Ph.D., Practical Theology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa, 2009 (with distinction)

M.Th., Applied Theology, University of Wales (Spurgeon's College, London, England), 2003

B.S., Religion, Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virginia, 1997 (magna cum laude)

Why I teach at FPU

My sense of vocation is guided by my personal mission statement: “I endeavor to invest in avenues of teaching and training, research and writing, resourcing and relating that contribute to the peace of the city for the sake of Christ in Fresno and beyond.” My role as a faculty member at the Biblical Seminary provides a great context for me to pursue this mission. First, my passion resonates deeply with the seminary’s commitment to the biblical themes of reconciliation, justice and holistic ministry. Second, the city of Fresno provides a rich laboratory for thinking about and engaging in ministry in a complex urban context. For someone who cares deeply about urban ministry, this is just a great place to be!

Scholarly Interests

Gang Theology: This project brings sociological resources related to gangs and relevant theological categories into conversation with one another. I also have been engaged in extensive field research among local practitioners involved in ministering to gangs, as well as among former gang members who have become Christian leaders in the community.

Neighborhood Engagement: This project examines the efforts of churches throughout Fresno in engaging their immediate neighborhood contexts. The aim is to assess the extent to which Fresno congregations are engaging their neighborhoods and to help the city’s faith community to gain inspiration from what is taking place. This project entails extensive surveying of area congregations, as well as site visits to as many as two dozen local churches.

In addition, I currently am working on a number of shorter articles:

• An appropriating the insights of Edwin Friedman’s Failure of Nerve to explore how urban congregations relate systemically with their communities during anxious times.
• An exploration of current challenges being experienced in the intergenerational perpetuation of the vision of urban transformation in the Fresno context.
• An examination of the implications of missional theology’s emphasis on place and holistic ministry for local churches’ movement beyond an ethos of competition to one of cooperation and collaboration. 
• An investigation of the relationship between a “peace witness” and a commitment to community development in marginalized inner-city neighborhoods. 
• A comparative analysis of the narcissistic mind and the mind of Christ (Phil. 2) among “city-reaching” leaders. 
• An overview of the significance of time (kairos and chronos) for incarnational urban ministers.

Publications:

• "Coming Together or Coming Apart: Fostering Multicultural Communiites of Christian Leaders within an Urban Context," Pacific Journal 6, 2011
• "Generation X, Intergenerational Justice, and the Renewal of the Traditioning Process", with Malan Nel, HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies, 66(2), Art. #876, 2010
• "The Heart of God in the Heart of the City: The Missional Vocation and the Urban Congregation", Direction, 39/1 (Spring 2010)
• "Show and Shape: How Congregational Worship Times Show and Shape Us as Followers of Christ", Christian Leader, Feb./Mar. 2010
• "Plagiarism in the Pulpit", Christian Leader, Dec. 2009/Jan. 2010
• "It’s All About Me, Jesus: The Narcissistic Worship Leader", Direction Journal, 38/2 (Fall 2009)
• "The Parable of the Sapped Servant", Rejoice!, Summer 2009
• "Source of Growth: The Changing Power of Philippians", In Touch, March 2009
• "Let It Shine", in Christian Leader, March 2009
• "God’s Impossible Mission", Christian Leader, October 2008
• Review of S. Van Eman, On Earth as It is in Advertising, Missiology, January 2007
• Review of M. Oppenheimber, Knocking on Heaven’s Door, Missiology, July 2005
• Review of B. Kemp, The Church Transition Workbook, Congregations, Summer 2005
• Review of M. R. Sawyer, The Church on the Margins, Missiology, July 2005
• Review of S. Rabey, In Search of Authentic Faith, Missiology, January 2003

Presentations:

