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Kenda Creasy Dean is an ordained United Methodist minister and the Mary D. Synnott Professor of Youth, Church and Culture at Princeton Theological Seminary, where she works closely with the Institute for Youth Ministry and the Farminary. She has directed numerous grants on youth and young adult ministry and spiritual entrepreneurship at the seminary, and currently serves as the faculty senior strategist and creative director for the Polaris Young Adult Leadership Network. In 2014, she co-founded Ministry Incubators with fellow PTS alumnus Mark DeVries, to provide education and support for imaginative ministry and spiritual entrepreneurship. She was named 2024’s Distinguished Leader in Innovation by Wesleyan Impact Partners, the first to hold this distinction.
A Buckeye by birth, Kenda hails from a long line of Ohio farmers and Kentucky coal miners, although she herself is a PK – a politician’s kid. At fifteen, she attended a church missions camp on Lake Erie that pretty much changed everything. Kenda is a graduate of Miami University (Ohio), Wesley Theological Seminary (Washington, DC), and Princeton Theological Seminary (New Jersey), and has served as a pastor and campus minister in Arlington, VA, College Park, MD, and Kingston, NJ. She and her husband Kevin have two grown children and an unreasonable love for high school musicals.
Practical theology. Education and formation. Next generation faith and ministry. Ecclesial imagination. Spiritual entrepreneurship.
Covenants on Campus, with Kim Hauenstein-Mallet (Discipleship Resources, 1990).
The Godbearing Life: The Art of Soul-Tending for Youth Ministry (25th anniversary revised edition, Upper Room, 2023), with Ron Foster and Megan DeWald.
Innovating for Love: Joining God’s Expedition through Christian Social Innovation (Market Square Publishing, 2022).
Delighted: What Teenagers Are Teaching the Church about Joy, with Wesley Ellis, Justin Forbes, and Abigail Rusert (Eerdmans, 2020).
Consensus and Conflict: Practical Theology for Congregations in the Thinking of Richard R. Osmer, with Blair Bertrand, Amanda Hontz Drury, and Andrew Root (Wipf and Stock, 2019).
How Youth Ministry Can Change Theological Education—If We Let It, with Christy Lang Hearlson (Eerdmans, 2016).
The Theological Turn in Youth Ministry, with Andrew Root (InterVarsity, 2011).
Almost Christian: What the Faith of Our Teenagers Is Telling the American Church (Oxford, 2010).
OMG: A Youth Ministry Handbook, editor/author (Abingdon, 2010).
Youth, Religion and Globalization, New Research in Practical Theology, eds. Richard R. Osmer and Kenda Creasy Dean (LIT Verlag GmbH Co., 2007).
Practicing Passion: Youth and the Quest for a Passionate Church (Eerdmans, 2004).
Starting Right: Thinking Theologically About Youth Ministry, eds. Kenda Creasy Dean, Chap Clark, and Dave Rahn (Zondervan/Youth Specialties Academic, 2001).
The Godbearing Life: The Art of Soul-Tending for Youth Ministry, with Ron Foster (Upper Room, 1998; 2d edition, 2010).
Theological Foundations for Innovation (PTS Institute for Youth Ministry/Log College Project, 2019)
Innovation and Youth Ministry, Carey Theological College, Auckland, New Zealand (May 2018)
The Godbearing Life: The Art of Soul Tending for Youth Ministry (PTS Institute for Youth Ministry, 2019)
Lilly Endowment Youth Ministry Think Tank (2008–2012)…
The Log College Project (2018–2021)…
Theology of Joy and the Good Life (2014–2018)…
The Confirmation Project (2014–present)…
Youth Ministry Innovation Project (2015–2017)…
Churches Engaging Young People Project (2013–2017)…
Christians’ Callings in the World Project (2009–2013)…
“Holding on to Our Kisses: The Hormonal Theology of Adolescence” and “The Sacrament of One Another: Recovering a Theology of Desire through Youth Ministry for the Twenty-First Century Church.” Princeton Lectures on Youth, Church and Culture (St. Simon’s Island, GA), January 1999.
“The Good News of Shipwreck: 30 Years of Youth Ministry,” Princeton Lectures on Youth, Church and Culture, Princeton Theological Seminary (May 2025).
“Innovating for Love,” Hoxie Thompson Lecture, Austin Theological Seminary (Austin, TX), December 2022.
“Imagine If…How Young People Will Change the Post-Pandemic Church,” Albright-Deering Lectures, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, February 2021.
“Reimagining Youth Ministry: Failing Well,” Princeton Forum on Youth Ministry (Princeton Theological Seminary), April 2020.
