Bob Burns
Associate Professor of Educational Ministries, Dean of Lifelong Learning,
Director, Doctor of Ministry (DMin) Program
Highlights
Why I teach at Covenant Theological Seminary
My entire ministry life I have walked a balance between ministry practice and research that informs practice. Covenant Seminary maintains these two emphases better than any other seminary I know, being committed to excellence in scholarship and relevance in ministry practice. I am also thrilled at how Covenant has made it a priority not just to prepare persons for ministry, but to support them throughout their ministry.
Department
Ministry and Proclamation
Faculty member since
2007
Contact Information
To reach me, please call or e-mail Alicia Bradley, administrative assistant for the Center for Ministry Leadership, at 314.434.4044, ext. 4203, or nina.walch@covenantseminary.edu.
Educational Background
- BA (history), University of Maryland, College Park, MD
- MDiv, Covenant Theological Seminary, St. Louis, MO
- DMin (pastoral ministry focus), Westminster Theological Seminary, Glenside, PA
- PhD (adult education), University of Georgia, Athens, GA
Expertise
- Adult Education
- Leadership
- Program Planning
- Politics of Ministry
- Pastoral Ministry
- Pastoral Survival
- Educational Ministry
- Life Stage Ministries
- Spiritual Formation
- Singles Ministry
- Separation and Divorce Recovery
Classes I Teach
- Educational Leadership and Administration
- Politics of Ministry (DMin and Master’s elective)
- Singles Ministry (Master’s Elective)
- The Pastor as Change Agent (DMin)
- Divorce and the Church (DMin)
- Developing Pastoral Excellence (DMin)
Interests and Hobbies
- Most sports
- History (particularly US and Scottish history)
- Cultural studies
- Exercise
- Reading
- Cooking
Current Projects/Research
Working on four book projects:
- Politics of Ministry
- Grace-Centered Leadership (with Sean Lucas)
- Process Leadership: Why the way we do things is as important as what we get done
- Surviving the Ministry: What it takes to sustain over a lifetime
What I Have Been Reading
Recently, I have continued my study and research on aspects of leadership, particularly as it impacts the church. Below, you can listen to a 90-second audio clip of two books that I strongly recommend.