CURRICULUM VITAE                                                                                                              August 2005

Cameron Richard Harder, Ph.D.                                                                                                                     

Personal: Born Aug 12, 1954, baptized May 8, 1955, ordained into the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Canada, Nov 1, 1981.  Married to Dorothy since July 6, 1975 with three children-Joel (1979), Kristel (1983) and Ryan (1987).  Residing in Saskatoon. 

A. Positions Held

-         2002÷Associate Professor of Systematic Theology and (since June, 2000) Director of Contextual Education, Lutheran Theological Seminary, Saskatoon, SK.

-         1997-2002 Assistant Professor of Systematic Theology, Lutheran Theological Seminary, Saskatoon, SK.

-         1985-1997 Pastor, Messiah Lutheran Church, Camrose, AB.

-         1982-1985 Assistant Pastor, Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Calgary, AB.

B. Educational History

    Degrees

- 1999-Ph.D. in Theology, University of St. Michael's College, Toronto School of Theology.  Dissertation entitled "The Shame of Farm Bankruptcy: A Sociological and Theological Investigation of its Effect on Rural Communities."

-         1986-S.T.M., Graduate Theological Union at Saskatoon. Thesis entitled "The Church Growth Movement: A Lutheran Perspective on the Emerging Shape of the Church."

-         1981-M Div., Lutheran Theological Seminary, Saskatoon, SK. 

-         1977-B. A. (sociology and psychology) University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB.

-         1973-diploma of graduation, Canadian Lutheran Bible Institute, Camrose, AB.

    Major Honours, Grants and Awards

-         2003-Wabash Center for Teaching and Learning in Theology and Religion Grant ($63,000 Cdn)

-         1999-Governor General's gold medal for best doctoral program and dissertation, Faculty of Theology, University of St. Michael's College, Toronto, ON Canada.

-         1993-Wilfred May Scholarship for Graduate Study ($30,000)

-         1977-University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB Canada: gold medal for highest over-all academic standing in the department of psychology

C. Publications

      -     "How a Rural Context Affects the Shape of  Field Education on the Prairies," Journal of Supervision and Training in Ministry, Vol 25, 2005, 116-121.

-         Bi-monthly articles for the "Moral Economy" column in The Western Producer, May 2003-: "Genes for Sale?" "Every Rural Community has Wealth of Assets," "BSE Sanctions about Values, not Science," "The Power of Lament," "What happened to Democracy?" "The Production of Fear," "Growing Good Leaders," "Must Bridges Always Go Over the Water?" "Small is Beautiful," "Rural Un-Development," "Survival of the Fittest Thinking Killing our Communities," "Sacrifice of the Few Doesn't Help the Many," "Things Will Change," "Keeping Family First in the Family Farm," "Anymore Tommy Douglas' Out There?" "Churches essential to Rural Development"

-         "Faith in the Farm Crisis?" The Messenger, April 21, 2004.

-         "The Healing Power  of Weakness," Consensus, Vol. 29 (1), 2003, 41-54.   Also edited that volume of Consensus.

-         "The Real Issue Behind GMO's," The Manitoba Co-operator, Jan 9, 2003, p.5.

-         "Alone in the Midst of the Land," Canadian Mennonite, June 3, 2002, 6-7.

-         "Beyond Survival of the Fittest": Pastoral Resources for Rebuilding Rural Community," in Doing Ethics in a Pluralistic World, Phyllis Airhart, Marilyn Legge and Gary Redcliffe, eds. (Waterloo, ON: Wilfred Laurier University Press, 2002), 167-202.

-         Overcoming Cultural/Spiritual Obstacles to Rural Revitalization" in Writing Off RuralCommunities: Globalization, Governments and the Transformation of Rural Life, Roger Epp and David Whitson, eds.  (Edmonton, AB: University of Alberta Press, 2001).

-         "Justification and the Farm Crisis in Canada" in  Justification in the World's Contexts, Wolfgang Grieve, ed. (Geneva, Switzerland: LWF Department for Theology and Studies, 2000).

-         "The Shaming of Canadian Farmers: A Christian Response" Consensus  21 (2) 1995.

-         Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts (Edmonton, AB: AB Synod, ELCIC, 1993).

D.  Church Positions (outside of seminary or inter-seminary responsibilities)

      -     2005÷Steering Committee for Harvest Conference of Canadian Rural Church Network.

