helping people
reach higher
I'm a researcher, teacher, and coach. Theology is at its best when it is integrated, practical, and helpful to real people and their communities. Too often, we live and lead the most important parts of our lives from unreflected assumptions that we have inherited or quickly absorbed. Good theology can help us bring integration, transformation, and health.
Background
My career began studying physics and working as a research fellow. Rather abruptly, I left my PhD program to enter the education and ministry space. I became a director and teacher, helping train young adults and missionaries. I moved to Denver to translate this training and development experience into new models of church.
For the past decade, I have been pursuing this task while a seminary graduate student, church planter, and entrepreneur. This decade of integrated work has been invaluable and grounded me in a deep spiritual realism—all good theology must stay connected to humanity.
The last year has been filled with reflection and discernment. It is with much humility and dependence that I’ve decided to make a vocational shift to focus on research, teaching, and coaching. Every person I meet with, from leaders to practitioners to parishioners, feels the same nagging ache for the church to be more than it currently is. I think my training and experience have uniquely positioned me to help contribute to the task before us of church renewal.
Research
Traditional research, as well as qualitative interviews of pioneering leaders, to discern what is working well and what roadblocks they are hitting.
Teaching
I will freely offer my time and energy to share and give away my learning and reflection in traditional teaching settings as well as smaller cohorts.
Coaching
I will stay grounded both personally and prayerfully to this work by actively supporting our network of communities in Denver called Coram Deo. As well as through my partners.
24-7 Prayer Global
I have been serving in leadership for the Communities Network for the past 5 years, helping lead Leadership Cohorts and a Global Collective of pioneering communities. Most recently, I was asked to serve on the Global Coaching team to provide support for new and existing communities in the network.
Oversight Supervisors
Practicing the Way
After completing the Church Formation Incubator Program, I have been invited to continue on as a partner and collaborator. The goal is to continue iterating and developing new ecclesial models that align with the best of learning from church history and what we are learning from modern science in the fields of psychology, sociology, and anthropology.


My Work & Partners
Caleb Maskell


Associate National Director of Theology & Education, Vineyard USA. Princeton PhD in American religious history, former Yale MDiv, teacher at Princeton Theological Seminary and Swarthmore College. Leads the Society of Vineyard Scholars.
Director of the 24‑7 Prayer Communities Network. MA Theology Westminster Theological Seminary Experienced church planter, mentor, leader in national movements (24‑7 Prayer, Fusion), and active board member of Westminster Theological Centre.
Integral
Our theology needs to make sense within the best learning and knowledge across disciplines.
Formational
The path for the church of the future is also ancient so we need to draw from the wisdom of tradition.
Relational
Our theology should produce the collateral effect of increasing relational health and maturity.
Missional
The net effect of all of this must lead to increased risk, sacrifice, and an outward movement of love.
My Commitments


Join My Team
I am currently building a team of financial patrons and prayer support as I seek to raise a salary + travel expense budget of $65,000/annually for this work.


David Swenson | Researcher, Teacher, & Coach
In addition to the direct supervisors above: This work is conducted under the oversight and governance of the Coram Deo Co-op Board of Directors, a registered 501.c3 Organization in Denver, CO.