Jason Mills, PhD

Assistant Professor of Spiritual Theology

Dean of the Seminary

 

Teaching Philosophy 

Having been shaped by Paulo Freire's pedagogy, I see teaching as a form of liberation. Good teaching releases students to think freely and differently about their world. I want my students to see themselves as educators of educators and students of students.

Background

Jason has pastored churches, educated pastors, shaped seminary education, and loves working with denominational, chaplaincy, and academic leaders, rethinking theological learning and credentialling. He has research interests in bi-vocational ministry models in the early church, co-vocational ecclesiology, and online education that focuses on virtue formation. You can find his website and blog at www.jasonmills.ca or follow him on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jasonmillsphd

Education

PhD Theological Studies - University of St. Michael's College (2021)
MA Christian Studies - McMaster Divinity College (2006)
BTh - Emmanuel Bible College (2000)

Research

Co-vocational Ecclesiology
Bi-vocational Ministry Models in the Early Church
The Future of Theological Education
Technology and Online Education
Spiritual Care and Chaplaincy (Military and Health Care)
Pastoral Formation and Virtue Development

Publications

Books:

• Mills, Jason. E. Wages in the Kingdom: Learning from Bivocational Ministry Models in the Early Church. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2027. (Forthcoming)

• Glassroom Learning: Virtual Culture and Online Pastoral Education. Eugene, OR: Pickwick, 2023.

Journal articles:

• Heringer, Rebeca, Jason Mills, Ellen Duffield, Margaret Clarke, Blayne Banting. “Weaving Threads of Ministry: Reflections on Co-Vocationality in Canada.” Pastoral Psychology, (forthcoming).
• Mills, Jason. “Is Supervised Pastoral Education (SPE) ‘Substantially Equivalent’ to a Recognized Psychotherapy Program?”  Journal of Pastoral Care and Counseling76, no. 4 (2022): 114-128.

Book reviews:

• Glanville, Mark R. "Preaching in a New Key: Crafting Expository Sermons in Post-Christian Communities.” (Downers Grove, Il: IVP Academic, 2025). Faith Today. (Nov – Dec 2025): 49, https://faithtoday.ca/Magazines/Browse-the-latest-issue/Preaching-in-a-New-Key-Crafting-Expository-Sermon.
• Anderson, Kenton C. and Gregory Henson, "Theological Education: Principles and Practices of a Competency-Based Approach.” (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Academic, 2024). Faith Today. (Jul – Aug 2024). https://www.faithtoday.ca/Magazines/Jul-Aug/Theological-Education-Principles-and-Practices-of
• Wendy Cadge and Shelly Rambo, eds. "Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care in the Twenty-First Century: An Introduction.” (Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press, 2022). Religious Studies Review. Vol 49, No. 2 (June 2023): 211-212.
• James W. Watson and Narry F. Santos, eds., "Tentmakers: Multivocational Ministry in Western Society.” (Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock, 2022). Faith Today. (May-Jun 2023). https://www.faithtoday.ca/Magazines/2023-May-Jun/Tentmakers-Multivocational-Ministry-in-Western-So 
• Aleshire, Daniel O., "Beyond Profession: The Next Future of Theological Education.” (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2021). Toronto Journal of Theology. Vol. 38, No. 1 (Spring 2022): 115-117.
• Wheeler, Barbara G., ed., "Disruption and Hope: Religious Traditions and the Future of Theological Education.” (Waco, TX: Baylor, 2019). Toronto Journal of Theology. Vol 38, No. 1 (Spring 2022): 117-118.
• Hughes, Aaron W., "From Seminary to University: An Institutional History of Religion in Canada.” (Toronto, ON: University of Toronto Press, 2020). Toronto Journal of Theology. Vol. 37, No. 2 (Fall 2021): 231-232.
• Benjamín Valentín, ed., "Looking Forward with Hope: Reflections on the Present State and Future of Theological Education.” (Eugene, OR: Cascade, 2019). Toronto Journal of Theology. Vol. 37, No. 1 (Spring 2021): 123-124.