Rev. Jonathan L. Best, Ph.D. – Curator/Podcast Host
Jonathan L. Best holds a PhD in Practical Theology. A North Carolina native, Jonathan attended both Campbell University and the University of Mount Olive. Currently, he teaches online courses in theology and operates his own editing company (Best Academic Editing). His areas of research include postmodern and continental philosophy, hermeneutics, and social justice. His book, A Postmodern Theology of Ritual Action is available on Amazon and other major book retailers. Jonathan is a founding member of the Guild for Engaged Liminality. He now lives in Deltona, FL with his wife, Rebekah, and his daughter Ava.
Visit Humanities Commons for a full list of his presentations and publications
Connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn, Facebook, or Twitter
Latest Contributions
- Thanksgiving: The Giver, The Gift, and Gratitude
- The World I Want for You
- Fantasy and Liminality: Reflections on The Wheel of Time (Book 1)
- Separation of Time
- A Father’s Love
- The Liminality of Dangling Man by Saul Bellow
Jonathan A. Lee, M.Div.
Jonathan Lee graduated in 2008 from UNC Chapel Hill with a BA in religious studies and political science. In 2013, He received an MDiv from Campbell University. Jonathan now lives in Holly Springs, North Carolina. His current research interest is the nature and meanings of community.
Latest Contributions
Adeline Jean, M.A. (Doctoral Candidate)
Adeline Jean is a Doctoral Student of Practical Theology and an adjunct professor of Religious Studies and English Composition (writing and literary analysis) at St. Thomas University in Miami, Florida. She holds a Master’s Degree in English Education. Her recent research work includes a comparative study of the Catholic Mass as simultaneously a story and a narrative and a study of the Catholic Mass at a diasporic ethnic mission church as the site and source of political and social advocacy in the form of a friendship theology. Her current research work focuses on charting the course toward the development of a Caribbean Theology. She recently published her first book, a compilation of memoirs, JESUS Speaks to Me: Whispers of Mercy, Whispers of Love, a distinctive genre and source of practical theology.
Learn more about her book at: https://www.jesusspeakstome.com/
Latest Contributions
- The Negro Spirituals as a Form of Theology in the “Invisible Institution” (Part 1)
- The Negro Spirituals as a Form of Theology in the “Invisible Institution” (Part 2)
- Limit Situations: Not Limiting but Empowering
Jane M. Spanich, Ph.D.
Jane M. Spanich is the Co-director of Campus Ministry at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She holds a Bachelor degree in International Affairs from Florida State University, an MLS from Rollins College, and is currently a doctoral candidate in Practical Theology at St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens. Jane is the director of the LEAP Service Learning Program as well as the TEDx event at St. Thomas Aquinas High school where she teaches Leadership and the senior duel enrollment courses, World Religions and Catholic Social Teaching.
Latest contributions
- The 1958 Eviction of Dorothy Day and the Catholic Workers of Chrystie Street: Strategies for Eviction Prevention During COVID-19
- A Practical Theological Approach on the Dialogue between Artificial Intelligence and Contemporary Catholicism: A Brief Exploration of Learning Methods
- Correlating Writings of Dorothy Day and Thomas Groom: There Will be Faith
Emmanuel Buteau, Ph.D.
Emmanuel Buteau holds a PhD in Practical Theology from St. Thomas University in Miami, Florida. He emigrated from Haiti to the United States in 1993 and currently serves as Executive Director of the Haitian Institute of Atlanta, which he co-founded in 2017 with his wife Danielle and several other friends.
Latest contributions
- In the Shadow of the Possible: Reconstructing the Journey Between Bethlehem and Golgotha
- Two Merchants, One Tale: Constructing Justice Through Artistic Encounter in Haiti
- Lessons from Death: An Exploration of the Legacy of Eudel Marcelin
Marlene B. Lang, Ph.D.
Marlene B. Lang is a freelance writer whose entangled instincts for theology and journalism bring a uniquely informed voice to her work. The former Asst. Professor of Religious Studies and Sun-Times Media columnist taught and wrote on social justice and political issues. She is presently writing a book on the spirituality of respectful listening in community contexts. Lang resides in Lancaster, Penn. among friends and family.
Portfolio: Marlene Lang’s Online Portfolio
Blog: REDWING POST
Latest contributions
- Halloween 2020: The Year of No Treats
- August 31, 2019
- UNTITLED
- Serving: A meditation on the plight of the rich
Rev. Marc Boswell, Ph.D.
Marc Boswell is the founding editor of Progressive Southern Theologians. He currently serves as the director of the faith-based non-profit, Together for Hope, in Lake Providence, Louisiana. He has lived in the Delta for the past two years and enjoys photography and writing. His research and teaching interests include constructive/liberation theologies, community development, and race in American culture.
Latest contributions
Andrew McCarthy, M.A. (Doctoral Candidate)
Andrew McCarthy holds a Master’s degree from Asbury Theological Seminary in Theological Studies and is currently a Ph.D. student in practical theology at St. Thomas University, FL. Andrew has worked as a missionary in Guatemala, Mexico, Thailand and China. He resides in South Florida.
