CURRICULUM VITAE
Susan Elizabeth Davies
Bangor Theological Seminary
300 Union Street
Bangor, ME 04401 U.S.A.
(207) 942-6781 office
(207) 942-9369 home
EDUCATION
B.A., Wellesley College, 1964.
Major: Biblical History Minor: Philosophy
Wellesley College Scholar.
M. A. in Theology, Andover Newton Theological School, 1973
Thesis: "Athanasius’ Political Theology" Honors
Advisor: Meredith B. Handspicker
Yale Divinity School, 1972-1973.
Experiential Education Program for Parish Clergy.
Doctor of Ministry, New York Theological Seminary, 1976
Project: "Commissioning Exurbia"
Mentors: George W. Webber, Letty M. Russell
Doctor of Education in Religion and Education, Columbia University Teachers College and Union Theological Seminary, 1994
Dissertation: "Critical Insight: The Educational Construction of Theological Socialization"
Advisor: William Bean Kennedy
ECCLESIASTICAL STANDING
Ordained June 24, 1973, Fairfield East Association, Connecticut Conference, United Church of Christ
Member, Hammond Street Church and Penobscot-Piscataquis Association, Maine Conference, United Church of Christ
TEACHING POSITIONS HELD
Jonathan Fisher Professor of Christian Education, l994 to present
Professor of Pastoral Studies, 1993 to present
Academic Dean, 1996 to 2001
Associate Professor of Pastoral Studies, Bangor Theological Seminary, 1983-1992
Adjunct Faculty, Master of Professional Studies Program, New York Theological Seminary/Bangor Theological Seminary, 1984-1986
Adjunct Faculty, New York Theological Seminary, Doctor of Ministry Program in Maine, 1977-1979.
CHURCHES SERVED
Pastor, Union Congregational Church, Hancock, Maine 1977-1982.
Assistant Minister, First Congregational Church, Ridgefield, Connecticut, 1971-1976.
Coordinator of Student Activities, First Presbyterian Church, Berkeley, California, 1969-1971.
SERVICE TO THE WIDER CHURCH
United Church of Christ Representative to the Commission on Faith and Order of the National Council of Churches, 1988-1999. Co-Chair, Subgroup on Eradicating Racism, 1992-1995; Co-Chair, Study Group on Christian Identity Formation, 1997- present. Member, Executive Committee. Officer. Chair, Program Guidelines Committee 1998-1999.
Consultant, World Alliance of Reformed Churches General Council, Debrecen, Hungary, August, 1997
Delegate, CANAAC Region, World Alliance of Reformed Churches, International Consultation on Gospel and Cultures, Toraja, Sulawesi, Indonesia, February, 1996
Head of Maine Conference delegation to General Synods XIV and XV
Leader of retreats for clergy and church women on pastoral identity and women’s issues, 1980-1994
Chair, Committees on the Ministry, Connecticut and Maine
Leader of workshops on worship, inclusive language, peace, homosexuality, laity training and Central America for youth, adults and church leaders, 1980-1994
Bible Study Leader
Geneva Point Conference on Missions, 1985, 1988, 1994
Vermont Conference Annual Clergy Convocation, 1987
New England Young Adult Retreat, 1988
New England Conference on Mission, 1991
Text Review Committee, New Century Hymnal, United Church of Christ
Shalom Zone Committee, United Methodist Church, Bangor, Maine, 1995-1996
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Witness for Peace delegate to Nicaragua, 1984.
First Vice President, Community Health and Counseling Services, Bangor, Maine, 1988-1990
President, Board of Directors, Maine Christian Association, University of Maine Campus Ministry, 1989-1995
Board of Directors, Mabel Wadsworth Women’s Health Center, Bangor, Maine, 1994-1997
Board of Directors, Hospice of Eastern Maine, Bangor, 1995-1997
Member, Home Health Care Ethics Committee, Bangor, 1997 to present.
Representative, Clean Clothes Campaign, Bangor, 1998.