“Not B.S.,” Sikes-McLugin Lecture, McMurry University (Abilene, TX), March 2019.
“Pedagogy for the Good Life: Loving Your Students,” Yale University, Center for Faith and Culture “Life Worth Living” conference (New Haven, CT), August 2018.
“Reframing Transcendence: Restoring Joy through Celebration,” Yale Divinity School Joy and Adolescent Flourishing Lectures (with Abigail Visco Rusert), New Haven, CT (March 2017).
“Reimagining Belonging: Restoring Joy through High Risk Hospitality,” Yale Divinity School Joy and Adolescent Flourishing Lectures (with Justin Forbes), New Haven, CT (September 2017).
“Rethinking Friendship,” Yale Divinity School Joy and Adolescent Flourishing Lectures (with Wes Ellis), New Haven, CT (October 2016).
“Ah or Aha? Reframing the Christian Story with Young People,” Trinity Days Lectures, Trinity Lutheran Theological Seminary (Columbus, OH), September 2016.
“Love Made Me an Inventor,” Princeton Lectures on Youth, Church and Culture, Princeton Theological Seminary (April 2016).
“Equipping Faithful Leaders: The Future of Theological Education,” Murdock Foundation/Duke Divinity School/A Foundation for Theological Education/Seattle Pacific University (Seattle, WA), October 2015.
“Almost Christian: The Nones and the Dones,” lecture, Tennessee Wesleyan College (Athens, TN), November 2014.
“Preparing Young People for Church Leadership in an Almost Christian World,” Heck Lectures, United Theological Seminary (Dayton, OH), October 2013.
“What the Faith of Our Teenagers Means for Christian Formation,” Buechner Institute, Kings College (Bristol, TN), March 2013.
Fall Lecture, Ecumenical Studies Center, Mt. Aloysius College (Cresson, PA), October 2012.
“What the Faith of Our Teenagers Is Telling Parents,” Wilson-Addis Lecture, Truett Theological Seminary, Baylor University (Waco, TX), February 2011. https://bit.ly/3omkLrn
“Practicing Passion” and “The Spirituality of Emerging Adulthood,” May Lecture Series, Seattle Pacific University (Seattle, WA), May 2010.
“Hoping Mechanisms: Prayers for an Anxious Church” and “Ascension Deficit Disorder,” Princeton Lectures on Youth, Church and Culture, Princeton Theological Seminary, October 2010 and April 2011.
“Faith and Hope in the Age of Obama,” Aus Lectures, Luther Theological Seminary (St. Paul, MN), March 2010. https://bit.ly/3zjHpqE
“Rediscovering Sacrifice: Why Generation OMG Is the Theological Stimulus Package We Need,” Hickman Lectures, Duke Divinity School Convocation/Pastors’ School (Durham, NC), October 2009.
“Going Viral for Jesus: How Youth Ministry Helps the Church Reclaim a Missional Mindset,” Alumni Lectures, Gordon College, Gordon, Massachusetts (November 2007).
Warren Lectures, Dubuque Theological Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa (November 2007).
“Missional Youth Ministry,” Jones Lectures on Christian Education, Austin Presbyterian Seminary (Austin, TX), February 2007.
“A Case for Doubt,” Freitas Lectures, Asbury Theological Seminary (Wilmore, KY), March 2006.
“Somebody Save Me: Passion in an MTD World,” Discipleship Lectures, Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary (Elkhart, IN), March 2006.
“Youth and the Quest for a Passionate Church.” Princeton Lectures on Youth, Church and Culture, Princeton Forum on Youth Ministry, Princeton Theological Seminary (Princeton, NJ), April 2004.
“Somebody Save Me: Addressing God-Haunted Youth in a Soul-Numbing Culture.” Lecture series, Maryville College (Maryville, TN), February 2004.
“Holding on to Our Kisses: The Hormonal Theology of Adolescence ” and “The Sacrament of One Another: Recovering a Theology of Desire through Youth Ministry for the Twenty-First Century Church.” Princeton Lectures on Youth, Church and Culture (St. Simon’s Island, GA), January 1999.
Board of Governors, Wesley Theological Seminary (2014–present).
Advisory Board, Center for L.I.F.E., Miami University (2024–present).
Board of Reference, “Being With” Global Initiative, London (2024–present).
Advisory Board, “Mapping Spiritual Innovation” Project (2024–present).
Advisory Board, “InnoFaith,” nonprofit connecting faith and entrepreneurship education (2024–present).
Project Leadership Team, 10×10 Youth Ministry Initiative, Fuller Theological Seminary (2021–present).
