Sara Wilhelm Garbers (she/they), M.Div., Ph.D.

Teacher: Faith & Justice Series and Congregational Classes | 2018-2024

Meetinghouse Church (Edina, MN) and Other Churches | Format: Hybrid (in person and online)

As a part of my pastoral work, I taught many courses and facilitated varied learning environments. From development of a “Faith & Justice” curriculum that we instituted following the murder of George Floyd to theology courses to Bible and book studies, I am continually developing curriculum and teaching 2-3 courses or studies for between 15-50 adults in our community. Some recent classes include:

• “Faith and Christian Nationalism” Spring 2024
• “Becoming Love: Attachment and Love in the Jewish and Christian Scriptures” Spring 2024
• “Virtues for Community” Winter 2024
• “Mysticism for Modern Life” Winter 2024
• “Gratitude: A Biblical Study of the Theme” Fall 2023
• “Things Happen for a Reason and Other Lies I’ve Believed: A Study of Theodicy and Grief” Fall 2023
• “How We Church: Understanding Congregationalism (History and Theology)” Fall 2023

Faculty Associate and Professor of Personal and Spiritual Formation | 2016- 2019

United Seminary (New Brighton, MN) | Format: Hybrid (in person and online)

Course Overview: As a part of my building of the formation program at United Seminary, I created this course, designed to aid in the cultivation of selves who would be able to engage in the work of building beloved community through attention to their inner life and the formational capacities necessary to sustain justice work.

 

Lecturer: Formation & Leadership in Higher Education | 2016- Present

Bethel University (St. Paul, MN) | Format: Hybrid (in person and online)

Lecture Content: Over the past seven years I have lectured in Bethel University’s Ed.D. program in both the Higher Education and the School Administration (K-12) tracks.  This is a three-part formation lecture series that I developed for their summer intensive which includes an introductory lecture followed by deeper exploration of the formational qualities necessary for sustained educational leadership.

 

Teaching Assistant: Honors 301- Moral Responsibility | 2015

Loyola University Chicago (Chicago, IL) | Format: In Person

Course Overview: Within the Christian tradition, responsibility is one of the most important ethical concepts. Yet, its philosophical and theological dimensions have only been systematically explored since the second half of the 20th century, and up to today there is no common understanding of the concept. This course sought to imbue undergraduate students with a deeper imagination of moral responsibility through exploration of this concept.

 

Instructor: Mentored Leadership Development I and II | 2016- 2018

Bethel Seminary (St. Paul, MN) | Format: Online

Course Overview: These courses sought to aid students in developing and aligning their vision, values, mission, systems, and strategic objectives while engaging in supervised ministry experience. Through usage of testing, self-reflection, a mentor and a Ministry Support Team, the courses assist the student in identifying personal needs that require focus for development of ministry and vocational competency.

Instructor: Social Justice | 2017

The Master’s Institute (St. Paul, MN) | Format: Hybrid (in person and online)

Course Overview: This course examined the notion of social justice from a Christian perspective. It explored varied definitions of justice along with particular conceptions of social justice. Historic conceptions of justice were then brought into dialogue with specific issues in our world.

 

Instructor: Christian Ethics | 2016

The Master’s Institute (St. Paul, MN) | Format: Hybrid (in person and online)

Course Overview: This course served as an introduction to Christian Ethics. The questions, sources, and historic ethics discourse and pathways were explored as a pathway into aiding students in discovering who they will become. Additionally, students examined diverse cultural perspectives in order to develop constructive responses to the issues/concerns of this community within a framework of Christian ethics.

Instructor: Gender & Leadership | 2016

The Master’s Institute (St. Paul, MN) | Format: Hybrid (in person and online)

Course Overview: This course explored the realities and theologies of gender equality and leadership through theoretical and practical exploration. It sought the integration of praxis and theory in ways that contributed to a deeper realization of the Kingdom of God where all are affirmed as being made in the image of God and called to lead and serve Christ and the church.

Co-instructor: Self in Community (Formation II) | 2011                                        

Bethel Seminary (St. Paul, MN) | Format: In Person

Course Overview:  This course was designed to invite students to examine their concepts of God in light of intensive study of the Gospels. Students were encouraged to develop reading practices which allow them to identify and interact with themes in each of the Gospels and participate in theological reflection groups to explore the influence of significant dimensions of life and culture on the formation of God images.