PDF Version of Norma Cook Everist Full Vita June 2015
Short Vita
Dr. Norma Cook Everist is Senior Distinguished Professor of Church and Ministry at Wartburg Theology Seminary, where she has served for over thirty-five years, the first tenured woman professor in a seminary of the American Lutheran Church. Previously she taught at Yale Divinity School. Rev. Everist helps foster a seminary community atmosphere of shared power and partnership that builds on the gifts and insights of the students, which in turn enhances learning for leadership in the church and in the world.
A mentor to many, people find Norma compassionate and creative, vivacious and visionary. Whether in the classroom, or working with individuals or congregations, she listens, presents new approaches, and helps people grow in collaborative ministry.
Rev. Everist has published more than a dozen books and contributed chapters to a dozen more, as well as written more than fifty articles. Her most recent titles include Seventy Images of Grace in the Epistles . . . That Make all the Difference in Daily Life, Church Conflict: From Contention to Collaboration, and Transforming Leadership, co-authored with Craig Nessan.
Rev. Everist is a widely known lecturer, and has served nationally and internationally on many task forces and committees in the areas of ministry, leadership, theological education, gender studies, and ministry in daily life. She is faculty editor for The Persistent Voice networking newsletter. She enjoys visiting congregations and church agencies where Wartburg graduates serve.
Dr. Everist is a deaconess and an ordained ELCA pastor.
Long Vita /
Norma Cook Everist
Wartburg Theological Seminary
333 Wartburg Place
Dubuque, Iowa 52004-5004
(563) 589-0223 FAX (563) 589-0333
ncookeverist@wartburgseminary.edu
normacookeverist.blogspot.com
www.normacookeverist.com
Degrees:
Ph.D. 1988, Denver University and the Iliff School of Theology; Dissertation: “The Paradox of Pluralism: A Sociological, Ethical, and Ecclesiological Perspective of the Church’s Vocation in the Public World”
M.Div. 1976, Yale Divinity School, New Haven, Connecticut
M.A.R. 1964, Concordia Theological Seminary, Saint Louis, Missouri
B.A. 1960, Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Indiana; (with Honors) Theology Major, Education Minor
A.A. 1958, North Iowa Area Community College, Mason City, IA
Ministry:
2009- Senior Distinguished Professor of Church and Ministry, Wartburg Seminary
1990-09 Professor of Church and Ministry, Wartburg Seminary; Primary Areas: Educational Ministry, Church Administration
1984-90 Associate Professor in the Ministry Division
1979 Assistant Professor in the Ministry Division
1977 Parish Associate, Hamden Plains United Methodist Church, Hamden, Connecticut
1976-79 Lecturer in Practical Theology, Yale Divinity School, Word and Sacrament Ministry with Lutheran Students
1976-77 Parish Associate, Bethesda Lutheran, New Haven, Connecticut
1974-76 Comparative Religion Instructor, Hamden Hall Country Day School, Hamden, Connecticut
1971-73 A Conference Program Coordinator, Ecumenical Continuing Education Center at Yale, New Haven, Connecticut
1970-76 Inner City Ministry, New Haven, Connecticut
1966-70 Inner City Ministry, Detroit, Michigan
1960-64 Parish Deaconess, Ascension Lutheran Church, Saint Louis, Missouri
Guest Professor:
2012 Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, Guest Lecturer for diaconal ministry formation
2011 Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, Visiting Professor
2010 Johannelund Seminary, Uppsala, Sweden, Guest Lecturer
2004-7 University of Dubuque Theological Seminary, D.Min. professor
2003 Lay Academy, Gettysburg Seminary, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
2003 United Theological College, University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica
2001 Global Diakonia, Brisbane, Queensland. Guest Lecturer for diaconal ministry formation for the Uniting and Anglican Churches of Australia
1997 The Lutheran Seminary, Adelaide, South Australia, Guest Lecturer
1995 Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, Summer Session Professor
