LA Cox — Critical Theologian / Scholar-Activist
B.A., B.Th., M.Div., M.A., PhD Candidate
University of Toronto
…. website currently under construction…
Cogito ergo sum. (Descartes)
Siento ergo sum. (Audre Lorde)
Disco ergo sum. (Me)
Many years ago I had a professor at McGill who offered me a challenge I could not refuse…
He said, “Ms. Cox, in a world of science and technology, why would anyone still believe in God — it makes no sense. And, yet, billions of people still do. THAT is fascinating.”
I agree. And though I am often excluded by the theological impulses of my peers, I am committed to leaning into this sense of non-belonging. I seek to nurture a sense of the divine in the borderlands between belief and critique and address the intersections of invisibility which silence us.
Post-Secondary Education
B.A. in Western Religions & Women’s Studies, Queen’s University 2003
B.Th. in Postmodern Theology & Jewish-Christian Relations, McGill University, 2005
M.Div. in Interfaith & Ecumenical Theologies, Emmanuel College, Victoria University, University of Toronto, 2007
M.A. in Contextual Theology, St. Michael’s University, University of Toronto, 2013
PhD Candidate in Theological Studies, Emmanuel College, GCT, University of Toronto
Ministry Experience
Volunteer Chaplain, Kingston Mental Health Centre, 2002-2003
United Church of Canada Ministry Candidate, Bay of Quinte Conference, 2003-2007
Student Summer Pulpit Supply, Bay of Quinte Conference, 2003-2007
Fund for Theological Education Ministry Fellow, Atlanta, GA, 2003
Minister of Christian Education, Bellefair United Church, Toronto, ON, 2005-2007
Volunteer Chaplain, Kensington Health Long-Term Care, Toronto, ON, 2010-2012
Minister of Christian Education, Humbercrest United Church, Toronto, ON, 2011-2012
Faith-Based NGO Work
Publications & Presentations
Communications Officer, Canadian Council of Church, Toronto, O, 2005-2007 & 2011-2012
Internal Communications Lead, Religions for Peace, North American Young Adult Network, New York, 2006-2007
Publications Manager, World Council of Churches, Geneva, Switzerland, 2007-2010
“The Bitch and/y la Chingona: An Exploration of Intersectional Feminism & Theories of Decolonization in Neurodiversity Studies” in Desiring Autism and Neurodivergence in Education: Decolonial, Intersectional, Critical and Creative Approaches (Forthcoming)
Canadian Theological Society, Annual Meeting, Toronto Interfaith Panel: “Our Voices Are Needed Amidst the Diversity: Interfaith Dialogue in a ‘Postnational Canada’ Development of Panel & Presentation of Canadian Contextual Theology of Human Rights (2017)
Holocaust Education Week Lecture Series, Sarah & Chaim Neuberger Holocaust Centre, Toronto Lecture: “The Dark Side of Memory: A Pedagogical Challenge in Critical Thinking” (2016)
Woolf Institute Blog, Woolf Institute
University of Cambridge, Cambridge
“The Communion of Struggle: Celebrating 50 Years of Nostra Aetete” (October 2015)
Religion Beat Blog, Religious Studies
School of Graduate Studies, University of Toronto, Toronto “The Federal Election, Godtalk & One’s Conscience” (April 2011)
Religion Beat Blog, Religious Studies
School of Graduate Studies, University of Toronto, Toronto “Radical Hospitality in the Public Sphere” (May 2011)
Religion Beat Blog, Religious Studies
School of Graduate Studies, University of Toronto, Toronto “The Loss of the Centre: New Atheism and Religion Today” Parts 1 & 2 (Aug. & Sept. 2010)
Ecumenical Review & International Review of Mission Publications Manager (2007-2010)
I am currently writing my doctoral dissertation which explores my interdisciplinary research in intersectional feminism, theories of decolonization and neurodiversity studies. My goal is to construct a critical theology relevant to the needs of neurodivergent people.
This is me today.
I am a UK/Canadian dual citizen but I am currently Toronto-based.
I’ve been with my partner for almost seventeen years, married for sixteen. I am a mom to a wonderful ten year-old. And pet-mom to a cat and dog.
We are a multiply-neurodivergent family who believes in the neurodiversity paradigm and advocates for the rights and support needs of ND folks.
Committed to actualizing our ethics in everyday life, our family has been vegan for almost a decade.
Also, Free Palestine! 🍉