McCormick announces the addition of Rev. Dr. Laurel Koepf, PhD as its Director of DMin Programs

04-03-2023

McCormick Theological Seminary is excited to announce the hire of Rev. Dr. Laurel Koepf as our new Director of DMin Programs. The addition of Rev. Dr. Koepf’s denominational expertise in religious education and congregational development will support our DMin students’ innovation within their ministry context.

A Hebrew Bible scholar who is passionate about education, Rev. Dr. Koepf is the author of Give Me Children or I Shall Die: Children and Communal Survival in Biblical Literature (Fortress Press, 2013) and several other essays and journal articles on child-centered biblical interpretation.

She joins us from Eden Theological Seminary where she previously served as Associate Professor of Hebrew Bible and Religious Education as well as their DMin Director in 2013-2018 and 2022.

On bringing her breadth of skills and experiences to McCormick, Rev. Dr. Koepf shares, “In my teaching, I have brought the fruits of my years in professional ministry and experiential forms of online teaching. I look forward to applying my experience and creativity to the growth and development of the DMin programs at McCormick Theological Seminary.”

Rev. Dr. Koepf earned her PhD from Union Theological Seminary and is ordained in the United Church of Christ. A lifelong member of the denomination, Rev. Dr. Koepf started teaching Sunday School at an early age in her home church in Cleveland, Ohio. Over the years, Rev. Dr. Koepf served in various capacities in local congregations including  Acting Minister of Religious Exploration and in Youth and Children’s ministries.

We are thrilled that Rev. Dr. Koepf will begin her service with McCormick in early May.

Acknowledging Interim Director Dr. Ozzie Smith, the search committee, and faculty members in their work to conclude a successful search, Dean of the Faculty, Dr. Steed Vernyl Davidson pointed to Rev. Dr. Koepf’s creative teaching, “In Laurel Koepf we have an imaginative mind that constantly strives to make knowledge accessible to children who will help us to uncomplicate the processes for the DMin degree for our students. She will help students unlock their curiosity to solve the problems in their ministry context.

Rev. Dr. Laurel Koepf