1993 Makumira Lutheran Theological College, Tanzania, Guest Lecturer
1987 Wartburg’s Academy of the West, Thousand Oaks, CA, Professor and Dean
1985 Princeton Theological Seminary, Summer Session Professor
1982 Christ Seminary-Seminex, St. Louis, Summer Session Professor
Publications:
Books
2015 Seventy Images of Grace in the Epistles That Make All the Difference in Daily Life. Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, Wipf and Stock Publishers
2008 With Craig Nessan. Transforming Leadership. Minneapolis: Fortress
2007 Editor. Christian Education as Evangelism. Minneapolis: Fortress
2005 Open the Doors and See All the People: Stories of Congregational Identity and Vocation. Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress
2004 Church Conflict: From Contention to Collaboration. Nashville: Abingdon Press
2002 The Church as Learning Community. Nashville: Abingdon Press
2002 Editor. The Difficult But Indispensable Church. Minneapolis: Fortress
2000Editor. Ordinary Ministry: Extraordinary Challenge. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press
1997 With Nelvin Vos. Connections: Faith and Life. Chicago: The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
1996 With Nelvin Vos. Where in the World Are You: Connecting Faith and Daily Life. Bethesda, MD: The Alban Institute
1995 Compiler and editor. Gentle Strength: Homilies and Hymns of Ralph F. Smith. Dubuque, IA: Wartburg Theological Seminary
1989 With Burton Everist. Since You Asked. Minneapolis: Augsburg
1985 With Nelvin Vos. Connections: Faith and World. Philadelphia: Division for Parish Life, Lutheran Church in America
1983 Education Ministry in the Congregation. Minneapolis: Augsburg
Booklets and Monographs
2005 Editor, with Craig Nessan, Forming an Evangelizing People. Dubuque: Wartburg Theological Seminary
2003 With Steven Meysing, Study Guide for The Difficult But Indispensable Church. Dubuque: Wartburg Seminary
2002 Content, Called to Deal with Difficult Issues. Chicago: Women of the ELCA.
1983 With Sandy Berg. And the Women Came: The Stories of the First 125 Women at Wartburg Seminary. Dubuque: Wartburg Seminary Women Students
Edited Journals
2011 Currents in Theology and Mission 38, no. 5 (October 2011) Twelve Pastoral Practices Edited with Craig Nessan.
2003 Currents in Theology and Mission 30, no. 3 (June 2003) “Festschrift for Dr. Roger W. Fjeld.”
1997 Currents in Theology and Mission 24, no. 4 (August 1997) “Rage Revisited”
1995 Currents in Theology and Mission 22, no. 4 (August 1995) “Youth Ministry!”
1993 Currents in Theology and Mission 20, no. 2 (April 1993) “The Passions of Professors”
1991 Currents in Theology and Mission 18, no. 5 (October 1991) “Mission is Artesian”
1989 Currents in Theology and Mission 16, no. 5 (October 1989) “Sending and Receiving”
1990- The Persistent Voice, faculty editor
Chapters/Articles in Books
2010 “Integrative Theological Formation” In Theological Practices That Matter, edited by Karen Bloomquist on behalf of The Lutheran World Federation, 169-179. Minneapolis: Lutheran University Press
2009 Spanish edition of Assessment Resources for Opening the Book of Faith
2008 Assessment Resource In Opening the Book of Faith, by Diane Jacobson, Mark Allan Powell, Stanley N. Olson, 104-120. Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress
2007 “Learn to Share Christ in the Languages of People’s Daily Lives” In Christian Education as Evangelism, edited by Norma Cook Everist, 122-133. Minneapolis: Fortress
2005 “Educational Ministry: Learning Leads to Mission.” In Forming an Evangelizing People, edited by Norma Cook Everist and Craig Nessan, 26-27. Dubuque: Wartburg Theological Seminary
2004 “Who is the Child? Whose is the Child? A Theology of Children” In The Ministry of Children’s Education, edited by Barbara Wilson, 61-95. Minneapolis: Fortress.
2002 “Re-membering the Body of Christ: Creating Trustworthy Places to be Different Together.” In The Difficult But Indispensable Church, edited by Norma Cook Everist, 45-56. Minneapolis: Fortress Press
2000 “Ordinary Journey: The Ministry of Visitation.” In Ordinary Ministry: Extraordinary Challenge, edited by Norma Cook Everist, 91-104. Nashville: Abingdon.
