REV. RICHARD CUNNINGHAM
Education | Academic/Professional Experience | Research Interests | Publications | Affiliations | Honors | STM Courses | Personal Information

Education

1981 D. Min. Drew University School of Theology, Madison, NJ
Thesis: The Genesis of a New Community (A Paradigm for the formation of new groups, a tool for evangelism)

1968 M. Ed Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley, CA
Thesis: Residential Learning Experience for High School Youth in the Inner- city.

1968 M. Div. Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley, CA
Major: Psychology and Sociology

1962 B. A. Northwest Christian College, Eugene, OR

Academic/Professional Experience

ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE

1995 to Present Assistant Professor, Director Field Education: School of Theology and Ministry, Seattle University. Seattle, WA.

1985- 1992 Affiliate Faculty Northwest Theological Union, Seattle, WA Education and Evangelism

1968-1972 Lecturer , Christian Theological Seminary, Indianapolis, Indiana. Education and Youth Ministry

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

1995 to Present Assistant Professor, and Director Field Education, School of Theology and Ministry, Seattle Present University
Major Responsibilities: Teaching Contextual Education, Theological Reflection and Practicum, Urban Ministry Courses. Directing Field Education Program.

1987-1995 Manager Job Service Center, Washington State Department of Employment Security
Major Responsibilities: Manager Job Service Center in a co-located facility specifically charged with the responsibility of assisting disabled individuals secure employment. Managed operation of site and a staff of up to 5 persons.

1973-1987 Associate Pastor , University Christian Church, Seattle, WA
Major Responsibilities: General Pastoral responsibilities with specialization in four areas:
Education - children, youth, young adult and adults;
Outreach - world and local social justice ministries;
Pastoral Care and Counseling - individual and group;
Evangelism and Recruitment – developed theology and strategy for ministering to the spiritual needs of the un-churched

1968 - 1972 Executive Director of Youth Ministry, National Office of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) for the United States and Canada. Indianapolis, IN.
Major Responsibilities : Developed and maintained an identifiable youth constituency and program for youth (thirteen to thirty) within the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada.

1964 - 1968 Associate Pastor, First Christian Church. San Jose, CA.
Major Responsibilities: Youth Education, Christian Education for Adults, Youth and Children and Outreach Ministries.

1963 - 1964 Associate Pastor, First Christian Church, San Francisco, CA.
Major Responsibilities: Youth Education, Christian Education

Research Interests

Research falls into two primary areas:

• Experiential education or contextual learning – How does one learn in a new or different context? How does one raise questions and then pursue the answers to those questions? Within the framework of pastoral ministry each new day is a new context – something new unfolds.
• Theological Reflection as a method and art form for the pastoral person. Given modernity how does one address the fast paced business of life? We have grown accustomed to concepts like, surfing the web. Surfing does not encourage anything in depth. Wikipedia becomes the standard of research and exploration. How does the pastoral person become the reflective practitioner when there is little time? How does one examine and name the presence of the sacred or holy in the midst of life?
• In 2004 completed a robust research project which explored how persons who had graduated from the School of Theology and Ministry used the tools of theological reflection in their practice of ministry. The findings are posted on the STM Field Education web site

Publications

• Youth Ministry Resources, published by Christian Board of Publication – 1973 – A resource listing and guide for those doing Youth Ministry in the United States and Canada.
• A series of student manuals for used in the formation/field education program of the School of Theology and Ministry. Included in these materials are models and methods for doing theological reflection and social analysis.

 

Affiliations

Seattle University and School of Theology and Ministry Committees

• Bookstore Advisory Committee
• Academic Computing Committee
• Community Engagement Exploratory Group
• Global Education
• Service Learning Advisory Board

Professional Associations:

• Association of Theological Field Educators [ATFE]
• Research Committee – 2007 to pres
• Steering Committee – 2001 to 2007ent
• Association for Case Teaching [ACT] – 2008 to present
• Editorial Committee – Journal of Case Teaching
• Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) Advisory Board
• Swidish Hospital
• Veterans Hospital

Church and Community Organizations:

• University Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Elder
• Phinney Ridge Neighborhood Association
• Board of Directors – 2008 to present
• Cabrini Ministry Training
• Board of Trustees – 2004 to present

Honors

STM Courses

• Ministerial and Theological Integrating [STMM 557, 558, and 559]
• Personal Identity and Pastoral Call [STMM 555]
• Professional Identity and Pastoral Call [STMM 556]
• Urban Ministry

Personal Information

• Ordained Clergyperson in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

• One of the founding members of a Protestant group that began conversations to create a new graduate school in the Puget Sound Area with Seattle University and the Institute for Theological Studies. After three years of dialogue the School of Theology and Ministry was chartered in 1996.

• Became the first Protestant hired on the faculty of the Institute for Theological Studies in 1995.

• With grandchildren - like building wooden toys, playing games and Lego’s.

• In “real time” Play Xbox live with 14 yr. old grandson who lives in Ithaca, NY.