for the community. He’s a lover of food and good coffee, someone who is always learning new skills, and he’s our in-house designer and videographer. He’s a communicator of ideas, and he’s the operational leader of the DWCC.

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Learning CentreGuest PostDWCC
Erinn Oxford
Erinn Oxford

Erinn joined the The Dale team in 2007. In 2012 she was invited to become the full-time Executive Director and Pastor. Erinn is passionate about fostering a sense of community for all people, while placing at the core those who have known marginalization. She studied at both Tyndale University College & Seminary, and Humber College and is now ordained through the CBOQ. Erinn has extensive experience working with people who are street involved, underhoused and trying to cope with substance addiction and mental health issues. Erinn is a Toronto native who loves her city. She is married to Dion and they have a daughter, Cate. Learn more by visiting Erinn’s Blog.

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Learning CentreGuest PostErinn Oxford
Christa Hesselink
Christa Hesselink

Christa Hesselink has been guiding individuals and groups as they dig deeper into their spiritual life for her entire twenty-five-year career, working in higher education, non-profit development, and church ministry. She is the founder of SoulPlay, and is a well-respected keynote speaker, workshop facilitator and retreat leader. Her focus content includes: transformation & vulnerability, the inner-life of an effective leader, contemplative spirituality, grief & loss, and soul care. Christa is known for her strategic and collaborative approach to working with individuals and teams and her greatest satisfaction comes when designing compelling experiences for people to slow down so they can wake up to their own soul. She holds a Master’s of Leadership and a Master’s of Theology degree and has been named a “Hero of Children” from World Vision Canada. She is the Canadian best-selling author of Life’s Great Dare and the founder of the Love2Love Project which supports vulnerable children in multiple countries around the world. Christa is a certified coach and certified spiritual director with the Haden Institute. She has also completed the intensive Enneagram coach training program with the Narrative Tradition. Rooted in the Christian tradition, Christa has found deep meaning and hope, and enjoys companioning others who endeavour to deepen their connection to God – to Spirit, Source and Soul.

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Learning Centre, Writing Collective AuthorGuest PostChrista Hesselink