Education
Bachelor of Music, University of Dubuque
M.Div., McCormick Theological Seminary
M.C.E., Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
Ph.D., University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
cynthia.holderrich@westernsem.edu
Courses
Feminism in the Church - Pastoral and Theological Perspectives
Job and the Life of Faith online course - Fall 2005
Journey Groups Faculty Mentor
Doctor of Ministry Seminar, Ecclesiology
Other Roles:
Faculty Mentor, Journey Groups Program
Doctor of Ministry Year Two Seminar Co-Facilitator
Journey Representative, Ecumenical Small-Membership
Congregation Series, 2005-2006
The role of the seminary in the lives of congregations and church professionals is primary in our tradition, because of our emphasis on educated clergy. Taking the rich resources the seminary holds of faculty, scholarship, teaching and learning and offering them to congregations, lay leaders, church professionals and all who seek a deeper walk of faith is genuinely fulfilling. As we engage in this work, we find that the work touches more and greater circles and networks of people, engaged in a wide variety of faith journeys. These people include many who might never find themselves in seminary degree courses; but because of the wealth available within the people, the resources of library and technology, and the history and legacy of those who have gone before in the Western community, an abundance of riches is present to be made available to the wider community who come seeking learning and truth.
Background
After serving 14 years in parish ministry and six in mission service in Madagascar, Cynthia Holder Rich joined the Western faculty in 2003. She taught previously at the Lutheran Graduate School of the Malagasy Lutheran Church and the Amboniavaratra Pastoral College of the Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar, both of which are located in Fianarantsoa, Madagascar.
Cynthia’s experience in congregational life and ministry and her global perspective shine through much of her work as faculty in Journey, Western’s Center for the Church’s Learning. Her particular passions include women in ministry, multicultural ministry and working to heal divisions in the worldwide Body of Christ. Her work as Director of the Certificate in Urban Pastoral Ministry program grew from collaboration with others on the faculty who share these concerns.
Dr. Holder Rich is researching the impact of learning disabilities in the lives of youth and young adults. She has also received grant assistance to continue her research on Christian ministry in Madagascar, focusing on women’s development efforts and the witness of indigenous charismatic movements on the island. She co-authored Learning Disabilities and the Church, and partners with the Kerygma Program in designing online, interactive Bible study curricula.