-         2004÷Anglican Lutheran International Commission (ALIC)

-         2004÷North American Anglican Lutheran Commission on Transitivity (ALCOT)

-         2003÷ELCIC National Task Force on Faith, Order and Doctrine

-         2001÷member of the Lutheran-Anglican Joint Commission for Canada (JALC)

-         2001÷member of the ELCIC Committee for Theological Education and Leadership, SK (2001-2004) and MNO (2004÷) Synods.

-         2000÷member of the ELCIC Examining Committee, BC Synod.

-         1986-1992 and 1997-2000 member of the  ELCIC Committee for Theological Education and Leadership, AB Synod.

-         1999-2000 member of the ELCIC Examining Committee, SK Synod.

-         1986-1992, 1997-1999 member of the ELCIC Examining Committee, AB Synod.

-         1994-1997 Co-founder of Camrose Habitat for Humanity

-         1996-1997 Co-founder of Camrose Neighborlink

-         1987-1992 member of the Ministry of Volunteers in the ELCIC committee of the national Office for Resource Development.

E.  Administrative Responsibilities

   Within LTS:

-      Director of Contextual Education

-     member of the Field Education Committee

-      Chair of the Rank and Salary Committee

-      participated with faculty in interviews/contacts related to the NT and OT positions.

-    faculty advisor to nine students

-    served as thesis advisor or reader to one M.Div and two STM theses,  April 2005.

   In the Saskatoon Theological Union:

-    member of the STU faculty

-    member of the Graduate Studies Council

-      member of the STU Retreat Committee

-      past member of several tenure, promotion and call committees.

-      Past chair of Interdisciplinary Theological Studies Section of the Graduate Studies Council

F. Courses Developed and Taught through the Lutheran Theological Seminary, 1997÷

   Classroom courses

-      SL110 -Introduction to Systematic Theology I

-      SL111-Introduction to Systematic Theology II

-      SL115-Hermeneutics ( team-taught-LTS)

-      SL210-Theology 1

-      SL330-Contemporary Theology

-      PL170 and PL171- Contextual Education, first and second year

-      SL 234 What is Theology and Who Needs It? - Douglas Hall's Theological Method

-      SL234-SL335-Christian Mission in a Pluralist World

-      SL236- The Life and Theology of Dietrich Bonhoeffer

-      SU410-Interdisciplinary Methods in Theology (team-taught ecumenical)

-      SA/SL282 Food, Faith and Rural Community (team-taught ecumenical)

-      PL346 Pastoral Integration and Parish Administration

-      PL240 Vocational Formation (team-taught-LTS)

-      SL345  Science and Theology (team-taught with a physicist)- new for 2005

   Reading courses

- Principles of Lutheran Theology;  Developing a Confirmation Curriculum;  Modern Culture, Media and Church Relations; The Life and Theology of Dietrich Bonhoeffer; Contemporary Catholic Theology, Rural Theology: Shame, Honour and the Farm Crisis, Hospitality as a Theological Motif in Christian Tradition; Introduction to Systematic Theology; Introduction to Qualitative Sociological Methods in Theology, Qualitative study of the Spiritual Needs of the Mentally Disabled

   Internship Supervisor Training Modules

- "Theological Reflection in Supervision," "Building a Healthy Team," "Training Interns for Mission" "Administration Matters," "Balance in Supervisory Sessions," "Building a Learning Covenant," "Personality Styles in Teams," "Intern Motivation and Skill as Factors in Choosing Supervision Styles," "Hermeneutical Circles in Supervision," "Training Local Committees,"  "Introduction to Sociological Tools for  Interns' Congregational Participatory Research Projects."

G. Scholarly Papers and Presentations 1999÷

- "Community Participatory Research as a Contextual Training Tool for Seminarians," St. Andrew's, May 3, 2004.

- "Rekindling the Spirit of Community," "The Trinity as Community,"and "Reflections on the Church in the Community of the Gaspé" at Beacons of Light, Communities of Hope-Ecumenical theological conference in Black Cape, Quebec, Oct 17-20, 2002.

- "Forming Alliances in rural Communities: Social/Spiritual Obstacles and Possibilities" at Building        Alliances for Recapturing Wealth on the Canadian Prairies.  Professional Conference by Agriculture Renewal Alliance, Winnipeg, Oct. 25, 2001.

- "Cultural/Theological Elements of Shame in Rural Communities."  Paper given to the University of Saskatchewan Department of Agriculture Grad Seminar, Mar. 9, 2001.

