Dan Poole Named to Faculty Position

Dan Poole, MDiv ’91, has been named assistant professor of Ministry Formation at Bethany Theological Seminary, beginning July 1, 2019.

Poole began employment at the Seminary in August 2007 as coordinator of Ministry Formation and in July 2018 was named visiting instructor of Ministry Formation. In conjunction with these roles, he served as advancement associate from 2009 to 2014 and has held the title of director of educational technology since 2014. Prior to and during his employment at Bethany, he has taught several courses on a regular basis in an adjunct faculty capacity. Poole has also been part of two grant-funded team assignments at Bethany, related to preparing students for ministry in today’s cultural and religious contexts.

Following his graduation from Bethany, Poole served as associate pastor at Elizabethtown (Pennsylvania) Church of the Brethren from 1991 to 1996, then as senior pastor at Covington Church of the Brethren (Ohio) from 1996 to 2009. He earned a DMin from Columbia Theological Seminary in 2018, with a dissertation entitled “A New Approach to Ministry Formation at Bethany Theological Seminary.” He received a BS with majors in religion and philosophy from Manchester University in 1988.

Poole will step into leadership of a ministry training program that has gained attention and commendation in the field of theological education. The Ministry Formation program is carefully structured to develop students not only academically but also with varied practical experiences and in their personal spiritual formation. An introductory discernment course, two field placements, and group discussion and reflection throughout are hallmarks. The program was also on the front line of adapting to online education and is now considered a model.

Throughout his years at Bethany, Poole has been a member of both the Association of Theological Field Educators and the Evangelical Association of Theological Field Educators. He currently serves as co-chair of the EATFE steering committee and was symposium coorganizer at the January 2019 meeting. Recently he was elected secretary to the ATFE steering committee to assist in planning the ATFE 2020 conference. In 2018 he presented the results of his doctoral research during an EATFE conference. He has continued to preach by invitation at Churches of the Brethren and has led several workshops in district and congregational settings. In 2017 his article “Pietism’s Influence on Brethren Development” was published in Brethren Life & Thought.