SIM alumnus David Michels, Head of Public Services, Sir James Dunn Law Library, has successfully defended his Dalhousie University Interdisciplinary PhD dissertation titled Seeking the will of God: The information seeking experiences of leaders of Nova Scotia churches in transition.

“Christian Churches in Nova Scotia are facing economic, social, and theological stresses. In response many are engaged in processes of restructuring and renewal. Leaders are initiating and managing these change processes, and they are seeking information to make their decisions, and to “seek God’s will for their churches.” Very little is known about how church leaders seek, gather, evaluate, and use information in their decision-making. In this study I asked the question: “what are the information seeking experiences of leaders of Nova Scotia churches in transition?” Using ethnographic methods at three church sites, I explored this particular everyday life information-seeking context. I gathered data on church information sources and leaders’ source selections, identifying critical themes such as the impact of new technologies, prayer as a source of information, and the theology of information seeking. I developed a model of church information seeking behaviour that can be used a foundation for further research on information seeking in church contexts.”

Congratulations, Dr. Michels.