Neil W. Gerdes

Library Director and Associate Professor of Bibliography (joint appointment with the Meadville/Lombard Theological School)

B.A., University of Illinois (Urbana), 1965; S.T.B., Harvard University, 1968; M.A., Columbia University, 1971; A.M.L.S., University of Chicago, 1975; D.Min., University of St. Mary of the Lake, 1994.

A primary focus for Professor Gerdes is professional leadership, including serving on several boards of directors of religious organizations and library associations, several as an officer.  He offers annually a course in creating a personal spirituality.

“For me meaningful and transformative learning has come most often after an encounter with the thoughts and feelings contained in the pages of great writings of God-centered men and women throughout the ages.  Providing access for faculty, students, and alumni to such materials whether in print, or from multi-media, or on the computer screen, has been the goal of my job as a theological librarian.  But that is only a part, albeit the major one, of what I feel is my ministry.  Teaching spiritual journey workshops taken by students at both Chicago Theological seminary and at Meadville Lombard Theological School (the other half of my joint appointment) is also a part of my vocational task.  In the context of a progressive religious community that is CTS, I hope we are about changing the person within to a spirit, love, and knowledge filled minister to the world.”