Hi, I’m dwight.

I have to confess that it feels more than a little odd to be introducing myself without any knowledge of who you are or what may have brought you to this page.  That being said, thank you for visiting my site.

Although  I live in the greater Seattle-area and teach missional, contextual & pastoral theology I was born and raised in the Canadian prairies.  Place matters a great deal to me . . . I love Seattle.  Together with Lynette and our son, Pascal we get to live in one of the most beautiful regions of the world, and in one of the more culturally diverse zip codes in Washington state.

Lynette and I moved here in 1996 to start a new church with a Protestant, Evangelical denomination known as the Christian & Missionary Alliance.  The church was called “Quest-A Christ Commons” and was an emerging network of simple churches.  I had the privilege of doing life with that faith community until 2007 when my vocational life shifted sightly from pastoring to training pastors.   These days I have the joy of learning alongside seminary students at Mars Hill Graduate School.

My vocational life has a few aspects to it.

• I get to teach practical theology@ Mars Hill Graduate School.
• I am active with Emergent Village, a social network of missional Christians around the world (www.EmergentVillage.com).
• I am also an author, professional speaker & facilitator of learning.

A little more biographical info:

• Earned a Doctor of Ministry with an emphasis in Leadership in an Emerging Culture at George Fox University under the mentorship of Leonard Sweet, with Kent Yinger as my dissertation adviser.  My dissertation explored a relational hermeneutic toward connective church structures and leadership.
• Graduated with a M.A.R. from Trinity International University where I was mentored by Robert E. Coleman, while my thesis adviser was Michael Bullmore. My thesis explored Biblical understandings and images of Christian community.
• Ordained by the Christian & Missionary Alliance in June of 1992.
• Graduated with a B.B.S. from Ambrose University College now located in Calgary, 1990.
• Attended Capernwary Hall in England, competing a one year certificate program in Biblical studies.

Glimpses into my work life:

• Currently an Associate Professor of Practical Theology at Mars Hill Graduate School.
• Served as an adjunct professor or guest lecturer at numerous colleges & seminaries around North America.
• Served as a Spiritual Director.
• Moved to Seattle to start Quest: a Christ Commons – 1996-2007
• Was very active with Willow Creek Community Church while attending graduate school.
• Assistant/Youth Pastor in Billings, Montana – First Alliance Church.
• Interned at Foothills Church in Calgary, AB.
• Interim Youth Pastor at McDiarmid Drive Alliance Church in Brandon, MB.

I am a speaker and consultant for churches, denominations and mission agencies throughout the United States and around the world on issues of postmodern culture, social systems and missional Christianity.

I am always seeking creative, entrepreneurial, generative ways to join in the hopes, dreams and desires God has for the world.  I am passionate about peace-making, interfaith and misisonal-ecumenical conversation, and about communally & personally embodying the Gospel of Jesus Christ in local context(s).

Peace, dwight