Hello. My name is Karen Massey, and I am the Associate Professor of Chistian Education and Faith Development. I am a native of Atlanta, Georgia. My entire family lives here, and I have discovered as I have gotten older that it is nice to be near family, especially my nieces and nephew. I am the oldest of four children. I have a brother, Keith, who is married and has two girls, Kelli and Kristen. My next sibling is a sister, Amy who is married and has a son, Patrick. The youngest of my siblings is my sister Allyson, who was recently married to Jeff. I was privileged to perform their wedding. My life stays very busy with school responsibilities, but I manage to find some time to travel. In recent days I have been to Hawaii, England, Scotland, and Boston. I also enjoy going to movies, the theater, the symphony, and concerHts. I love hang gliding and white water rafting. I have bungee jumped off a ten story platform, and hope to try sky diving one day. The loves of my life are my two Shih tzu dogs, Alex and Bailey.

Prior to coming to McAfee School of Theology, I served as the Associate Pastor of Northside Drive Baptist Church in Atlanta. My duties included Education, Administration, Pastoral Care, and sometimes Youth Ministry. While teaching has always been my "first love," my time in local church ministry was a wonderful gift. I was able to live out my understanding of Christian Education, which is to be involved with persons at every stage of their lives. This includes participating in baby dedications, baptisms, graduations, weddings, births, and funerals. Christian Education is being intentional about nurturing faith in the lives of persons, throughout all the twists and turns, ups and downs, joys and sorrows of life. And I cannot imagine teaching Christian Education in a seminary context without first having worked in a local church.


Professional Information

Education
College:
The University of Georgia
BSEd in Mathematics and Computer Science, 1983

Seminary:
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
     MA in Christian Education, 1985
     PhD in Christan Education, 1991
          Major Areas: Theology and Philosophy
          Dissertation: Ritual Improvisation: A Challenge to Christian Education from the Nineteenth-Century African-American Slave Community

University Studies:
Harvard University, 1988
     "Jesus Through the Centuries" with Harvey Cox
Boston College, 1988
     "Shared Christian Praxis" with Tom Groome;
     "Educating in Faith: Maps and Visions" with Mary Boys

Teaching Experience:
Contract Professor of Christan Education and Youth Ministry
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1986

Garrett Teaching Fellow, Educational Administation and Youth Ministry
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1985-1987

Garrett Teaching Fellow, History and Philosophy of Education
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1987-1990

Visiting Professor of Christian Education
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1992
Course Title: "Theological Approaches to Christian Education"

Adjunct Professor of Christian Education
The McAfee School of Theology of Mercer University, 1998
Course Title: "Faith Development"

Professional Organizations:
Association of Professors and Researchers in Religious Education
Religious Education Association
Eastern Baptiat Religious Education Association
The Christian Educators' Network, President, 1992-1993
Smyth and Helwys Publishers, Editorial Advisory Group
Baptist Women in Ministry, Denominational Relations Committee and Recording Secretary
North American Baptist Professors of Religion
American Academy of Religion
Society of Biblical Literature

Awards and Achievements:
Who's Who Among American Coleges and Universities, 1986 and 1987
Outstanding Young Women in America, 1986 and 1987

Church Experience:
Minister to Youth
First Baptist Church, Quitman, GA, 1979

Assistant Music Director and Pianist
Appalachee Baptist Church, Madison, GA, 1979-1980

Minister of Music
Attica Baptist Church, Athens, GA, 1980-1981

Minister to Youth and College Students
Beech Haven Baptist Church, Athens, GA, 1981-1983

Youth Assistant
Crescent Hill Baptist Church, Louisville, KY, 1983-1984

Director of Christian Education
St. Francis-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church, Louisville, KY, 1989-1990

Associate Pastor/Minister of Education and Youth
Northside Drive Baptist Church, Atlanta, GA, 1990-1998

Denominational Experience:
Intern: Woman's Missionary Union, 1984

Conference Leader: Woman's Missionary Union - Georgia, 1977 and 1978
     Alabama, 1984
     New Mexico, 1984
     North Carolina, 1984
     Texas, 1984
     Washington, D.C., 1984

Eastern Baptist Religious Education Association, 1991
Christian Educators Network, 1991
Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, 1992 and 1993
Convocation on Christian Education, 1994
Georgia Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, 1998, 2000
Alliance of Baptists, Convocation, 1999
Baptist Women in Ministry Preaching Conference, 2000
Worship Resources Network National Conference, 2001

Publications
Articles for Accent Magazine, a magazine for Southern Baptist teenagers, 1978 & 1985
Article for Paradigm Magazine, a magazine for doctoral students in the field of religion, 1989
Vacation Bible School Curriculum Series, Smyth and Helwys Publishers, 1994
Adult Formations Sunday School Literature, Smyth and Helwys Publishers, 1998
Adult Formations Sunday School Literature, Smyth and Helwys Publishers, 1999
Review and Expositor, "The Contributions and Developments in Christian Education over the Last Century", forthcoming