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Welcome!
Gail J. Stearns is The Irvin C. and Edy Chapman Dean of the Wallace All Faiths Chapel, and Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Chapman University.
She is a writer, professional interfaith organizer, consultant, and teacher. She is the author of Writing Pauline: Wisdom From a Long Life (Hamilton Books, 2005) and Open Your Eyes: Toward Living More Deeply in the Present (Wipf & Stock, 2011). An ordained minister of the Presbyterian Church (USA), Gail also holds an interdisciplinary Ph.D. from Washington State University, with emphasis in gender theory. She is an Associate Professor of Religious Studies, and has previously taught university courses on world religions, ethics, spirituality and gender.
Dr. Stearns works with students, faculty and staff at Chapman University. Through Chapman’s beautiful Wallace All Faiths Chapel, she brings together persons and organizations from many faiths throughout Orange County. She fosters interfaith celebrations and gatherings, as well as academic conversations in the areas of faith and religion. These include such topics as the scientific and religious study of Consciousness, and conversations in Religion and Economics.
Gail is available for preaching, speaking, and retreats on interfaith cooperation, or on spirituality and mindful awareness. Her work in the latter stems from the study of contemplative religions, as well as mindful practices developed by medical and healing professionals.
Comments on Gail’s work:
”What a read! Gail Stearns calls this ‘a practical book for progressive people of faith.’ It is that, and it is also a manificent theological statement for our times. In Open Your Eyes, Stearns pares down some essentials of Christian life: living in the present, living with suffering, living in compassionate community. Her writing is clear, her faith strong, her mind sharp, and her witness to a very human and loving Jesus is as compelling as any I’ve come across. Best of all, she pays serious respect to other faith traditions. This is a marvelous testimony to what a compassionate, soulful, liberating Christianity can be.” Carter Heyward, Professor Emerita of Theology, Episcopal Divinity School (Open Your Eyes, Wipf & Stock, 2011, back cover)
