Lee Beach

Assistant Professor of Christian Ministry and Director of Ministry Formation;

Bachelor of Religious Education, 1988 (Ambrose University College- formerly Canadian Bible College);

Master of Divinity, 2004 (Tyndale Seminary);

PhD 2011 (McMaster Divinity College)

beachl@mcmaster.ca

Present Research Interests
Present Research Projects
Recent Lectures and Conference Papers
Recent Publications

Present Research Interests

• Pastoral practice for the postmodern church (particularly as it relates to mission and evangelism)
• The church and culture (With a particular interest in exploring exile as a motif for the church's self understanding and ministry in Western culture)
• Theological Reflection (With a particular interest in the possibilities of theological reflection for the practice of ministry and spiritual formation).
  
• Homiletics (With a particular interest in exploring the idea of preaching as art and various ways to present a sermon in a postmodern, post Christian context)
  

Present Research Projects

I am currently developing for publication my recently completed PhD dissertation on the topic of a Biblical Theology of Exile for the Canadian church today.  In this study I explore the motif of exile as a viable way for the church in Canada to understand itself and how the exilic experience of Israel and the early church can inform our own identity and ministry as contemporary Canadian Christians. 

I am also begining work on a variety of collaborative projects in the areas of Theological Reflection in Ministry and the Emerging Church in Canada.

Recent Lectures and Conference Papers

Recent Papers:

• "The Local Church: Postmodern Possibilities." 2008 Bingham Colloquium, "The Church Then and Now," McMaster Divinity College, June 7, 2008.
  
• "Preaching Subversively: The Book of Esther as a Homiletical Model." McMaster Divinity College Theological Research Seminar, Mar. 25, 2008.
  

Recent Publications

Recent Articles

• “Why I Don’t Hate School Anymore: Theological Education as Mission.” McMaster Journal of Theology and Ministry. Volume 12 (2010-2011). 167-178.  http://www.mcmaster.ca/mjtm/volume11.htm
  
• "Virtual Reflection or Virtually Reflecting?: Doing Group Theological Reflection Online" - Journal of Reflective Practice, vol. 31 (2011). p.133-136. http://journals.sfu.ca/rpfs/ 
• Preaching Subversively: The Book of Esther as a Homiletical Model"- McMaster Journal of Theology and Ministry. Vol. 10, (2008-09). p. 75-100. http://www.mcmaster.ca/mjtm/volume10.htm
  
• "The Church in Exile"- Congregations Journal, Fall 2008. http://www.alban.org/bookdetails.aspx?id=6496
  
• “When you’re Critics Set the Agenda.” – Congregations Journal, Fall 2007. http://www.alban.org/bookdetails.aspx?id=5002
  
• “A Witness to the City: A Homiletical Theology for Urban Preaching.” - McMaster Journal of Theology and Ministry. Vol. 8, (2007). p. 23-37. http://www.mcmaster.ca/mjtm/volume8.htm
  

Recent Reviews

• Secret Faith in the Public Square: An Argument for the Concealment of Christian Identity, by Jonathan Malesic. Cultural Encounters: A Journal for the Theology of Culture, Vol.7.1 (2011)
• SimChurch: Being the Church in the Virtual World, by Doug Estes. Cultural Encounters: A Journal for the Theology of Culture, Vol.7.1 (2011)

• After McDonaldization: Mission, Ministry and Discipleship in an Age of Uncertainty, by John Drane- Cultural Encounters a Journal for the Theology of Culture,  vol. 6.1 (2010).
• Voices of Marginality: Exile and Return in Second Isaiah 40-55, by Gregory Lee Cuellar- Journal of Hebrew Scripture, vol. 10.4 (2009).

• Linking Arms, Linking Lives: How Urban-Suburban Partnerships can Transform Communities, by Ron Sider, John Perkins, Wayne Gordon, Albert Tizon- Cultural Encounters: A Journal for the Theology of Culture- vol. 5.2 (2009)
• I am not A Social Activist: Making Jesus the Agenda, by Ron Sider- McMaster Journal of Theology and Ministry- 2008-09 edition.
  
• An Emergent Theology for Emerging Churches, by Ray S. Anderson- Cultural Encounters: A Journal for the Theology of Culture- Summer 2008.
  
• The Missional Church in Context: Helping Congregations Develop Contextual Ministry, Graig Van Gelder (editor)- Evangelical Missions Quarterly-Oct. 2008.
  
• Whose Afraid of Postmodernism: Taking Derrida, Lyotard and Foucault to Church, by James K.A. Smith. – Canadian Evangelical Review- Fall 2007-Spring 2008.
  
• Evangelism After Christendom: The Theology and Practice of Christian Witness, by Bryan Stone. – Evangelical Missions Quarterly - January '08.
  
• How to Think Theologically (2nd edition), by Howard W. Stone and James O. Duke. – Princeton Theological Review – Spring ’07.
  

Recent Conference and Retreat Presentations

• Presented the Workshop, "Navigating the Culture: Being the Church in Canada Today and in the Future," at First Nazarene Church, Hamilton, Mar. 26, 2011.
• Speaker; Deeper Life and Missions Conference, Quinte Alliance Church, Nov. 5-7, 2010.
• Presenter; Re-Ignite: CBOQ workers retreat, Oct. 26, 2010.
• Speaker (English Congregation) Mississauga Chinese Baptist Church Summer Retreat, July 31-Aug.2, 2010.
• Presented the Workshop, "Preaching as Pastoral Care," at the Gladstone Festival of Preaching, McMaster Divinity College, Sept. 30, 2009.
• Presented the Seminars, "The Language of Post-Christendom" and "Cultivating Grace in the Local Church" at the General Assembly of Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec (CBOQ), June 13, 2009.
  
• Plenary Session Speaker and Workshop Leader, District Conference of The Eastern Canadian District (C&MA), May 27, 2009.