2000 “Issues and Ironies of the New Millennium.” in Forgiving a Better Religious Education for the Third Millennium, edited by James Michael Lee, 51-68. Birmingham, AL: Religious Education Press
1999 “Congregation as Confirming Community.” In Confirmation: Engaging Lutheran Foundations and Practices, edited by Mark Gardner, 136-171. Minneapolis: Fortress Press
1998 “Let God Build the Body: The Body of Christ Proverb.” In Up the Creek with a Paddle, edited by Paul Hill, 45-47. Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress
1997 With Susan K. Nachtigal. “Making the Connections” and “Organizing for Adult Education.” In Lifelong Learning, edited by Rebecca Grothe, 168-221. Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress
1996 “Creating Communities for Us to be Different Together.” In It Takes a Congregation, A Festschrift for Boardman Wright Kathan, edited by Nancy Lee Kathan, 67-70. Philadelphia: NLK Publishing
1995 “Sisters Together in Ministry.” In Lutheran Women in Ordained Ministry 1970-1995, edited by Gloria E. Bengtson, 72-78. Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress
1990 “Exceptional Persons” and “Superintendent, Sunday School.” In Encyclopedia of Religious Education, edited by Iris and Kendig Cully, 238-240, 627-727. San Francisco: Harper and Row
1987 “The Community of Faith as Curriculum.” In Education for Christian Living, edited by Marvin L. Roloff, 73-88. Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House
1984 “Afraid to Ask,” a sermon for the 18th Sunday after Pentecost. In Augsburg Sermons 2, 225-229. Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House
Articles in Ecclesial and Public Journals/Professional Society Publications
2015 “The Story of Jennaya and Her Grandfather” Dubuque Telegraph Herald (June 20): C1
2015 “What Was the Motive for the Crucifixion?” Dubuque Telegraph Herald (March 28): C1
2015 “What If the Wise Men Had Not Brought Gifts?” Dubuque Telegraph Herald (January 3): C1
2014 “The Church is More than Just a Cozy Family” Dubuque Telegraph Herald (October 11): C1
2014 “Economic and Income Inequality: Our Beliefs Matter” The Lutheran 27 (July):16-18
2014 “We’re Called to be Caretakers of God’s Creation” Dubuque Telegraph Herald (July 19):D1
2014 “Of Course” Gather 27 (June): 6-9
2014 “Remember the 7 Sundays after Easter and More” Dubuque Telegraph Herald (April 26):C1
2014 “Is Competition Part of Creation or Part of the Fall?” Dubuque Telegraph Herald (February 1):C1
2013 “Higher Education Provides a Collaborative Learning Environment” Dubuque Telegraph Herald (November 9):C1
2013 “Marking the 50th Anniversary of King’s ‘I Have a Dream’ Speech’” Dubuque Telegraph Herald (August 17): D1
2013 “God Doesn’t Leave or Say ‘See You Next Fall’” Dubuque Telegraph Herald (June 8): C1
2013 “Celebrating Congregations Working Together for Good” Dubuque Telegraph Herald (March 2): C1
2013 “Connections: Faith and Life” Seeds for the Parish (Fall): 6
2012 “Season Creates Perfect Time to Consider Beliefs” Dubuque Telegraph Herald (December 8): D1
2012 “25th Anniversary of the ELCA Constituting Convention” Seeds for the Parish (Fall): 4
2012 “Ministry and Midwifery: Helping Through Hard Times” Dubuque Telegraph Herald (September 1): D1
2011 “The Practice of Collegiality” Currents in Theology and Mission (October)
2011 “The Church’s Vocation in Society through the Ministry of the Laity in the Languages of Their Daily Lives” Dialog 50:2 (Summer June): 154-161
2005 “Healing in the Midst of Conflict” Lutheran Woman Today (October): 26-29
2005 “Open the Doors and See All the People” The Lutheran 18 (August):
2004 “Women as Companions” Lutheran Woman Today 17 (January/February): 6-10
2002 “Gender, Power and Leadership.” Journal of Religious Leadership I (Fall): 45-67
