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David Pfrimmer
Professor Emeritus; Fellow, Centre for Public Ethics
David Pfrimmer served as the principal-dean and professor of applied Christian ethics at Martin Luther University College (formerly Waterloo Lutheran Seminary) from May 1, 2005 to Aug. 31, 2015. After stepping down as principal-dean, he continues to serve as fellow in the school's Centre for Public Ethics.
David was the executive secretary for the denomination. For 25 years, he served as director of the Lutheran Office for Public Policy. He has served as chairperson of numerous ecumenical and multifaith organizations including the Canadian Council of Churches’ Commission on Justice and Peace and was a founding member and chairperson of the Interfaith Social Assistance Reform Coalition.
He has represented the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) on a wide range of ecumenical and multifaith coalitions that have addressed issues of economic globalization; social and health policy; Canadian foreign policy peace and disarmament; human rights and aboriginal rights. He has represented the ELCIC on the governing council of the Lutheran World Federation and has been frequently a member of numerous election observer, human rights and ecumenical delegations.
View my Meet the Prof @LutherWaterloo video.
David’s research has focused on the contributions of Canadian ecumenical social justice movements in Canada since the Second World War; the Canada question; the “public commons” and reclaiming the vocation of government; issues of humans rights and public policy; and developing a new understanding of the “public.”
Research / Areas of Expertise
- Multifaith and ecumenical relations.
- Public theology and public ethics.
- Ethical issues.
- "What Do Canadian Politicians Expect from Churches?" in Len Hansen (ed), Christians in Public (Beyers Naudé Centre Series on Public Theology, African Sun Media, Stellenbosch, 2007) pp 191-200.
- "Human Rights as Public Theology," in Peter Prove and Luke Smetters (eds), Faith and Human Rights (LWF Documentation Series No. 51, Lutheran University Press, 2006) p.p. 55-68.
- "Stewards of the Public Commons: A Vocation for Government," in Communion, Responsibility, Accountability (LWF Documentation No. 50, Lutheran University Press, December 2004).
- "A Faith Basis for Sixty Years of Human Rights Work by the Churches," in The Journal of Lutheran Ethics, Chicago, February 2009.
- "Developing a Public Hermeneutic for the Future of Theological Education?" in Dialog: A Journal of Theology, January 2012.