Rev. Mona West, Ph.D.

Resume

Mission Statement:

To facilitate the spiritual growth of others so that the realm of God might be manifest in our world.

I would seek to accomplish this by:

Being intentional about my own spiritual growth;
Equipping others on their spiritual journey through

  • Prayer
  • Spiritual guidance
  • Teaching
  • Preaching
  • Worship
  • Discipleship

 

My Core Values are:

  • Open, honest, direct communication
  • Respect for spiritual paths/traditions different from my own
  • Belief in the possibility of transformation in any person or situation
  • Belief in the goodness of others
  • Belief in the power of prayer

Education

1987, Ph.D. in Old Testament Studies, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, KY. Doctoral dissertation: Ruth: A Retelling of Genesis 38? An intertextual reading of the book of Ruth and the Tamar story of Genesis 38 using reader response criticism.

1983, Master of Divinity, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, KY

1979, BA in Religion, cum laude, Louisiana College, Pineville, LA
 

Continuing Education

2002, Certification in Spiritual Formation, Columbia Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Decatur, GA. Five year program with practicum which included study at the International Center of Teresa and John of the Cross, Avila, Spain.


Professional Experience

2005-2008, Senior Pastor, Church of the Trinity MCC, Sarasota, FL.

2004-2005, Minister of Spiritual Formation, Midway Hills Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Dallas, TX.

2003-2004, Co-Pastor, Cathedral of Hope MCC, Dallas, TX.

1997-2003, Pastor of Spiritual Life, Cathedral of Hope MCC, Dallas, TX.

1992-1997, Academic Dean, Samaritan Institute for Religious Studies, Dallas, TX. An international training institution created by Metropolitan Community Church in order to provide non-homophobic theological education for its clergy.

1988-1992, Assistant Professor of Religion, Anderson College, Anderson, SC.

1987-1988, Assistant Professor of Religion, Austin College, Sherman, TX.

1986-1987, Adjunct Professor of Religion, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, KYY


Other Appointments

June 2009, scheduled to be Visiting Professor of Women’s Studies at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, New Brighton, MN. Queer Theology

June 2008, scheduled as Adjunct Faculty, Lancaster Theological Seminary, Lancaster, PA. Biblical Spiritual Formation

Spring 2007, Adjunct Faculty, Florida Center for Theological Studies, Orlando, FL. Pastoral Studies: Prayer

Summer 2006, Adjunct Faculty, Episcopal Divinity School, Cambridge, MA. Queer Pastoral Theology

Fall 2004-Spring 2005, Adjunct Faculty, Brookhaven Community College, Dallas, TX. Major World Religions


Publications

Books:

The Queer Bible Commentary. London:SCM Press, 2006. Co-edited with Deryn Guest, Bob Goss and Thomas Bohache.

Take Back the Word: A Queer Reading of the Bible. Cleveland: Pilgrim Press, 2000. Co-edited with Bob Goss.

Articles:

“Shaped by the Word: The Power of Scripture in Queer People’s Lives,” in a forthcoming volume Out of the Shadows into the Light. Miguel De La Torre, ed. St. Louis: Chalice Press, 2009.

“Ruth.” “Esther.” “Daniel.” The Queer Bible Commentary. Deryn Guest, Bob Goss, Mona West and Thomas Bohache, eds. London: SCM Press, 2006.

“The Raising of Lazarus: A Lesbian Coming Out Story.” A Feminist Companion to John, Vol. 2. Amy Jill Levine, ed. New York: Sheffield Academic Press, 2003.

“The Gift of Voice, The Gift of Tears: A Queer Reading of Lamentations in the Context of AIDS.” Queer Commentary and the Hebrew Bible. JSOT Supplement Series 334. Ken Stone, ed. New York: Sheffield Academic Press, 2001.

“Outsiders, Aliens and Boundary Crossers: A Queer Reading of the Book of Exodus.” Take Back the Word. Bob Goss and Mona West, eds. Cleveland: Pilgrim Press, 2000.

“Reading the Bible as Queer Americans: Social Location and the Hebrew Scriptures.” Theology and Sexuality 10, (1999): 28-42.

“The Book of Ruth: An Example of Procreative Strategies for Queers.” Our Families, Our Values: Snapshots of Queer Kinship. Robert E. Goss and Amy Adams Squire Strongheart, eds. The Harrington Park Press, Binghamton, NY, 1997.

“Ruth.” “Song of Solomon.” “Lamentations.” Mercer Commentary on the Bible. Watson E. Mills and Richard F. Wilson, eds. Macon, GA: Mercer University Press,1995


Presentations

2008, scheduled as keynote speaker in November for Lancaster Theological Seminary’s LGBT Week. Topic: Queer Lectio Divina

2007, presenter at Out of the Shadows into the Light conference sponsored by the Colorado Gay and Lesbian Fund. Topic: Shaped by the Word: the Power of Scripture in Queer People’s Lives

2007, participant Queer Theology Mapping Conference, Emory University, Atlanta, GA.

2006, presenter at NEXUS Religion and Culture Conference, University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Topic: Feminist and Queer Reading Strategies for Biblical Texts

2004, presenter at Perkins School of Theology Minister’s Week, Dallas, TX. Topic: The Use of Multimedia in Preaching

2003, presenter at Witness Our Welcome Conference, Philadelphia, PA. Topic: The Social Location of GLBT People as Readers of the Bible

2003, presenter at Love Welcomes All Conference, Austin, TX. Topic: The Social Location of GLBT People as Readers of the Bible

2001, presenter at community scholar program, Southern Methodist University, Dallas. Topic: Queer Biblical Hermeneutics

2001, presenter at inaugural conference of the Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies in Religion and Ministry, Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley, CA. Topic: Queer Spiritual Disciplines

2001, panelist at annual Women’s Symposium, Southern Methodist University, Dallas.

2000, keynote speaker for Interfaith Conference on Sexuality and Spirituality, sponsored by the Santa Fe chapter of PFLAG. Topic: Faith and Sexual Identity

1997, panelist at inaugural conference of the Carpenter Program in Religion, Gender, and Sexuality, Vanderbilt Divinity School, Nashville, TN.


Memberships, Honors, Awards, Boards

2007-present, member of Editorial Board and contributor for the Human Rights Campaign, Out in Scripture Lectionary Resource.

2007-present, member of National Advisory Board for Human Rights Campaign, Religion and Faith Program.

2001-2006, member of the National Advisory Board for the Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies in Religion and Ministry, Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley, CA, (Chair of Board, 2004-2006).

1999-2001, Member of IFLAG (Interreligious Friends of Lesbians and Gays), a Dallas based interdenominational, interfaith group of laity and clergy created to educate faith communities about  issues of homosexuality.

1999, Grand Marshall for Gay Pride Parade, Dallas, TX.

1999, Extra Mile Award for volunteer of the year in Dallas, TX.

1997, Co-founder of Creating Change/Day of Dialogue diversity training program for the LGBT community, Dallas, TX.

1992, Faculty Scholar of the Year, Anderson College, Anderson, SC.

1992, Faculty Member of the Year, Anderson College, Anderson, SC.

1991, Faculty development funds awarded from Anderson College for a writer’s sabbatical in Scotland.

Member of Society of Biblical Literature

Member of Spiritual Directors International

Ordained minister with Metropolitan Community Churches
 

Email: mona @ monawest.com


Print This Page

Return to "Resume" page on website