2002 “Engendering Theological Education for Transformation: North American and the Caribbean” and “Visions for Theological Education” Lutheran World Federation Women Magazine 55 (October): 24 and 46-48
2002 “What Are We Saying?” The Lutheran 15 (January): 12-15
2001 “Connecting the Learning Community and Vocation in the Public World.” Religious Education 96 (Summer): 294-309
2001 “The Tyranny of Time.” The Lutheran 14 (July): 12-16
2000 “Connecting the Learning Community and Vocation in the Public World.” 2000 Proceedings Association of Professors and Researchers in Religion Education: 158-168
2000 “Freed for Servanthood.” Lutheran Woman Today 13 (November): 6-8
2000 “As the Day was Dawning.” Encore Times (Spring): 3
2000 “Imposed Rest.” Lutheran Woman Today, 13 (June): 12-14
1999 “The Paradox of Pluralism: Challenge and Opportunity for Religious Education.” l999 Proceedings Association of Professors and Researchers in Religious Education: l5l-l6l
1997 “The Burning of Black Churches and the Ecclesiology of American Civil Religion.” Currents in Theology and Mission 24 (August): 336-347
1997 “Poetry and Prophecy as Empowering Partnership.” l997 Proceedings Association of Professors and Researchers in Religious Education: 249-262
1995 “Paradoxes and Possibilities in Educational Ministry.” The Clergy Journal LXXI (September): 7-10
1995 “Setting Trustworthy Youth Ministry Arenas.” Currents in Theology and Mission 22 (August): 248-251
1994 “Radical Hospitality: The Stranger as Gift.” Lutheran Woman Today 8 (December): 4-6
1994 “Luther: Theologian and Educator.” Parish Teacher 18 (October): 2-3
1994 “What in the World Are We Doing?” Parish Teacher 18 (September): 2-3
1994 “Walk Slowly.” Lutheran Woman Today 7 (March): 8-10
1993 “Servant Leaders.” Lutheran Partners 9 (July/August): 11-14
1992 “Promote a Thinking Climate.” Parish Teacher 14 (December): 1-2
1991 “Affirming Diversity.” Parish Teacher 14 (December): 1-2
1991 “From Learning to Mission to Learning.” Currents in Theology and Mission 18 (October): 351-356
1991 “Connections: An Alternative Model of Adult Education?” Consensus 17 (January-March): 51-71
1989 “Dependency Hinders Development: An Exploration in Receiving Relationships.” Currents in Theology and Mission 16 (October): 346-353
1989 “Faith is a Gift: Faith is a Verb.” Adult Faith Resources Networker 2 (August): 1-2
1988 “It’s Unbelievable.” Parish Teacher 11 (May): 1-2
1988 “I Love to See You Grow.” Lutheran Woman Today 1 (May): 6-9
1987 “Light in Pluralistic Culture.” The Cresset 50th Anniversary Issue (November): 27-29
1987 “The Paradox of Pluralism.” Currents in Theology and Mission 14 (October): 345-353
1986 “Education for Life.” Parish Teacher 9 (June): 8
1986 “The Possible Impossibility: On the Partnership of Men and Women in the Ministry of the Church.” Lutheran Partners 2 (January/February): 7-11. (Reprinted in Women, a Lutheran World Federation Publication, 10-14. June)
1985 “Using the Lecture for All Ages.” Parish Teacher 8 (October): 8
1985 “What Does This Mean?” Parish Teacher 8 (December): 6
1985 “Luther on Education: Implications for Today.” Currents in Theology and Mission 12 (April): 76-89
1984 “New Frameworks for Seminary Education.” Trinity Seminary Review 6 (November): 80-93
1984 “What Are You Teaching?” Scope 24 (July): 35-37
1984 “Discuss and Learn.” Parish Teacher 7 (June): 1-2
1984 “Fourth Sunday in Lent.” Preaching Helps (Christ Seminary-Seminex, Chicago) (January)
1982 “A Powerful Servanthood: Diakonia in a Changing Church.” Liturgy 2 (Fall): 25-31
1981 “Isn’t God Expecting Too Much?” Exposition of Sixth and Seventh Epiphany Gospel Tests. The Lutheran Standard (6 February)
1980 “It’s What We Confess.” Parish Teacher 3 (October): 1-2
1980 “Let Us Grow Up Into Christ.” The Woman’s Pulpit (International Association of Women Ministers, Philadelphia, PA) 58, no. 2 (April-June)
1979 “Stay With Us,” Easter feature article. Parish Teacher 2 (April): 1-2
