Today we’d like to introduce you to Dan Doriani.
Hi Dan, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
In 2018, I published a book titled “Work: Its Purpose, Dignity, and Transformation,” in response to the growing need I saw for religious professionals to know that their work matters to God.
I’ve personally worked a number of different jobs, in restaurants, warehouses, and on tennis courts. For most of my professional life, I’ve been in higher education. I’ve been a professor of theology since 1986, most recently (and currently) at Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, where I also served in vice president roles from 2013 to 2021. I’ve also held various interim and senior pastor positions in St. Louis, Birmingham, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut. In all that time, I’ve run into thousands of working professionals, in every kind of job, who do amazing work. I’ve also met plenty who, for various reasons, struggle to feel like their work is making a difference.
There’s a school of thought that says young adults should lower their aspirations and build skills quietly, tending their own gardens, so to speak. But humans are the crown of God’s creation, and creation thrives when we work and rule wisely. We should think, “Whatever I do, I preside over a corner of God’s world for him. However small that corner is, I hope to make it a better place.”
The year after I published that first book, I started an organization called The Center for Faith and Work, St. Louis. My aim in doing so was to reach Christian leaders in strategic places of influence, to equip them to lead wisely, from a place of love for God and others.
While I still teach at the seminary, I also continue this faith and work project. I travel to different speaking engagements, and I run cohorts (small groups) for working professionals. Recently, I’ve worked on a shorter curriculum for college Juniors and Seniors who are preparing to head out into the working world. I also host a podcast called “Working with Dan Doriani” where I interview professionals and teachers about the difference they’re making in their corner of the world.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
We’re a small organization, and getting off the ground during COVID was a challenge and a blessing. People were all over the place with their work, and for many of us, thinking about changing our corner of the world took a backseat to thinking about making our home office space the most conducive to work in the long term. But at the same time, people were asking big questions about their work. It was a huge shake-up. A lot of us started thinking about how we could make our work as meaningful as it could possibly be. We also became more comfortable with online meeting spaces, and I’ve been able to teach and run work groups in places I never could’ve reached otherwise. I’ve run groups in Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America so far.
As for the organization, sometimes it’s hard to keep up with demand! There are so many people I want to interview, and I want to involve as many professionals in these cohorts as are willing. We spend so much of our lives at work that there are innumerable questions to address and situations to ponder. But I hope that our work can spread through working professionals who are passionate about God’s glory, love their neighbors, and want to strategically make a difference in their spheres of influence.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Non-profit
Who else deserves credit in your story?
The Center for Faith and Work, St. Louis would not exist without a small and dedicated team of employees, contractors, volunteers, and churches who support us in a variety of ways. They are the ones who continually make the work we do possible. I’m immensely thankful for my board, my donors, my volunteers, and my team.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.faithandworkstl.org/
- Instagram: @faithandworkstl
- Youtube: Working with Dan Doriani – Podcast
