Diane J. Chandler, Ph.D.

Bio

Dr. Diane Chandler serves as an associate professor of Christian Formation and Leadership in the School of Divinity. She holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership, an M.Div. in Practical Theology, and an M.S. in Education. Chandler publishes widely on themes related to Christian spirituality, women in leadership, global leadership, ethical leadership and professional burnout.

Since 1992, Chandler has served in numerous roles within the School of Divinity. Promoted to associate professor in 2010, she served as assistant professor from 2005 to 2010, as a part-time instructor from 2003 to 2004, as director of Divinity Career and Alumni Services from 1998 to 2005, and as director of Divinity Admissions from 1995 to 1998.

Having a diversity of experiences in academic, church, and parachurch settings, Chandler encourages and equips emerging and seasoned leaders in their respective callings by facilitating holistic formation, personal self-care, cross-cultural acumen, and organizational development. She travels internationally to equip leaders in various contexts and has a special interest in developing women leaders.

Chandler serves on various ministry boards and is an ordained elder at New Life Church, a multi-ethnic and multi-site church in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. She partners with a local organization dedicated to assisting international students in the Tidewater Virginia area. She resides in Chesapeake, Virginia, with her husband.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Christian Formation
African American Spirituality
Leadership Development
Ethical Leadership
Women in Leadership
Pastoral Burnout & Personal Self-Care

Credentials

B.A., Hiram College; M.S., Canisius College; M.Div., Regent University; Ph.D., Regent University

Publications

Books:

Chandler, D. J. (Co-Ed. with Jennifer S. Ripley & James N. Sells) (October 2024). Ministering to Families in Crisis: The Essential Guide for Nurturing Mental and Emotional Health. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Academic.

Chandler, D. J. (Ed.) (2016). The Holy Spirit and Christian Formation: Multidisciplinary Perspectives. London/New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

Chandler, D. J. (April 2014). Christian Spiritual Formation: An Integrative Approach to Personal and Relational Wholeness. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Academic.

Chandler, D. J. (May 2014). Christian Spiritual Formation Instructor’s Guide. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Academic.

Book Chapters:

Chandler, D. J. (2024). “Spiritual Formation in Families,” in Jennifer S. Ripley, James N. Sells, & Diane J. Chandler (Eds.), Ministering to Families in Crisis: The Essential Guide for Nurturing Mental and Emotional Health. Downers Grove: IL: InterVarsity Academic.

Chandler, D. J. (2019). “Christian Contemplation and the Cross: The Pathway to Life,” in John H. Coe and Kyle C. Strobel (Eds.), Embracing Contemplation: Reclaiming a Christian Spiritual Practice. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Academic, pp. 118-136.

Chandler, D. J. (2017). “Godly Love: The Primary Missional Virtue,” in Nathan A. Finn and Keith S. Whitfield (Eds.), Spirituality for the Sent: Casting a New Vision for the Missional Church. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, pp. 162-182.

Chandler, D. J. (2016). “Physical Formation: Health Stewardship and Embodied Realities,” in Diane J. Chandler (Ed.), The Holy Spirit and Christian Formation: Multidisciplinary Perspectives. Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 185-204.

Chandler, D. J. (2015). "Missio Dei: Where Spirituality and Mission Meet." In Johnson Lim (Ed.), Cosmic Christ, Contemporary Church, Changing Culture. Singapore: Word N Works, pp. 14-19.

Chandler, D. J. (2014). "The Holy Spirit and Mentoring Women." In Johnson Lim (Ed.), Holy Spirit: Unfinished Agenda. Singapore: Word N Works, pp. 226-230.

Chandler, D. J. (2014). "Following Jesus: Relationships." In Stephen Lim (Ed.), Whole-Life Discipleship for Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches. Springfield, MO: AG Publishing.

Chandler, D. J. (2014). "Following Jesus: Sexuality." In Stephen Lim (Ed.), Whole-Life Discipleship for Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches. Springfield, MO AG Publishing.

Chandler, D. J. (2011). "The Storm of Toxic and Destructive Leadership." In F. Gandolfi (Ed.), Fundamentals of Leadership: Contemporary Readings (Vol. 1). Köln, Germany: LAP Lambert Academic Publishing, pp. 249-270.

Chandler, D. J., & Fields, D. (2010). "Ignoring the Signposts: A Process Perspective of Unethical and Destructive Leadership." In B. Schyns & T. Hansbrough, (Eds.), When Leadership Goes Wrong: Destructive Leadership, Mistakes and Ethical Failures. Charlotte, NC: Information Age, pp. 199-143.

Journal Articles:

Chandler, D. J. (2022, spring). “Hospitality in Gospel Leadership: Jesus and the Samaritan Woman,” Journal of Biblical Perspectives of Leadership, 12(1): 3-18.

Chandler, D. J. (2021, spring). "COVID-19, Racial Disparities, and the Church" (pp. 10-14, a section of a larger journal article also authored by six other thought leaders)—in Steven L. Porter et al., What I Do Not See: Lessons for the Church from a Global Pandemic, Journal of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care, 14(1), 7-30.