- "A Theology of Rural Community" -paper presented at "Gifts of the Earth," an agricultural forum for scholars sponsored by the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, the Canadian Council of Churches, the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, and Inter-Church Action, Winnipeg, MB, Nov. 3-5, 2000.

- "Honour and Shame as Impediments to Local Resistance of a Globalized Agricultural Economy"-paper and workshop presented to the Canadian Ecumenical Jubilee Initiative: International Theology Event: "The Vision and Practice of Jubilee: Biblical Hopes, New Beginnings," St. Michael's University College, Toronto, ON, May 9_13, 2000.

- "Land and Spirit: Doing Contextual Theology in Rural Communities" -paper presented to CCTFE (Canadian Caucus of Theological Field Educators) at their biennial meeting, Queen's House, Saskatoon, SK, Mar.18, 2000.

- "Cultural-Religious Factors in Farm Bankruptcy," "Challenging Survival of the Fittest Ideologies in Agriculture,"  Lectures given to U of S. Department of Agricultural Economics classes, Feb 16, 2000; Mar. 14, 2001; Mar 6, 2002.  

-"Honour and Shame in Rural Communities: A Christological Re-framing of Farm bankruptcy," Graduate Seminar of the Saskatoon Theological Union, Jan.25, 2000, LTS, Saskatoon, SK.

-   "A Christian Response to Pluralism."  Keynote speaker for the Confessional Lutheran Conference in Camrose, AB, May 1999.

H. Church and Community Seminars, Courses and Workshops 2000÷

-   "Mission in a Rural Context," Keynote addresses at the ELCIC Canadian Missions Conference in Regina, Aug 26-29, 2004..

-   "The Joy of Smallness" and "The Power of the Weak"- Seniors Camp, Kinasao Bible Camp, June, 2004

-  "The Passion of Christ: Hope for a Lonely, Loveless World," Faith in Life Lectures at Lutheran Collegiate Bible Institute, Outlook, SK, May 18-20 2004.

- "Globalization and Rural Communities," presentation at LWF pre-Assembly gathering in Saskatoon, July 19, 2003.

- "Passion Narratives," Canadian Lutheran Bible Institute, Camrose, AB, April 14-17, 2003.

- "Hope for Rural Communities" Community lecture series, Hanley Mennonite Church, Feb 23-25, 2003.

- "The Leadership of the Weak" Bible Study, LutherCare Tower Saskatoon, Oct 8,1 5, 22, Nov 5 2002.

- "Rekindling the Spirit of Community," "The Trinity as Community,"and "Reflections on the Church in the Community of the Gaspé" at Beacons of Light, Communities of Hope-Ecumenical conference in Black Cape, Quebec, Oct 17-20, 2002 (7 hours).

         - "The Leadership of the Weak"-Bible studies at SK Synod Lutheran Convention, July 5-6, 2002 (2 hrs).

-   "Hope for Land-Lovers: Biblical Vision for Recovering Community," Mennonite National Convention, special conference Making Peace with the Land, Osler and Saskatoon, July 3, 2002 (1 hour).

-    "Survival of the Fittest and the Bible." Hepburn Mennonite Church, Mar 10, 2002 (1 hour).

-   "Rediscovering Jesus," Adult study at Resurrection Lutheran Church, Spring, 2002 (6 hours).

-   "Tough Questions for Faith and Life," Resurrection Lutheran Church,   Fall, 2001 (6 hours).

-   "Jesus Is"- adult study, Camp Kuriakos, Sylvan Lake, July 16-20, 2001 (10 hours).

- "Survival of the Fattest: Theological Reflections on the Overproduction and Consumption of Food" Plenary sessions at ELCIC and Anglican Church of Canada national conventions, Waterloo, ON, July 7, 2001 (20 min).

-   "Doing Contextual Theology-Making Sure the Good News is Really Good News for Your People."  Fund For Theological Education Summer Conference for new seminarians. Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, June 21-23, 2001 (2 sessions , 1½ hours each).

-   "Understanding the Rural Crisis,"  Zion Lutheran church, Saskatoon,  Mar. 11, 2001 (1 hour)

- "Congregations as Catalysts for the Renewal of Rural Communities," Yorkton conference convention of the ELCIC Sask Synod, Melville, SK,  Mar. 3, 2001 (6 hours).

- "Honour and Shame in Christian Communities: A Pastoral Response," ELCIC BC Synod Study Conference plenary sessions, Charis Camp, Rosedale, BC., Feb 4-6, 2001 (4 sess. - 1hour ea.)

