Rev. Dr. David Hahn (he/his) has been serving the Northwest Washington Synod since 2015. He brings a unique intersection of practical parish ministry experience (MDiv 1997) alongside deep theological reflection, primarily curated through his PhD work as a missiologist (Luther Seminary, 2014). He has served as an adjunct professor at Luther Seminary, Wartburg Seminary, Seattle University, and Rochester University teaching MDiv/DMin courses in missional church, leadership, organizational change and complexity.
David brings imagination, curiosity, playfulness and thoughtfulness to his position as the synod’s Director of Formation and Learning. His central focus can be said to be living at the intersection between the Holy Spirit’s leadership and listening practices.
He is most excited about developing the LiVE Project alongside a faithful team of synod leaders. Living into Vocational Engagement, LiVE, is the synod’s newest initiative focused on partnering with lay leaders to deepen their own exploration and discovery of God’s passion for their lives and communities. For more information see our LiVE page.
David deeply appreciates the interdisciplinary nature of his work and how it continues to inform congregational life and growth to share in God’s mission already moving among us in our world. Such areas of continued study and interest include the intersectionality of race and gender studies, whiteness and the influence/impact of patriarchal structures operative in the church’s life and mission, as well as organizational change and complexity.
David is constantly on the lookout for new partners to become co-collaborators. Most recently, he is partnering with Dave Snowden, a management consultant and researcher from Wales in the field of knowledge management and the application of complexity science. This new partnership involves the use and implementation of mass sensemaking tools through distributive ethnographic stories to capture the meaning groups collectively make in their daily existence. Numinous US, as it is called, is a joining of the spiritual exploration with complexity applications and will offer significant innovative possibilities toward understanding more deeply the contours of our communities of faith, and the Spirit’s movement among us.
David loves conversation and is open to chatting. Please feel free to drop him a line, or to invite him to share with your congregational leadership team, council or adult forum. He’d be more than happy to join you.
