Lee Beach

Associate Professor of Christian Ministry, Garbutt F. Smith Chair of Ministry Formation, Director of Ministry Formation

I have been part of the faculty at the College since 2005 in various capacities, although I became a member of the permanent faculty in 2010 after completing my PhD at McMaster Divinity College. My areas of specialization include the mission of the church, the church in culture, Practical Theology, pastoral studies and Christian Spirituality.

Practical Ministry Experience:
I served in pastoral ministry with the Christian and Missionary Alliance for 22 years as a lead pastor, youth pastor, associate pastor and associate teaching pastor. I was part of the original group that helped start Ancaster Village Church in Ancaster, Ontario, and I remain actively involved in the life and ministry of this congregation.

Research Interests:
The Church in Postmodern, Post-Christian society
The Mission of the Church
Pastoral Practice in a 21st century context
Spirituality and the ministering person

Current Projects:
I am working on a book on forming congregations for mission in post-Christendom culture based on the prayer language of exile (selected Psalms, the book of Lamentations). I am also working on a book with my colleague Dr. Jim Horsthuis on ministry formation.

Lectures and Conference Papers:

Recent Presentations

  • Theological Reflection and Congregational Discernment: A Pneumatological Approach to Practical Theology. Canadian American Theological Association conference, The Presbyterian College, McGill University, Montreal, QC, June 15, 2024.
  • Non-Traumatic Evangelism: Learning from John Ames’ Ministry in Gilead. The Academy for Evangelism in Theological Education conference, St. Mary’s College, South Bend, Ind. June 13, 2024.
  • Learning the Language of Exile: Forming Congregations for Mission in Post-Christendom. Alliance World Fellowship Theological Symposium, Toulouse, France, June 28, 2023.
  • Learning the Language of Exile: Forming Congregations for Mission in Post- Christendom, Canadian American Theological Association conference, York University, Toronto, ON, May 28, 2023.
  • The Language of Exile: Forming Congregations for Life in Post-Christendom. Canadian American Theological Association conference, University of Regina, Regina SK, May 27, 2018.
  • Darkness on the Edge of Town as a Turn to the Pastoral. Darkness on the Edge of Town: A Symposium on Bruce Springsteen and his Music, Monmouth University, Long Branch, New Jersey, Apr. 14, 2018.

 

Publications:

Recent Selected Publications

Books

The Church in Exile: Living in Hope After Christendom. Downers Grove: Intervarsity, 2015.

The Whole Gospel for the Whole World: Experiencing the Four-Fold Gospel Today. (with Dr. Franklin Pyles). Eugene, OR: Pickwick, 2016.

Articles

“Research as Discipleship: Spiritual Formation as the Reason for Professional Doctoral Studies” in The Journal of Christian Ministry (2024) – https://journal.dmineducation.org/category/current-issue/

“The Language of Exile : Ministerial Formation in the Context of Post-Christendom.” in Reflective Practice Journal 44:44 (2024) – https://journals.sfu.ca/rpfs/index.php/rpfs/article/view/1733

“The 2021 Census Panel: Reflection and Response.” Post-Christendom Studies Journal vol. 8, (2023-24). 93-96.

“Flat World, Flat Leadership: The Theological and Philosophical Ideals that Form a Paradigm for Leadership in the 21st Century.” (With Andrew Rutledge) The Journal of Religious Leadership. Vol. 18,1 (2019), 5-24.

“Bruce Springsteen as Post-Christian Pastor.” BOSS: The Journal of Springsteen Studies. 3, 1 (2018), no pages.

“The Gospel of John and Reclaiming Conversation in 21st Century Evangelism.” (With Nicole A. Reid) Witness: The Journal for Evangelism in Theological Education. 31 (2017), no pages. http://journals.sfu.ca/witness/index.php/witness/article/view/20

“A Spirituality of Exile.” Journal of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care. 10:1 (2017), 33-50.

 

Book Chapters

“The Artist as Pastor: Bruce Springsteen and Darkness on the Edge of Town.” In The Arts and the Bible, edited by Stanley Porter and Wendy Porter. 335-354, Eugene, OR: Pickwick, 2024.

“It seemed Good to the Spirit: Culture, Context and the Authority of the Holy Spirit in the Mission of the C&MA.” In Advancing the Vision: The Four-Fold Gospel in Contemporary and Global Contexts. Edited by Bernie Van De Walle, et. al. 201-18. Eugene, OR. Pickwick, 2023.

“Can I Get a Witness? Proclaiming the Gospel in a Post-Everything World.” (With Nicole Reid). In Is the Gospel Good News? Edited by Stanley E. Porter and Hughson T. Ong. 245-63. Eugene, OR: Pickwick, 2019.

“From Monks to Punks: Emerging Christianity in Canada.” (With Steven Studebaker). In Millennials, The Emerging Church and Religion. Edited by G. Michael Zbaraschuk. Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock, 2019.

“The Minister as Artist: Bruce Springsteen and Ministry Formation.” In Inaugurations: Inaugural Lectures Delivered at McMaster Divinity College, edited by Stanley E. Porter. 74-90. Eugene, OR: Pickwick, 2017.

 

Accreditations

B.R.E
Canadian Bible College (Now Ambrose University, Calgary)
Regina, SK
M.Div.
Tyndale Seminary
Toronto, ON
Ph.D
McMaster Divinity College
Hamilton, ON

Current Course List

Course Title Instructors Term Year/Month Days
Practice-Led Research Methods Lee Beach Fall 2024 Mon
Ministry Formation 1, 2, & 3 Lee Beach, Jim Horsthuis Fall 2024
Mission in Contemporary Culture Lee Beach Fall 2024 Wed
Christian Mission and Culture Lee Beach Winter 2025 Tues
Ministry Formation 1, 2, & 3 Lee Beach, Jim Horsthuis Winter 2025
Foundations for Christian Ministry Lee Beach Winter 2025 Wed

Recent Publications

Title Professor Name Year
Post Christendom Studies, Volume 8 Lee Beach, Gordon L. Heath, Steven M. Studebaker 2024
Post-Christendom Studies Volume 5 Lee Beach, Gordon L. Heath, Lee Beach 2021
the whole gospel for the whole world book cover The Whole Gospel For The Whole World: Experiencing The Fourfold Gospel Today Lee Beach, Franklin Pyles 2016
the church in exile book cover The Church In Exile: Living In Hope After Christendom Lee Beach 2015