- "Challenging the Belief System that Underlies our Agricultural Economy," Sask. Mennonite Central Committee Annual Meeting, Prince Albert, SK, Grace Mennonite Church, Nov.10, 2000 (1 hour).

- "Hope for Rural Communities,"  9^thEcumenical Workshop  What Would the World Be Like if We Lived as God Wants Us to Live?  St. Paul's United Church, Grande Prairie, AB Oct 27-28, 2000 (8 hours).

- "Congregational Responses to Farm Crisis" SK Synod Rainbow Days, Estevan, SK, Oct.14, 2000 (3hours)

- "A Lutheran's Response to Pluralism"(1 hour), "Ministering to Communities in Farm Crisis" (2 hours)-plenary speaker at the ELCIC Sask Synod Professional Church Workers' Study Conference, Moosejaw, SK, Sept 26-28, 2000.

- "Worship and the Farm Crisis: Hope and Lament in Rural Congregations"- ELCIC National Worship Conference, Camrose AB, Aug 22, 2000 (3 hours).

- "Theological Reflections on Scapegoating in the Farm Economy." Mar 4, 2000, Regina Conference of the ELCIC Sask Synod, Strasbourg, SK (1 hour).

- "Hope for Rural Communities"- A series of seven lectures and workshops (1-3 hours each) given to rural communities in southern Manitoba, and to the annual convention of the Mennonite Brethren in Winnipeg, Feb 24-27, 2000 under the aegis of the Manitoba Mennonite Central Committee.

- "The Churches' Response to the Farm Crisis"-Consultation with the heads of Canadian Churches on the farm crisis-Canadian Council of Churches' annual gathering in Toronto, Jan 31, 2000 (5 hours).

I. Public Interviews and Articles by Others About My Work 2000÷

-   CBC Radio 1Saskatchewan Interview on Morning Edition, Oct 20, 2004.

-   CBC Radio 1Saskatchewan Interview on Noon Edition, Oct 19, 2004.

-   CBC Radio 1 Alberta principal guest on WildRose Country, Oct 13, 2004.

-CBC TV interview on religion and politics, aired Mar 31, 2003, 6:30 p.m.

- TV Interviews: CBC Evening News Feature-Mar 31, 2003; CBC Morning News (National)-Aug 26, 2002 CBC CountryCanada's Countryline - Oct 17, 2001; Global's One Hundred Huntley Street-April 24, 2001

-   Radio Interviews: CBC This Morning-Sept 16, 2002; The World at Six-Sept 19, 2002; CBC SK The Noon Edition-Mar 14, 2001 and Sept 19, 2001.

-   Interview and article by Ron Friesen "To Build Alliances Start from Within, Rural Conference Told," Manitoba Cooperator, Vol 59 (14), Nov 1, 2001, p.8

-   article in Faith Today, Jan/Feb 2001- "Churches Worried About Farmers, " by Linda Wegner.

-   article in Christian Week, Apr. 17, 2001, "Evangelicals Slow to Respond to Farm Crisis," by Kelly Henschel,  

-   article in Esprit, Fall, 2001, "The Church in the Farm Crisis" by Linda Wegner.

- other articles (not tracked): Mar 2001 -Yorkton News; Oct 2000-Grande Prairie Herald Tribune; spring 2001- Edmonton Journal. 

J. Post-doctoral Research Projects

-Sabbatical Research, 2003-2004: Training Seminarians to Minister in Rural Contexts and Crises: Research in Effective Teaching Strategies.  Visited 35 institutions (secular and religious) and their field projects in several dozen locations across Canada, the U.S., Great Britain and India that have a reputation for effective training of rural leaders.   Interviewed 380 people, 108 of these individually, 101 in 31 small groups (av 3 members) and 171 in 8 large groups (av 21 members).  In each place theological/pastoral perspectives and training strategies for rural leadership were gathered, looking particularly at methods for training seminarians to be effective catalysts for rural community development. Preferred training resources from each of the locations were assembled.  A website was developed with an interactive database of these resources ( www.cameronharder.com ), an article is being written for Theological Education, and a video presentation for pastors on dealing with rural stress has been completed.         

K. Other Volunteer Positions Held (1985-1997):

-   board member of the Camrose Women's Shelter (2 years)

-   volunteer in the Alberta Asthma and Allergy Association (2 years)

-    chaplain to Camrose city council (4 years)

-    teacher of Christian education as an option in the public school system (3 years).