Latest contributions
- LOL! Laughter Opening Liminal Space/Thresholds: Comedy and Celebration in Liminal Journey
- Discovery of Habitus in the Holiday
- Borderlands of the Bridge Prophet: A Reflection on John the Baptist as a Liminal Figure
Lauren Lawler, M.A. (Doctoral Candidate)
Lauren Lawler was born and raised in Houston, Texas. She attended the University of Texas, Austin for her undergraduate and received a BA in Religious Studies and BJ in Journalism. She attended Loyola University, New Orleans for her Masters degree in Religious Studies. She has taught high school religion for 15 years, and Dual-Enrollment at Saint Thomas University, Miami Gardens for two years. She is currently teaching World Religions at Cardinal Gibbons High School and is a second year pre-candidate at Saint Thomas University. Her interests include Youth Studies, Ecumenism, Inter-religious Dialogue, Social Justice, Morality, and Humor. She hopes to do her dissertation on the Theology of Humor in the Classroom.
LATEST CONTRIBUTIONS
Ricardo Gonzalez, Ph.D.
As a theology teacher at Monsignor Pace High School and professional youth minister for over 25 years, Dr. Gonzalez brings a wealth of knowledge on youth and young adult ministry in various contexts. Much of his scholarly and ministerial work revolves around best practice for youth and young adult ministries.
Latest contributions
- Getting Back to “Community”
- Never Forget the Rich Young Man: The Liminality of Religious Faith Among Young People
- Never Forget the Rich Young Man: The Liminality of Religious Faith Among Young People-Part 2
Claudia H. Herrera-Montero, Ph.D.
Claudia Herrera is a Catholic practical theologian, educator, and lay ecclesial leader. She holds a Ph.D. in Practical Theology and a M.A. in Pastoral Ministries from St. Thomas University in Miami, FL. Her doctoral dissertation, “Understanding Contemporary Practical Latino/a Theology Through the Lenses of College-Age Latinas in Their 20’s: A New Marianismo?” has expanded her research on participatory-action with young Latinos/as in the classroom and ministerial settings, as she explores on their faith identity and social location. Dr. Herrera is the former Director of Campus Ministry at St. Thomas University. Currently, she teaches in the graduate program in pastoral ministry at the Southeast Pastoral Institute for Hispanic Ministry (Instituto Pastoral Para el Sureste Hispano). In addition, she serves as the elected Secretary of the Academy of Catholic Hispanic Theologians of the United States (ACHTUS) since 2018.
Academia.edu profile: https://claudiaherrera.academia.edu/
latest contributions
- Mis abuelas y la Teología [My Grandmothers and Theology]
- Maria Salome: The Unknown Yet Transformative Story of a Woman Disciple of the Early Church
Rev. Michelle Trebilcock, Ph.D.
Michelle lives in Melbourne, Australia and holds a Ph.D. in theology. She currently serves as a priest and chaplain at the Brotherhood of St. Laurence, an Anglican welfare agency. Her doctoral work explored love within the context of liminality. She’s also a contributor to a new book on liminality titled, Neither Here nor There: The Many Voices of Liminality. Her passions are expressed in work related to spirituality, love, justice, theology, and sociology through the lens of contemplative practice.
latest contributions
- The Liminal Space in Between the Holiday Rituals: When None of the Festivals Really Fit
- All Souls and All Saints: Remembrance, Grief and Loss in 2020
- From: Plato, To: Activists for Love and Justice (Re: Covid-19)
Rev. Cindy Bolden, D.Min
Rev. Dr. Cindy Bolden is a community minister in Raleigh, N.C. She has worked ten years in this field, exploring new possibilities for sharing life and connecting with all people through conversations at community wells and tables. Cindy currently serves as board chair for a pay-what-you-can café whose mission is to provide community and good food for all regardless of means. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from Duke University and a Master of Divinity degree and Doctor of Ministry degree from Campbell University. Her article, Hospitality at Community Wells: The Life-Giving Waters of John 4:7-15, will be published fall 2020.
Latest contributions
Alex Lopez, Ph.D.
A native South Floridian of Cuban descent, Alex, like most of us, knows a thing or two about the in-betweens of liminal experiences. He Holds a Ph.D. in Practical Theology and is currently an adjunct professor of Religious Studies at Broward College in Pembroke Pines, FL. His areas of research include post-metaphysical theology, political theory, and the role of the imagination in emancipatory thinking. He resides in Hollywood, FL with his wife Isabel, son Logan, and their two dogs Tsuki and Otis.
LATEST CONTRIBUTIONS
- Hindsight is 2020 but Foresight is 50/50: Expectancy with Messianic Hope
- Neither Here nor There
- Were You There?
Thomas Parks, M.Div.
Thomas Parks is a recovering academic and a faith reconstructionist. His research interests are in lament poetry and wisdom literature, with a piquing curiosity in narrative homiletics. He has earned a masters from Asbury Theological Seminary and is being called to pursue a PhD of religion, focusing on the Hebrew Bible. Thomas has worked and volunteered in ministry for the past ten years. He lives in central Florida with his wife and two young children.
LATEST CONTRIBUTIONS
- Tamar, Judah, and Marginalization: A Reflection on Genesis 38
- God’s Deafening Silence: A Reflection on Job 19:1-8
- The Worst Sermon: A Reflection on Jonah 3
Featured Photo by Samuel Zeller on Unsplash
Liminal Theology 