• "Next Steps: How Do I Move Forward?" CCDA Fresno City Summit, March 17, 2012
• Spiritual Formation and Spiritual Disciplines”, a five-week course, Central Valley School of the Ministry, Valley Christian Center, Fresno, February-March, 2012
• “Stepping Out: Following God into the Neighborhood,” Well Community Church, Fresno, CA, February 12, 2012
• “Stepping Out: Following God into the Neighborhood”, Word Community Church, Fresno, CA, August 17, 2011 
• “An Introduction to Redistribution”, Fresno Urban Internship program, Fresno Institute for Urban Leadership, Fresno, CA July 12, 2011 
• “Walking in Another’s Shoes”, a leadership development seminar co-sponsored by Leadership Fresno and Fresno Street Saints, Sunset Community Center, Fresno, May 14, 2011 
• “Running with Resolution”, Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary Commencement Gala, Fresno, CA, May 6, 2011 
• “Spiritual Formation and Spiritual Disciplines”, a five-week course, Central Valley School of the Ministry, Valley Christian Center, Fresno, March-April 2011 
• “Making a Meaningful Difference”, Fresno Pacific University Visalia Center, Visalia, CA, March 30, 2011 
• “Resolution: Living Life with Conviction, Clarity, and Commitment”, a ten-week course, Northwest Leadership Institute, Northwest Church, Fresno, January-March 2011 
• “Using Technology for New Expressions and Effectiveness”, Transformational Leadership Seminar for the Growing Healthy Churches Network, First Baptist Church, Fresno, CA, October 23, 2010 
• “Running toward the Goal: Cultivating a Lifelong Leadership Development Perspective”, MB Biblical Seminary Pastoral Roundtable, Fresno, CA, September 14, 2010 
• “Experiencing God in Worship”, Central Community Church Worship Ministry retreat, Fresno, September 10, 2010 
• “The Leadership Journey”, Ministry Quest retreat, Fresno, CA, February 11, 2010 
• “Developing a Staff Infection”, co-presented with Rick Bartlett, MB Biblical Seminary Pastoral Roundtable, Fresno, CA, February 2, 2010 
• “All in the Family: Reaching the Postmodern Generations in the Established Church”, MB Biblical Seminary Pastoral Roundtable, Fresno, CA, September 2, 2008 
• “All in the Family: Cultivating Intergenerational Connections in the Congregation”, First Christian Reformed Church, Sioux Falls, SD, February 24, 2008 
• “Together in One Accord: Bridging the Generation Gap in Worship”, NAB Southwest Association Pastors and Wives’ Retreat, Wichita, KS, February 20, 2008 
• “All in the Family: Cultivating Intergenerational Connections in the Congregation”, NAB Southwest Association Pastors and Wives’ Retreat, Wichita, KS, February 19, 2008 
• “Experiencing God in Worship”, NAB Southwest Association Pastors and Wives’ Retreat, Wichita, KS, February 19, 2008 
• “In Spirit and In Truth”, Cornerstone Christian Reformed Church and St. Dysmas Lutheran Church, SD State Penitentiary, February 1, 2008 (Lilly funded seminar) 
• “Bringing our Gifts”, Cornerstone Christian Reformed Church and St. Dysmas Lutheran Church, SD State Penitentiary, January 30, 2008 (Lilly funded seminar) 
• “What Happens in Worship”, Cornerstone Christian Reformed Church and St. Dysmas Lutheran Church, SD State Penitentiary, January 28, 2008 (Lilly funded seminar) 
• “Spiritual Formation Retreat”, Northern Plains Leadership Movement, Crystal Springs, ND, November 2-3, 2007 
• Church Leaders Seminar: “Effective Christian Ministry in a Postmodern World”, North American Baptist Seminary, October 10, 2006 (Sponsored by Group Publishing) 
• “Sunday Morning in Postmodern Perspective”, North American Baptist Conference Triennial, Estes Park, CO, July 8, 2006 
• “Out of the Box and into the World”, NAB Conference Triennial, Estes Park, CO, July 7, 2006 
• “Postmodernism 101”, NAB Conference Triennial, Estes Park, CO, July 6, 2006 
• “Personal Mission Workshop”, Northern Plains Leadership Movement, Crystal Springs, ND, November 5, 2005 
• “The Future of the Church”, Sioux Falls Ministerial Association, September 8, 2005

Honors & Awards

• University of Sioux Falls Trustee Scholar, 1992-1994 
• Humanities Area Recognition for Academic Excellence, 1993-1994 
• National Dean’s List, 3 years 
• USF Outstanding Freshman Choir Member, 1992-1993

Professional Experiences

Prior to coming to the seminary in 2008, I served as a faculty member at Sioux Falls Seminary in South Dakota, where I taught in the area of leadership. Before that, over the course of a ten year period, I served local churches in the Hampton Roads, Virginia, metropolitan area and in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

• Chair, No Name Fellowship steering committee, Fresno, California
• Board member, Fresno Street Saints, Fresno, California
• Advisory Committee member, 4141 Ministries, Fresno, California
• Board member, Family Leadership, Inc., Fresno, California
• Graduate of Leadership Fresno Class 27, August 2010 - June 2011

Professional Affiliations

• Christian Community Development Association
• Mission America Coalition
• National Urban Mission Association
• Religious Research Association 
• University of Wales Guild of Graduates - Theology Section

Other Information

All Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary faculty members are available for preaching and are prepared to lead a seminar on calling out leaders for training and ministry. Cory will consider teaching classes or seminars on topics in addition to those listed here, please contact him for more information. He specializes in the following topics:

Seeking the Peace of the City
Entering the Neighborhood
Intergenerational Life in the Congregation
Leadership Development
Developing Your Personal Mission

Resources

Please visit my blog, Engaging the City.