Sara Wilhelm Garbers
STANDING
PhD Candidate
Dissertation Title: “Dangerous Memories”: Towards a Feminist Political Theological Ethics of Memory
DISSERTATION DIRECTOR
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Feminist Ethics, Notions of the Self, Memory and Theories of Recognition, Political Ethics & Theology, Sexual Violence and Trauma, Formation and Pastoral Leadership
PUBLICATIONS
“Review of: ‘The Cross and Gendercide: A Theological Response to Global Violence Against Women and Girls’.” Religious Studies Review 42:2 (June 2016): 96.
“Beyoncé, Butler, and Caputo: Feminist Considerations of ‘the Haunting’.” In It Spooks: Living in Response to an Unheard Call. Edited by Erin Nichole Schendzielos. Rapid City, SD: Shelter 50 Publishing, 2015.
PRESENTATIONS
“State Violence and Violence against Vulnerable Groups: Unaccompanied Children’s Rights and Catholic Responses.” Panel Moderator of the Religion and Violence 4th International McCormick Ethics Colloquium. Loyola University Chicago. April 18, 2016.
“Breakfast w/ the Author: Scott Paeth (The Niebuhr Brothers for Armchair Theologians).” Facilitator for Breakfast Conversation at the Society of Christian Ethics Annual Meeting. Toronto, Canada. January 8, 2016.
“Racialized Violence and Perverse Moral Perception: Neuroscientific Implications for Christian Ethics.” Paper presented at The International Conference at Université Catholique de Louvain: “The Genesis of Concepts and the Confrontation of Rationalities”. October 8, 2015.
“Mass Incarceration as ‘Altruistic Suicide’: A Revival of Durkheiminan Societal Analysis for Deconstruction of the ‘Fantastic Hegemonic Imagination.” Paper presented at the University of Erfurt International Colloquium. May 24, 2014.
“Mass Incarceration as ‘Altruistic Suicide’: A Revival of Durkheiminan Societal Analysis for Deconstruction of the ‘Fantastic Hegemonic Imagination.” Paper presented at the regional meeting of the American Academy of Religion at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN. April 4, 2014. Invited but was unable to attend due to weather.
“Change Theory: A Model of Transdisciplinarity.” Paper presented at the regional meeting of the American Academy of Religion at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN. April 5, 2013.
"A Theology of Nakedness: Liberation's Invitation to Community Formation.” Paper presented at the regional meeting of the American Academy of Religion at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN. March 30, 2012.
“On Receiving New Names.” Presented at the Bethel Seminary commencement, St. Paul, MN. June 4, 2011.
“Living a Life of Significance.” Presented at Bridging the Gap Conference, Minneapolis, MN. April 30, 2010.
“Thinking Theologically.” Presented at Bridging the Gap Conference, Minneapolis, MN. April 9, 2009.
"Soaring to New Heights: Taking Recruitment Where No One Has Gone Before." Presented at the National Association of Graduate Admissions Professionals, Denver, CO. April 2008.
"The Inheritance of Job’s Daughters & Its Implications for Modern Gender Relations." Paper presented at the national meeting of Christians for Biblical Equality, Denver, CO. August 12, 2007.
"The Inheritance of Job’s Daughters & Its Implications for Modern Gender Relations." Presented at the Midwest gathering of Emerging Women, Oregon, IL. March 18, 2007.
"The Daughters Receive an Inheritance: Restoration and Redemption in the Book of Job." Paper presented at the regional meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society at Grace Theological Seminary, Winona Lake, IN. March 17, 2007.
EDUCATION
Doctorate of Philosophy, Loyola University (Chicago, IL), (in progress)
Integrative Studies in Ethics and Theology- Ethics Focus
Master of Divinity, Bethel Seminary (St. Paul, MN), 2011
Classical Generalist
Bachelors of Arts, University of Minnesota Duluth (Duluth, MN), 2003
Communication/Women’s Studies
COURSES TAUGHT
Instructor: Personal and Spiritual Formation
United Seminary (New Brighton, MN), Fall 2016- Present
Teaching Assistant for Dr. Hille Haker: Honors 301- Moral Responsibility
Loyola University Chicago (Chicago, IL), Fall 2015
Instructor: Mentored Leadership Development
Bethel Seminary (St. Paul, MN), Fall 2014- Present
Instructor: Gender & Leadership
The Master’s Institute (St. Paul, MN), Fall 2016
Instructor: Christian Ethics
The Master’s Institute (St. Paul, MN), Spring 2016
Instructor: Social Justice
The Master’s Institute (St. Paul, MN), Spring 2016
Co-instructor: Self in Community
Bethel Seminary (St. Paul, MN), Spring 2011
Substitute instructor & Greek tutor
Bethel Seminary (St. Paul, MN), 2005-2009
Teacher’s Assistant: Dr. Peter Vogt, Associate Professor of Old Testament
Bethel Seminary (St. Paul, MN), 2004-2005
PROFESSIONAL AFFLILIATIONS
Society of Christian Ethics, American Academy of Religion, American Association of University Women
Certified Rape Crisis Counselor (IL)
BLOG
OTHER ACTIVITY/WORK
Preaching Team & Ministry Staff / June 2013- Present
First Covenant Church (Minneapolis, MN)
Research Assistant / September 2013-Present
Loyola University (Chicago, IL)
Dr. Hille Haker, Richard A. McCormick, S.J., Chair of Moral Theology (Fall 2013-Present)
Dr. Sandra Sullivan-Dunbar, Assistant Professor of Theology (Fall 2013)
Director of Admissions / August 2011-June 2013
Luther Seminary Office of Admissions (St. Paul, MN)
Associate Director of Admissions / Jan 2010-July 2011
Assoc. Dir. Admissions & Recruitment / Aug 2007-Jan 2010
Recruiter / August 2006-August 2007
Recruitment Assistant / April 2005-August 2006
Bethel Seminary Office of Admissions & Recruitment (St. Paul, MN)
Bethel Seminary of the East (Washington D.C. and New England Locations)
SERVICE
Student Leadership, Loyola University (Chicago, IL)
- Dissertation Colloquium for Dr. Haker- Student Leader (Fall 2015-Present)
- Sexual Assault Advocate (2014-Present)
- ISET Dissertation Colloquium Organizer (2015-Present)
- Vice-President of Professional Development (2014-2015)
- Website Re-design Convener (2014)
- Graduate Theology Student Caucus- Member (2013-Present)
Ministry
- Preaching Team & Ministry Leader, First Covenant Church, Minneapolis, MN. 2013-Present.