1979 “Free in Christ to Choose Change.” Catalyst (February)
1977 With Barbara Hargrove. “The Reasons for and Effects of Depicting Children in Movies as Evil.” Catalyst (November)
1973 “Temporary Help Welcome!” Lutheran Women’s League Quarterly (Fall)
1962 “Sharing His Service: Communication is a Circle.” Nexus (June): 8-9
Book Reviews
Book reviews in Academy of Religious Leadership, Currents in Theology and Mission, Journal of Adult Theological Education, Word and World, Religious Education, The Vanguard, The Persistent Voice, The Lutheran Witness Reporter, Lutheran Quarterly, Seminary Ridge Review
On-line and Video/Audio Resources
2013 “The Wonderful Challenge of Learning and Leading Ecumenically” Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Vatican II. School of Theology and Ministry, University of St. Thomas, Miami, Fl. website
2012- Regular Bi-Weekly Featured Blogger, The Huffington Post
2011 “Connections: Faith and Life” Four Unit, six session each, adult education resource; Using Luther’s Large Catechism, ELCA, Wartburg Theological Seminary website
2009 “Grace and Peace to You: A Yearlong Devotional Journey through the Epistles” Wartburg Seminary website
2009 “The Persistent Voice” on-line networking newsletter, Wartburg Seminary
2008 “Teaching the Bible: Hosting the Conversation” Sessions 13-16, SELECT Multimedia Resources
2007 On-line Bible Study, “The Book of Faith: Lutherans Read the Bible,” ELCA website
2000 “Teaching for Discipleship” Teleconference, tape and print resource, Emmaus Center for Lifelong Learning
1999 “Feasting at Katy’s Table: A Theological Retreat” a three-cassette video and planning Guide, Chicago: Women of the ELCA
1992 “Education in Lutheran Congregations,” session 2, with print resource. SELECT Continuing Education Resource
1992 “Task Force on the Study of Ministry.” ReSource Tape Journal
1985 With Durwood Buchheim. “The Pastor as Leader,” with leader book. SELECT Continuing Education Resource for pastors.
1983 With Durwood Buchheim. “Church Growth and Evangelism.” ReSource Tape Journal. Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg
1980 “Cultural Crises and Christian Vocation.” ReSource Tape Journal (October). Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg
1980 “Exegesis, Genesis 11.1-9.” ReSource Tape Journal (May). Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg
Professional Service
Date Position/Board/Council/Agency
2015 ELCA Consultation on Engaging Luther’s Catechisms for the 21st Century
2013- Dubuque Cultural Nonviolence Coalition 2013 Wartburg Seminary Representative and Presenter, Association of Theological Schools Faculty Focused Consultation, Pittsburgh PA
2010 Wartburg Seminary Faculty Representative, Convocation of Teaching Theologians, California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, CA
2009 Wartburg Seminary Faculty Representative and Speaker, Convocation of Teaching Theologians, St. Olaf College, St. Peter, MN
2009 Representative and Plenary Speaker, Global Consultation, “Theology in the Life of Lutheran Churches: Transformative Perspectives and Practices Today” Lutheran World Federation, Augsburg, Germany
2008 Wartburg Seminary Faculty Representative, Convocation of Teaching Theologians and Pastors of ELCA Large Churches, Minneapolis, MN
2008 Wartburg Seminary Faculty Representative, Consultation for Bishops and Teaching Theologians, Chicago, Illinois
2007 Editorial Board, Lutheran Study Bible, ELCA andFortress Press
2007 Wartburg Seminary Faculty Representative, ELCA Churchwide Assembly, Chicago
2006 Member, Churchwide Consultation on ELCA Book of Faith Initiative, Chicago
2003 Wartburg Seminary Representative, ELCA Association of Teaching Theologians,Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minnesota
2003 Wartburg Seminary Faculty Representative, ELCA Churchwide Assembly, Milwaukee, WI
