 | Professor David Timothy Gortner joined the VTS faculty in 2008, as Director of the Doctor of Ministry programs, and Professor of Evangelism and Congregational Leadership.
David completed his Ph.D. in psychology and human development at The University of Chicago in Illinois, where he focused on early adult development and the formation of personal theologies. He earned an M.Div. from Seabury-Western Theological Seminary in Illinois, an M.A. in psychology from Wake Forest University in North Carolina, and a B.A. from Wheaton College in Illinois.
Previously, David served on the faculties of Church Divinity School of the Pacific and the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California, and Seabury-Western Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois, teaching pastoral and practical theology, human development, and organizational leadership. He taught psychology courses at Loyola University, National-Louis University, and College of DuPage in Illinois. David has served as pastoral and musical staff in congregations, hospitals, a hospice, and a university chaplaincy in Illinois and North Carolina, and was a co-founding pastor of Church of Christ the Reconciler in Chicago. He also worked in therapeutic settings of mental and rehabilitation hospitals and treatment centers in Illinois, North Carolina, and Massachusetts.
David has authored Transforming Evangelism (Church Publishing, 2008), part of the new Church Teaching Series on Mission. He is completing books on clergy leadership effectiveness and young adult religious engagement, and leads conferences and seminars on these topics across the U.S. and Canada. He co-produced A Feast in the Desert, a documentary of young adult ministry approaches. David works with young adult ministry, evangelism, congregational development, and Asian-American consultations throughout the Episcopal Church.
David's wife, Heather VanDeventer, serves as Interim Associate Rector for Evangelism and Faith Formation at Christ Church in Alexandria. David and Heather have two young daughters.
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"Around One Table" - Research Project
Transforming Evangelism (.wmp) March 19, 2009
Evangelism Series at the Washington National Cathedral
“Narratives and Social Networks: Tools for Reading Congregational Dynamics.” Instructor, Summer Collegium, Virginia Theological Seminary (2009).
“Catching the Errors Before They Compound: Reflection-in-Action to Transform Organizations.” Instructor, College for Bishops (2009).
“Leaven in the Dough, Scatterers of the Seed.” Plenary address, Diocesan Leadership Day, Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina (2009).
“Using Transforming Evangelism in Your Life and Congregation.” Plenary sessions, Clergy Conference, Diocese of Montana (2009).
“Practicing Public Dialogue on Matters of the Heart.” Invited address, series on evangelism, Washington National Cathedral (2009).
Gortner, D. T. (2008, December). “The Joys and Perils and Mixed Methodology in Religious Research.” Invited address, Psychology Department, Loyola University, Baltimore, Maryland.
Gortner, D. T. (2007, November). “Beyond Freud and Jung: Psychologies and Theologies of Human Development.” Paper session presented at the American Academy of Religion Annual Meeting, San Diego, California.
“Selecting and Training for Effective Christian Leadership.” Conference leader, Commission on Ministry, Diocese of Oregon (2006).
“Bridging the Rift: Young Adults and Religion.” Plenary address, National Campus Ministry Association, Portland, OR (2006).
Gortner, D. T. (2005, November). Episcopalians on the trail of social capital: A bird’s eye view of congregations in context. Presented at Society for the Scientific Study of Religion Annual Meeting, Rochester, New York.
“The De-Institutionalizing Journey of the Spirit.” Plenary address: Trinity Consultation on Campus & Young Adult Ministry, CT (2005).
“What Sets Effective Ministers Apart?” Plenary by Dreibelbis & Gortner: Healthy Congregations Conference, TN (2002).
“Varieties of Young Adult Religious Experience.” Plenary: Lutheran Campus Ministry Conference, Baltimore, MD (2001).
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