- Pulpit Supply, Various Locations. 2006-Present.
- Volunteer, First Church, Minneapolis, MN. 2011-2013.
- City Group Member/Leader, Mill City Church, Minneapolis, MN. 2008-2013.
- Small Group Leader, Various Locations. 1996-2013.
- Consultant and Launch Member, SafeHouse Church, Minneapolis, MN. 2010-2011.
- Interim Pastor, Eastridge Church, Duluth, MN. January-February 2010.
- Connections Director & Leadership Team, Mill City Church, Minneapolis, MN. 2008-2010.
- Launch Team, Mill City Church, Minneapolis, MN. 2007-2010.
- Worship Leader, Various Locations. 2000-2008.
- Co-Director, Summit-Uptown, Minneapolis, MN. 2007.
- Interim Youth Pastor, Church of the Open Door, Minneapolis, MN. Summer 2006-Winter 2007.
- Intern Director, Camp Total Athlete at Church of the Open Door, Maple Grove, MN. Summer 2005.
- Junior High Small Group Leader, Church of the Open Door, Maple Grove, MN. 2005-2006.
- Welcome Ministry Team Leader, Kairos Ministry at Brentwood Baptist Church, Brentwood, TN. 2003-2004.
- Leader, Youth Theology (Confirmation) Class: A Ministry of The Exchange at Westwood Community Church, Chanhassen, MN. 2002-2003.
- Co-Director, Young Adults Ministry at Westwood Community Church, Chanhassen, MN. 2000-2003.
- Intern Associate Youth Pastor, The Exchange at Westwood Community Church, Chanhassen, MN. 2000- 2001.
- Youth Volunteer, The Exchange at Westwood Community Church, Chanhassen, MN. 1997-2003.
- Dorm Ministry Host, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at the University of Minnesota- Duluth. 2000-2001.
- Lead Greeter, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at the University of Minnesota Duluth. 1999-2001.
Intercultural Education & Leadership
- Participant, It’s Time to Talk: Forums on Race, YWCA Minneapolis, Minneapolis, MN. October 17, 2012.
- Intercultural Development Training, Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN. 2011-2013.
- Intercultural Development Training, Bethel Seminary, St. Paul, MN. 2010-2011.
- Co-Founder, Who’s Who in Community Ministry Leadership, Bethel Seminary, St. Paul, MN. 2009-2011.
- Global Justice Immersion: El Salvador, United Theological Seminary, New Brighton, MN. Spring 2010.
- Student, Introduction to Community Ministry Leadership, Dr. Mark Harden, Bethel Seminary, St. Paul, MN. Fall 2009.
- Student, Hermeneutics & Human Development, Drs. Jeannine Brown and Steve Sandage, Bethel Seminary, St. Paul, MN. Winter 2009.
- Student, Feminist Theologies, Dr. Nancy Victorian-Vangerud, United Theological Seminary, New Brighton, MN. Fall 2009.
- Advanced Anti-Racism Training, Bethel University Anti-Racism Forum, St. Paul, MN. August 21-22, 2008.
- Student, Families in Context: Gender, Class, Culture, Prof. Dan Jass, Bethel Seminary, St. Paul, MN. Fall 2008.
- Anti-Racism Training, Bethel University Anti-Racism Forum, St. Paul, MN. Fall 2007.
- Student, Culture and Ministry, Professor Ralph Hammond, Bethel Seminary, St. Paul, MN. Fall 2004.
- Student, Women, Race and Class, Dr. Njoki Kamau, University of Minnesota Duluth. Spring 2002.
- Volunteer Leader, Honduras Service Trip, Santa Cruz, Honduras. Summer 2001.
- Volunteer, Paraguay Service Trip, Asuncion, Paraguay. Summer 1999.
- Volunteer, Romania through Reign Ministries, Bralia, Romania. Summer 1996.
- Volunteer, Mexico Service Trip, Monterrey, Mexico. Summer 1995.
Non-Profit
- Freelancer Writer. InTrust. Wilmington, DE. October 2016-Present.
- Volunteer Sexual Assault Advocate. Loyola University Chicago. August 2014-Present.
- Branding Transition and Special Projects. LeaderWise. New Brighton, MN. June 2015-Present.
- Volunteer: Food Shelves, Salvation Army, Feed My Starving Children, Others. 1995-Present.
- StrengthsFinder Coach, Various. 2006-Present.
- Mentor. 2000-Present.
- Board Member, Restore Women’s Wellness. Chicago, IL. Jan 2015-Sept 2016.
- Volunteer, Minnesotans United for All Families, Minneapolis, MN. 2011-2013.
- Member, Windom Park Citizens in Action, Minneapolis, MN. 2010-2013.
- Leader, Women & Leadership Group, Minneapolis, MN. 2009-2013.
- Secretary, Windom Park Citizens in Action, Minneapolis, MN. 2010-2011.
- Volunteer, Leadership Vision, Various Cities. 2005-2007.
