The Rev. Dr. Connie denBok

Sessional Instructor
 

Office: 416-252-4166
Mobile: 416-903-0559
denbok@gmail.com

Christ at the centre 

Personal statement

Discipleship is the major work of the Christian Church, as lived in the households and local congregations of God’s people. Spiritual formation, training for ministry, worship, education, evangelism, scholarship are apprenticeships to life of Jesus and all ministry flows from here.

Research interests

Spiritual formation as it relates to pastoral ministry has been my ongoing theme throughout ordered ministry. This has ranged from personal formation to church planting, intercultural ministry, and Mission Shaped Ministry.

Current projects 

The Prayer Room, Discipleship formation

Representative publications

  • “Returning to Ancient Paths,” in Mission and Evangelism in a Secularizing World:Academy, Agency, and Assembly Perspectives from Canada. Edited by Narry Santos and Mark Naylor. Pickwick Publications 2019
  • “My Church was Dying Until We Turned to Prayer and Confession,” United Church Observer. October 2018.
  • “Surprised by Prayer” Touchstone 2018
  • “Church Planting by Immigrant Christians – And What the Rest of Us Can Learn,” in Green Shoots Out of Dry Ground: Growing a New Future for the Church in Canada. Edited by John P. Bowen. 2013

Education

  • Min. Fuller Theological Seminary
  • Div. Emmanuel College of Victoria University, Toronto
  • B.A. University of Waterloo

Previous positions

  • 1999-present, Minister Alderwood United Church Toronto
  • 2006-2014 Columnist, United Church Observer
  • 2010-2013 Adjunct Professor, Wycliffe College. Toronto School of Theology
  • 1993-1999 Intercultural Church Planter
  • 1989-1993 Minister, Rowntree United Church, London Ontario
  • 1984-1988 New Church Development, Emmanuel United Church, Saskatoon Saskatchewan
  • 1980-1984 rural ministry, Fillmore Pastoral Charge, Saskatchewan

Professional affiliations/activities

  • Presbytery Executive, Toronto West Presbytery 2004-2018
  • Church Renewal Mentor 2014-2019
  • National Executive Team Natural Church Development 2005-2012

Grants received

United Church Council 2015, 2016, 2017 for development of mentoring networks for clergy within the United Church of Canada

Interests

  • Pilgrimage
  • Long distance hiking
  • Canine Rescue and rehabilitation
  • Hands on home renovation