Guest Speaker:
- Jane and Geoffrey Martin Chair in Church and Community, Emmanuel College
- Director, Toronto School of Theology
Professor Couture’s recent book We Are Not All Victims: Local Peacebuilding in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Lit Verlag, 2016) focused on the peacemaking and reconciliation practices of rural United Methodists Congolese, as they worked to rebuild their society following the war in the Democratic Republic of Congo from 1997 to 2001. It also demonstrated her long-standing interest of using creative non-fiction in practical theology. Since being at Emmanuel College, she also co-edited a volume of essays produced by the International Academy of Practical Theology when it met in Toronto in 2013 and a volume of writings of emerging theologians, participants in the Global Theological Ecumenical Institute 2018, sponsored by the World Council of Churches, on evangelism and mission. Since that publication, her (delete: current) work has been focused on student vulnerability and the pedagogical practices of classrooms (delete s) teaching in interreligious spiritual care. As Director of the Toronto School of Theology, she is exploring the representation of communities in practical theology and narrative practices of leadership. With Bernd Schroeder of Goettingen University, she is co-editor of the International Journal of Practical Theology.
She is ordained as an elder by the United Methodist Church, holds annual conference membership in Northern Illinois Annual Conference, and is a voluntary ecumenical associate at St. Luke’s Anglican Church in Burlington, Ontario. Her sermons are posted on their website, stlukesburlington.blogspot.com.
Respondent:
Dr. Esther Acolatse
- Associate Professor of Pastoral Theology and Intercultural Studies
- Director of Graduate Degree Studies, Knox College
As Associate Professor of Pastoral Theology and Intercultural Studies at Knox College, Esther teaches at the intersection of psychology and Christian thought in aid of human flourishing, with interests in the gendered body, cultural anthropological dimensions of medicine, health, and healing, and their implications for suffering, death, dying, and care at the end of life.
Her ongoing research explores methodological issues in the practice of theology of the Christian life, and the relevance of these themes in the global expression of Christianity, particularly African and Western dimensions in dialogue. Her current research focuses on issues around care and counseling with migrant families and implications for intra/interfaith dialogue and spiritual care for re-missioning the global church.
