Anne-Marie Finsaas

Job Title

Highlight

spiritual formation; 'the dark night of the soul' and the role of suffering in formation; pastoral ministry in the local church; children's and family ministry; cross-cultural, global ministry; chaplaincy

Started at Bethel

2007

Education

  • University of Minnesota - B.S. in Nutrition and Dietetics, 1988
  • Bethel Theological Seminary - M.A. in Children's and Family Ministry, 2004
  • George Fox Evangelical Seminary - D.Min. in Leadership and Spiritual Formation, 2015

Biography

Anne-Marie Finsaas has served in pastoral ministry in the local church for over twenty years and has taught as adjunct faculty, both locally and globally, for over a decade. She collaboratively developed, led, and taught a two-year spiritual formation course in her local church and a one-year global children's ministry leadership certificate in South Africa.

Her doctoral work focused on the 'dark night of the soul' and the role of suffering in spiritual formation. This theological understanding of suffering has been broadened by her pastoral work in the church and chaplaincy work in healthcare during the pandemic.

Anne-Marie is a dual citizen of Australia and America. She grew up in Thailand and Nepal, and immigrated to the United States to marry the Minnesotan missionary she met in Indonesia. Anne-Marie and her husband Ken have three adult children and love to watch PBS murder mysteries, eat ethnic food, read, walk, and travel.

Courses Taught

Bethel Seminary, St. Paul, MN: Spiritual & Personal Formation; Pastoral Care; Introduction to Children's & Family Ministry; Ministering to Families; Curriculum Development & Assessment; Development across the Lifespan

University of Northwestern, St. Paul, MN: Family Studies

Richmont Graduate University, Atlanta, GA: Ministry to Children and Families

Eastern Theological College, Jorhat, India: Ministering to Families

Evangelical Theological College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: Child in Context

Global Children's Forum Leadership Experience, Johannesburg, South Africa

The Center for Spiritual Formation, Church of the Open Door, Maple Grove, MN

Certificates and Licenses

Licensed Minister, Church of the Open Door, MN

Chaplain Resident, Methodist Hospital, MN

Certificate, Spiritual Direction, Sustainable Faith, OH

Certificate, Urban Ministry, Urban Shift, MN

Areas of expertise

Faith formation in children and adults; the role of suffering in spiritual formation; ministry to families and family systems; cross-cultural teaching; chaplaincy and the ministry of presence.