Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Christina J. Davis Releases New Book
This month we lift up Dr. Christina J. Davis, Assistant Professor of Pastoral Theology and Marriage and Family Therapy, as she celebrates the upcoming release of her book, The Formative Power of Your Congregation: Faith & Human Development. This groundbreaking work was co-authored with Rev. Dr. Tim Shapiro, President of the Indianapolis Center for Congregations. It will be available in October 2024 and is already available for pre-order on platforms like Amazon and Cokesbury.
Dr. Davis’s journey to co-authoring this book with Tim Shapiro began in 2017 during a workshop collaboration between CTS and the Center for Congregations. The workshop explored various congregations’ remarkable practices and expressions of pastoral imagination. As Dr. Davis recalls, “We sat at the same table and were sharing our interests in psychology and the ways developmental psychology has something to say about what’s happening in these congregations.” This initial conversation preceded the larger project, which eventually led to the creation of a grant with the Lilly Endowment of Indianapolis. The grant enabled a series of workshops with churches focused on how understandings of human development could serve to grow churches, not in terms of enrollment or larger buildings, but in developing human beings who are flourishing, resilient, and well.
Over the course of three to four years, Drs. Davis and Shapiro worked with 45 churches, learning valuable lessons that they incorporated into their book. “The churches really taught us more along the way,” Dr. Davis shared. “They offered wisdom that we wanted to share.” Their collaborative work emphasized the importance of focusing on human development within congregations, shifting away from the narrative of decline in mainline churches to a narrative of fostering individual and communal growth.
The Formative Power of Your Congregation: Faith & Human Development delves into how congregations, whether consciously or not, serve as sites of human formation. The book employs concepts from attachment theory, systems theory, moral development, and cognitive development, drawing from seminal theorists like Carol Gilligan and Jean Piaget. Dr. Davis explains that congregations shape how individuals understand their relationships with God and with one another. This shaping happens over a lifespan, with congregations acting as a crucible for personal and communal development. The book is practical and hands-on, presenting a model that other congregations can use to undertake their own intentional projects aimed at developing their people.
One of the core ideas of the book is that congregations seek outcomes that require people to have certain developmental skills. Whether it’s fostering a non-anxious presence, promoting honest conversations on social justice, or engaging with environmental concerns, the book provides a framework for congregations to help their members develop the capacity to do so. Backed by both a theology of congregations (ecclesiology) and developmental psychology perspectives, The Formative Power of Your Congregation is a valuable resource for anyone involved in congregational life, from seminary students and lay leaders, to clergy and committees.
In addition to her work on this book, Dr. Davis has made significant contributions to the CTS community this year. Currently serving as the Acting Director of the Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy (MAMFT) degree program in its landmark 30th year of COAMFTE accreditation, she has overseen a remarkable year of growth and achievement. “One of the most exciting things about my experience as Acting Director was the Spring 2024 semester, during which we had 12 students admitted to the program and we had a graduating class of 13,” she noted. Dr. Davis says faculty and staff focused on creating a warm welcome and a supportive environment for the new cohort while connecting them to students approaching Commencement, ensuring that both incoming and graduating students felt a sense of accomplishment and dignity while learning with and from one another.
Beyond her professional achievements, Dr. Davis is deeply involved in her community. She actively participates in the PTA board and Jack and Jill of America, Inc., both of which focus on community building and the wellbeing of children. These roles reflect her appreciation for systems and the ways we influence them, whether in family therapy, communities, or neighborhoods.
Dr. Davis’s dedication to her work and her community is evident in everything she does. As she looks forward to the release of her book, she remains committed to supporting students at CTS. “I think about the adult learners who, because of different roles and commitments, would find it impossible to pursue their call, dream, and passion for marriage and family therapy work without a hybrid learning format which is why the MFT program is launching its new hybrid formatted program this fall. It’s the best of both worlds,” she said, highlighting the value of accessible education through synchronous online and in person learning options.
CTS is grateful to Dr. Davis and her contributions to both the seminary and the broader field of pastoral care and counseling. For those interested in pre-ordering The Formative Power of Your Congregation: Faith & Human Development, it is currently available on Amazon and Cokesbury. We look forward to seeing how Dr. Davis’s work will further amplify her work, equipping congregations and clinicians to foster flourishing, resilient communities.
Introducing the Book and the Author
Dr. Christina J. Davis’s research and teaching interests at CTS focus on spiritually integrated counseling, family therapy, and relational psychoanalytic theories for women of color. Her extensive experience in pastoral care and counseling, combined with her academic achievements, make her a distinguished faculty member at CTS. She holds a Th.D. in Pastoral Care and Counseling from the Emory University Candler School of Theology, where she was awarded the W.E.B. DuBois Noomo Award for Academic Excellence.
Dr. Davis is also an ordained minister in the Progressive National Baptist Church and a licensed marriage and family therapist in multiple states. Her dedication to both her professional and personal communities exemplify the values of CTS and inspires those around her. We eagerly anticipate the impact her book will have on congregations and the broader field of pastoral care.
