Caldwell, Elizabeth

Elizabeth Caldwell joined the faculty of McCormick Theological Seminary in 1984. In 1991, she was ordained to the ministry of Word and Sacrament by Chicago Presbytery with a call to teaching at McCormick. She was named Professor of Educational Ministry in 1991 and the Harold Blake Walker Professor of Pastoral Theology in 1996.  She currently serves as the Associate Dean for Advising and Formation for the Master’s Level degree program.

Prior to her appointment at McCormick, Lib served as an educational consultant with three Presbyterian churches in northwest Alabama, 1973-1984. From 1970-1983, she was the Director of Christian Education at Shady Grove Presbyterian Church in Memphis. In her work as educator, Lib worked as a member of the governing cabinet of the Association of Presbyterian Church Educators (APCE), serving as president from 1982-84. She is a member of the Association of Professors and Researchers in Religious Education and the Association of Presbyterian Church Educators. In 2004, APCE selected Lib Caldwell as its Educator of the Year. In 2008, she was elected by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to serve as a member of the Presbyterian Publishing Board.

Education
B.A. Rhodes College
M.Ed. Vanderbilt University
Ph.D. Northwestern University
D.D. Rhodes College

Research
Lib's research interests include: faith and family in a world of diversity; an ecology of educational formation for faith and practice; and teaching and learning in multifaith, multicultural settings.

Published Work
Children’s Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study, with Cathy Hoop, Congregational Ministries Publishing, 2008 and 2009.
Making a Home for Faith: Nurturing the Spiritual Life of Your Children, United Church Press, 2007.
The Shelter, Nurture and Spiritual Fellowship of God’s Children, Geneva, 2006.
Leaving Home with Faith: Nurturing the Spiritual Life of our Youth, United Church Press, 2003.
Come Unto Me, Rethinking the Sacraments for Children, United Church Press, 1996.
With Earle Hilgert, Horizons Bible Study for Presbyterian Women, Prayers of the Bible for a Faithful Journey (1993-94).
Hulda Niebuhr: A Mysterious Mantle, Pilgrim Press, 1992.

“Have You Asked a Good Question Today?” in From Midterms to Ministry: Practical Theologians on Pastoral Beginnings,  Allan Cole, ed.  Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2008.
"Religious Instruction: Homemaking," in Mapping Christian Education, Approaches to Congregational Learning, Abingdon, 1997
"Hulda Niebuhr: Teacher as Artist" and "Nelle Morton: A Radical Journey" in Faith Of Our Foremothers, Women Changing Religious Education, Westminster/John Knox Press, 1997.

Courses
MEd 313: The Educational Ministry of the Church
MEd 413   Teaching Ministry of the Church
MEd 438: Curriculum and Resources in Educational Ministry
MEd 440: Congregational Models of Ministry w/Youth/Young Adults in the Church
MEd 539: Contemporary Issues in Religious Education
MEd/B 417: Reading the Bible with Children
MEd 414: Nurturing the Life of Children and Families