image                                                            

Dr. Elaine Bednar

Content Expert, Core Faculty Member

Graduate School of Ministry

DEPARTMENT: THEOLOGY + MINISTRY

Educational and/or Professional Credentials

Doctor of Ministry Degree. Ashland Theological Seminary.

Dissertation: Tough love—the wrath of God or the love of Jesus. A sixteen-week group for the spouse of one who is in the throes of addiction.

MA in Clinical Counseling, with Honors.  Ashland Theological Seminary.

BA with Distinction in Psychology.  The Ohio State University.

Psychology major, sociology minor.  Summa cum Laude.

Senior thesis: Peer referencing in adolescent decision making as a function of perceived parenting style.

Professional Clinical Counselor.  Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage & Family Therapist Board. Supervision Status.

Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor III. Ohio Chemical Dependency Professionals Board.

Professional Focus and/or Research Agenda

Practical theology.  Pastoral counseling.  Mentoring.  Addiction. Self-care in ministry.

Faith Statement

I believe that man and woman were the direct creation of God, made in the divine image, and that by transgression became fallen creatures, alienated from the life of God, universally sinful by nature and practice, and having within themselves no means of recovery, and that salvation is the gift of God’s grace, received through personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, in whom all those who believe have eternal life.

I believe that all are given spiritual gifts, and these gifts are not based upon biological gender or ethnicity, and that Christian character and conduct are the expressions of one’s relationship with Christ and one’s life in the community of Christ.

Published Works, Dissertation Topic, Awards, Accolades, Affiliations

Dissertation: Tough love: the wrath of God or the love of Jesus. ATLA Research in Ministry. http://www.tren.com/

Bednar, D. E., and Fisher, T. R. (2003).  Peer referencing in Adolescent decision making as a function of perceived parenting style. Adolescence, 38(152) Winter 2003. 607 – 621.

Review of Boundaries Face to Face: How to have that difficult conversation that you’ve been avoiding, by Henry Cloud and John Townsend, Ashland Theological Journal, (2005): 171.

Review of Bereavement Counseling: pastoral care for complicated grieving, by Junietta Baker McCall, Ashland Theological Journal, (2005): 171-172.

Review of Religion, the Community, and the Rehabilitation of Criminal Offenders, by Thomas P. O’Connor and Nathaniel J. Pallone, eds., Ashland Theological Journal, (2005): 172-173.

“Intercession,” The Walking Church Newsletter. L. Askew. 1-1-2017.

 

PRESENTATIONS

Mentoring the Whole Person in an Online Christian Higher Education Context. October 21, 2022. Society of Professional Christian Educators. San Diego, California.

Religious and Cultural Practices at End of Life. March 12, 2019. Mercy New Life Hospice. Lorain, Ohio.

Change the Ending. Commencement address. December 14, 2018. South University, Cleveland Campus.

 

AWARDS AND HONORS

Golden Key National Honor Society #000972885.

Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society.

Alpha Lambda Delta National Academic Honor Society.

Recipient of The Ohio State Outstanding Senior Psychology Major Award. Recipient of The Ohio State President’s Salute to Undergraduate Achievement.

Recipient of an Excellence in Scholarship Award; The Ohio State Main Campus.

Recipient of the Summa Award from University College at The Ohio State University.