MEET THE BOARD

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MEET THE BOARD •

  • Non-Denominational

    Most likely to have an idea (or 10).

    Dr Kathleen Busch will be your teacher for this class. Kathleen is a pastor, spiritual director, artist, and the founder of VISTA- Vancouver Island School of Theology and the Arts. Kathleen holds a DMIN from George Fox University, a Master's in Theology from Regent College and a BA in Psychology from Trinity Western. She is also just beginning a Master's in Psychotherapy and Spirituality with a concentration in Art Therapy through St Stephen's College at the University of Alberta.

  • Non-Denominational

    Most likely to make a handout (or 10).

    Vanessa Caruso is a spiritual director and supervisor  based in Vancouver Island, Canada. She received a Master's degree in Spiritual Formation and Leadership, spiritual direction training through CenterQuest, and an Advanced Certificate in Supervision from Fordham University. Vanessa provides individual spiritual direction and facilitates group supervision for clients in North America, Australia, the UK, Philippines, and Singapore. She is also the assistant to the director of CenterQuest, training spiritual directors throughout Asia, and the co-director of Together in the Mystery, a supervision training program. She co-hosts the podcast Three Association for spiritual directors and supervisors, leads creative, contemplative retreats for children, youth, and adults, and teaches spiritual direction and supervision for a variety of programs. 

    She loves color, oceans, thrift stores, cherry pie, checking out books from the library and having stacks of them all around the house, weekly phone calls with Sarah, monthly group gatherings with friends, and road trips to her hometown of Santa Barbara, California with her family. 

  • Churches of Christ/Christian Churches

    Most likely to quote Barth or Moltmann.

    Kelly Carter (married to Robin) is a native Oregonian, completing high school and two years of university in Oregon, prior to transferring to Abilene Christian University to complete in 1980 his B.S. in Psychology, with a minor in Bible/Theology. He then completed at ACU an M.A. in Systematic Theology (it was then called Doctrinal Studies; his thesis centered on the theology of Jürgen Moltmann), moving to Southern California in 1982, where he worked in Youth Ministry and began an M.Div. at Fuller Seminary. In 1986 Kelly took a position as Senior Minister at the Shelbourne Street Church of Christ in Victoria, British Columbia, allowing him to complete his M.Div. at Regent College in Vancouver.

    After three children and fifteen wonderful years in ministry Kelly and Robin moved their family to Dallas, Texas in 2001 in order for Kelly to take up a Ph.D. at Southern Methodist University. While at SMU Kelly and Robin attended the Greenville Oaks Church of Christ in Allen, TX, where Kelly was appointed an Elder. Those with whom Kelly worked at SMU included Bruce Marshall, William Abraham, William Babcock, and Charles Wood. His Systematics emphasis was in Trinitarian Theology, out of which came his dissertation, later published as a monograph entitled The Trinity in the Stone-Campbell Movement. While in Dallas Kelly was an adjunct lecturer in Theology and Religion at SMU, Dallas Christian College, Northland College, and Richland College.

    In 2006 Kelly and Robin returned to Canada, this time to Calgary, where Kelly served as the Senior Minister for the Calgary Church of Christ. He concurrently was an adjunct/sessional lecturer at Alberta Bible College and Ambrose University.

    After seventeen years in Calgary, Kelly and Robin returned to Victoria, BC in 2023, where he currently serves (again) as the Senior Minister at the Shelbourne Street Church of Christ. He continues to teach online courses at Alberta Bible College and is a founding Board Member for Vancouver Island School of Theology and the Arts.

    Kelly’s theological interests include, Trinitarian theology, Barth studies, Jürgen Moltmann, Biblical Theology, hermeneutics, and Theological Interpretation.

    Kelly is an avid runner (for over 50 years!) loves to hike, fish, and hunt, and when his children were younger he coached baseball in Victoria, working with two teams that played for national and world championships.

  • Mennonite Anabaptist

    Most likely to be listening to the latest theology podcast (or 10)

    Marian Mann retired to Victoria with her husband Gerald after a 35 year career as a program/ project manager in Information Technology.  Marian believes in life long learning and has served in  children’s ministry leadership  for over 35 years. Since retirement Marian is active in many volunteer positions: MCC New Foundations Program for financial literacy of Newcomers and leading the Newcomer resettlement for an immigrant family at Saanich Community Church. Marian is passionate about the future of the church and  studying about the latest developments in Christian discipleship and being relevant to society.