Facilitator, Sexual Abuse Survivors Group for mentally retarded women, Penobscot Valley Industries, Bangor, Maine, 1991 to present
Council Member, Center for Vision and Policy, Maine, 1986-1994
MAJOR SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
Keynote speaker
Women’s Fellowships in Connecticut and Maine, 1979-1986
UCC Clergywomen’s Network, New England Regional Meeting, 1985
New England Regional Youth Event, United Church of Christ, 1986
Massachusetts Conference United Church of Christ Christian Education Event, 1995
Conference Preacher
New Hampshire Conference, United Church of Christ Annual Meeting, 1986
Massachusetts Conference, United Church of Christ Annual Meeting, 1992
"Women and the Word" Anna Howard Shaw Center of Boston University School of Theology, 1993.
Consultant and instructor for Maine and Massachusetts Conferences Christian Education programs [ACT and ACCT], 1991, 1992, 1995, 1999.
"Martin, Malcom and Audre" Convocation, Bangor Theological Seminary, 1993
"The Shapes We Take While We Wait" National Council of Churches of Christ, Faith and Order, 1995
"Rooted in Christ and Shaped by the Spirit," Lutheran-Reformed Consultation, Trinity Seminary, Columbus, Ohio, 1996
Presenter, Pastor’s Assembly, United Methodist Church, August, 1998.
RECOGNITIONS
Humanitarian of the Year, Knights of Columbus, Ellsworth, Maine, 1982.
Gustavus Myers Human Rights Award, 1992 for Redefining Sexual Ethics
Doctoral Paper Award, Association of Professors and Researchers in Religious Education, 1994.
GRANTS
New York Theological Seminary Scholarship, 1974
Union Theological Seminary Fellowship, 1990-1993
Association of Theological Schools Faculty Travel Grant, Indonesia, 1993 Consultation: "Cultural Context and Theological Education" with theological educators and church leaders at Artha Wacana in Timor, Duta Wacana in Jojakarta and Satja Wacana in Salatiga in Java in association with two faculty colleagues, Drs. Ann Johnston and Marvin M. Ellison
Association of Theological Schools Grant for "Developing Your Role as a Scholar: A Seminar for Women Faculty" 1994
ACADEMIC PAPERS PRESENTED
"The Theological Roots of Abusive Behavior" New England Women’s Studies Association Annual Meeting, 1989
"Can Seminary Unhinge Your Mind?" New England Council on Theological Education, May, 1992
"Critical Insight," Academic Teaching and Study of Religion Section, AAR, 1993
"Constructing New Perspectives in Theological Education: The Development of Critical Insight" Association of Professors and Researchers in Religious Education, 1994 Honors paper
"Response to Joseph Conforti" Hanover, New Hampshire, 1995
PUBLICATIONS
BOOKS
Redefining Sexual Ethics, co-edited with Eleanor H. Haney, Pilgrim Press, 1991
Ending Racism in the Church, co-edited with Sr. Paul Theresa Hennessee, United Church Press, Summer 1998.
ARTICLES
"Oppression and Resurrection Faith" in The Church with AIDS, Letty M. Russell, ed., Westminster/John Knox Press, 1991
"What Happens If We Change?" in the Newsletter of Educational Ministry, Summer, 1991
"Critical Insight" Union Seminary Quarterly Review, 1994
"Constructing Change in Theological Education" Spotlight on Teaching, Religious Studies News, 1994.
"Response to Joseph Conforti" Horizons, 1995
"Rooted in Christ and Shaped by the Spirit," Trinity Seminary Review, vol. 19, #1, Summer 1997.
"The Ecumenical Movement and Racism" in Out of the Ashes, Norman A. Hjelm, ed. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1997.
REVIEWS AND DICTIONARY ENTRIES
Review: Violence Against Lesbians and Gay Men, Gary Comstock, Christianity and Crisis, November, 1991
"Heresy" and "Education" definitions in the Feminist Theological Dictionary, 1995
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
New England Women’s Studies Association
National Women’s Studies Association
New England Feminist Ethics Consortium
American Academy of Religion
Religious Education Association
Association of Professors and Researchers in Religious Education
Association of United Church Educators