Chandler, D. J. (2021, spring). “Creation Care: A Call to Christian Educators and Church Leaders,” Christian Education Journal, 18(1), 112-128.

Chandler, D. J. (2020) "Spiritual Formation: Race, Racism, and Racial Reconciliation,” Journal of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care, 13(2), 156-175.

Chandler, D. J. (2017, fall). “African American Spirituality: Through Another Lens,” Journal of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care, 10(2), 159-181.

Chandler, D. J. (2015, fall). "Whole-person Formation: An Integrative Approach to Christian Education," Christian Education Journal, 12(2), 314-332.

Chandler, D. J. (2014, fall). "Spiritual Formation in the Church" (an article including responses from myself and four other thought leaders in the field of spiritual formation), Journal of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care, 7(2), 292-311.

Chandler, D. J. (2011, winter). "What Women Bring to the Exercise of Leadership." Journal of Strategic Leadership, 3(2), 1-12.

Chandler, D. J. (2011, fall). "Personal Leadership Identity and the Love of God: Insights from the Life of David." Journal of Biblical Perspectives in Leadership, 3(2), 100-120.

Kohm, L. M., Chandler, D. J., & Gomez, D. (2011, fall). "Christianity, Feminism, and the Paradox of Female Happiness." Trinity Law Review, 17(2), 191-243.

Chandler, D. J. (2010, June). "The Impact of Pastors’ Spiritual Practices on Burnout." Journal of Pastoral Care & Counseling, 64(2), 6.1-9.

Chandler, D. J. (2009, fall). "The Perfect Storm of Leaders’ Unethical Behavior: A Conceptual Framework." International Journal of Leadership Studies, 5(1), 102-126.

Chandler, D. J. (2009, June). "Pastoral Burnout and the Impact of Personal Spiritual Renewal, Rest-taking, and Support System Practices." Pastoral Psychology, 58(3), 273-287.

Chandler, D. J. (2008, summer). "The Impact of Social Modeling, Cultural Values, and Support Systems on the Leadership Development of Emerging Global Women Leaders." Advancing Women in Leadership Journal, 25(1).

Encyclopedia Contributions:

Chandler, D. J. (2015). Five Encyclopedic Entries: (1) Devotional Reading (vol. 1, pp. 397-398), (2) Paolo Freire (vol. 1, pp. 1197-1198), (3) Spiritual Experience (vol. 3, pp. 1188-1189), (4) Spiritual Strength (vol. 3, pp. 1196-1197), (5) Spirituality (vol. 3, pp. 1197-1198) in George Thomas Kurian & Mark A. Lamport (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Christian Education, vol. 1, 2, 3 (Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press/Rowman & Littlefield, 2015).

Teaching Manual:

Chandler, D. J. (2002). The Leader's Example: Embracing and Modeling the Basic Principles of Discipleship (Training Manual, Foundations for Emerging Leaders Series, Vol. 3). Chesapeake, VA: Leadership Training International.

Published Book Reviews:

Chandler, D. J. (2014, June). Review of Learning to Dream Again: Discovering the Heart of God by Samuel Wells. (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2013). Religious Studies Review, 40(2), pp. 88-89.

Chandler, D. J. (2012, Sept.). Review of Zondervan Dictionary of Christian Spirituality by Simon Chan, Gordon T. Smith, and James D. Smith III (Eds.). (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2011). Religious Studies Review, 38(3), p. 152.

Chandler, D. J. (2011, Jan.). Review of Life in the Spirit: Spiritual Formation in Theological Perspective by Jeffrey P. Greenman and George Kalantzis, eds. (Downers Grove, Ill.: IVP Academic, 2010). Pneuma, 33(2), pp. 284-85.

Chandler, D. J. (2011, March). Review of God’s Many Splendored Image: Theological Anthropology for Christian Formation by Nonna Verna Harrison (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic). Religious Studies Review, 37(1), p. 31.

Chandler, D. J. (2011, March). Book review of H. B. Cavalcanti, Gloryland: Christian Suburbia, Christian Nation (Westport: Praeger, 2009). Religious Studies Review, 37(1), p. 27.

Chandler, D. J. (2010, Sept.). Book review of Jim Belcher, Deep Church: A Third Way Beyond Emerging and Traditional (Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 2009). Religious Studies Review, 36(3), p. 209.

Chandler, D. J. (2009). Book review of Joseph A. Bessler, Peter T. Cha, Mary E. Hess, and Timothy C. Tennent, Revitalizing Practice: Collaborative Models for Theological Faculties, ed., Malcolm L. Warford (New York: Peter Lang, 2008). Religious Studies Review, 35(4), p. 255.

Chandler, D. J. (2007). Review of Ecstasy and Intimacy: When the Holy Spirit Meets the Human Spirit by Edith M. Humphrey. Religious Studies Review, 33(1), p. 50.

Affiliations

American Academy of Religion; International Leadership Association; Society of Biblical Literature; Society for Pentecostal Studies; Society for Spirituality, Theology & Health.