Laura Gilbertson

Job Title

Associate Professor
Christian Ministries (B.A.), College of Adult and Professional Studies

Highlight

American Evangelicalism, culture, systematic theology, sociology of religion, race, gender, and topics connected to justice and reconciliation.

Started at Bethel

2005

Education

University of Minnesota - B.A., 2000
Bethel Seminary - M.Div., 2005
University of Minnesota - M.A. in Sociology, 2021
University of Minnesota - PhD in Sociology, anticipated 2025

Biography

Laura Gilbertson has taught at Bethel University since 2005 and is Program Director and Associate Professor of Christian Ministries. She is completing her doctorate in sociology at the University of Minnesota so also teaches sociology courses in CAS and CAPS. Her research has examined the cultural dimensions of American evangelicalism, including church responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. She previously served as Pastor of Care Ministries at Westwood Community Church, and continues to serve in a non-staff position through teaching and preaching. At the beginning of her career, she served as Assistant Director of Spiritual Formation at Bethel University, where she oversaw small group discipleship. While in seminary, she received training for hospital chaplaincy. She is passionate about equipping women and men to use their gifts in diverse ministry settings.

Courses Taught

Current courses

SOC101: Introduction to Sociology
CORE300: Community, Self, and Formation
CHMN300: Foundations of Christian Ministry
THEO441: Christian Theology
CORE330: Examining Crucial Questions
ANT200U: Introduction to Anthropology

Previously taught

RES201: Inroduction to Reconciliation Studies
SOWK200: Sociology for Social Workers
BIB308J: Biblical Theology of Reconciliation
BIBL341: The Gospel in Cross Cultural Perspective
THE201: Christian Theology
THEO415: Understanding Worldviews

Awards

2019 Faculty Excellence Award (CAPS/SEM/GS)

Certificates and Licenses

Licensed Pastor at Westwood Community Church, Excelsior, MN

Areas of expertise

American evangelicalism, culture, sociology of race, liberation theologies