2002 Wartburg Seminary Representative, Consultation for Bishops and Teaching Theologians, Chicago, Illinois
2001 Member, International Working Group on “Engendering Theological Education for Transformation,” Lutheran World Federation, Geneva, Switzerland
1995-98 Wartburg Seminary Faculty Representative, Covenant Cluster Planning Committee
1995- External Examiner, University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica
1995 Consultant to the Anglican-Lutheran International Commission, Hanover, Germany
1995 ELCA Representative, Anglican-Lutheran Consultation on the Diaconate, Kent, England
1994- Board Member, Center for Youth Ministry, Wartburg Theological Seminary
1994-92 Member, Task Force on the Study about Religion in the Public School, Dubuque Community School District
1988- Associate Editor (Wartburg) Currents in Theology and Mission
1988-2000 Columnist, with Burton Everist, “Since You Asked” in The Lutheran
1988-93 Task Force on the Study of Ministry, ELCA
1988-93 Member, Board of Directors, Adult Faith Resources
1984-86 Member, Consultation on Theological Education
1984 Wartburg Representative, Association of Theological Schools Conference, Chicago, Illinois
1983-84 Member, Design Task Force on Specific Ministries, Commission for a New Lutheran Church
1982-83 Member, Task Force on Society, Commission for a New Lutheran Church
1981-82 Member, Ordination Study Committee, The American Lutheran Church
1977-79 ALC clergy representative, Lutheran Social Ministries Committee of New England
1976-79 Days of Celebration Co-Chairperson, Church Women United, Greater New Haven, Connecticut
1974-78 Member (Vice President 1974-77), Board of Directors, Concordia Seminary in Exile, St. Louis, MO
1974-75 Member, Regionalization Study Committee, New England (ALC, LCA, LCMS)
1974 Member, Central Committee, Third Annual Triennial Conference, Diakonia, Sherbrooke, Quebec
1972-74 Member (President, 1973-74), Board of Directors, Lutheran Deaconess Association
1972-74 Regional Commissioner, New England District, Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod
1970-72 Election Day Official, Fourth Ward, City of New Haven, CT
1967-76 Book Reviewer, The Lutheran Witness Reporter, St. Louis, MO
1967-76 Block Club Organizer, Detroit, MI and New Haven, CT
Lectures and Presentations
List available
Learned Societies/Professional Groups
Year joined Name
2002 Association of Teaching Theologians-ELCA
2000 Academy of Religious Leadership
1996 Association of Practical Theology
1995-2005 Society for the Scientific Study of Religion
1988-1995 People’s Theology Group of AAR/SBL
1984- Association of Lutheran Seminary Professors of Christian Education
1982-99 National Council on Religion and Public Education
1981-85 Association for Theological Field Education
1980-86 Society for Professors of Church Administration
1977 The Association of Professors and Researchers of Religious Education
1977-79 Hamden Clergy Association, Hamden, CT
1977-79 Lutheran Clergy Cluster, Greater New Haven, CT
1974 Religious Education Association
1960 Lutheran Deaconess Conference
Awards / Honors
2009 Outstanding Alumna, North Iowa Area Community College, Mason City, IA
2003 Iowa Distinguished Faculty of the Year, American Association of University Women
1999 Alumna of the Year in Specialized Ministry, The Iliff School of Theology, Denver, CO.
1994 Outstanding Graduate of the Decade, Mason City High School, Mason City, IA.
Professional Status:
Consecration: June 5, 1960, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Mason City, Iowa
Ordination: September 18, 1977, Yale Divinity School, New Haven, CT
Clergy Roster, Southeastern Iowa Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Family:
Married to Burton Everist, August 26, 1962
Three sons: Mark, born June 12, 1963 (adopted May, 1964)
Joel, born September 8, 1967
Kirk, born July 25, 1969
Last Updated Summer 2015