About Joy
Joy Ibsen
Joy Ibsen has published six books. Her most recent is Declaration of Interdependence, a three-part exploration of human inequality. Her other books are UNAFRAID; Here and Hereafter, The Eternity Connection; Pandemic Parables and the New Paradigm; Songs of Denmark, Songs to Live By; and Poetry in the Porkies.
Joy’s work is influenced by the Danish philosopher-theologian-poet N.F.S. Grundtvig, along with modern culture and current spiritual quests heading toward a new period of enlightenment.
Joy edited Church and Life from 2006–2019, in which she wrote a monthly editorial on social, political, and religious issues. The periodical publishes articles and stories inspired by the philosophy and theology of N.F.S. Grundtvig.
Joy attended Grand View University in Des Moines, IA, and graduated from Shimer College (now part of North Central College in Naperville, IL). She pursued graduate studies at the University of Chicago Divinity School, where she had two classes with theologian Paul Tillich. She has a certificate in Lay Ministry from the School of Theology, University of the South.
Her varied career includes serving as a caseworker in Chicago’s Woodlawn ghetto; teaching GED to Vietnam-bound soldiers at Fifth Army Headquarters, Chicago; teaching English literature and theatre to students at St. Katherine’s/St. Mark’s preparatory school in Davenport, IA; chief planner for the Model Cities Program in Rock Island, IL; fundraising and management consulting for not-for-profit organizations; and heading the development offices at Mount Sinai, Bethany Methodist, and Swedish Covenant hospitals in Chicago. In the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, she taught piano lessons and served as church organist.
Joy now lives in Lisle, IL where she moved in 2024. Previously, she lived in Albuquerque, NM; the Upper Peninsula (Silver City and Trout Creek, MI); Evanston and Oak Park, IL; and Davenport, IA. She has three children, two step children, and five grand children. Her husband, Don Lenef, passed away in November 2022.
Joy’s work is influenced by the Danish philosopher-theologian-poet N.F.S. Grundtvig, along with modern culture and current spiritual quests heading toward a new period of enlightenment.
Joy edited Church and Life from 2006–2019, in which she wrote a monthly editorial on social, political, and religious issues. The periodical publishes articles and stories inspired by the philosophy and theology of N.F.S. Grundtvig.
Joy attended Grand View University in Des Moines, IA, and graduated from Shimer College (now part of North Central College in Naperville, IL). She pursued graduate studies at the University of Chicago Divinity School, where she had two classes with theologian Paul Tillich. She has a certificate in Lay Ministry from the School of Theology, University of the South.
Her varied career includes serving as a caseworker in Chicago’s Woodlawn ghetto; teaching GED to Vietnam-bound soldiers at Fifth Army Headquarters, Chicago; teaching English literature and theatre to students at St. Katherine’s/St. Mark’s preparatory school in Davenport, IA; chief planner for the Model Cities Program in Rock Island, IL; fundraising and management consulting for not-for-profit organizations; and heading the development offices at Mount Sinai, Bethany Methodist, and Swedish Covenant hospitals in Chicago. In the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, she taught piano lessons and served as church organist.
Joy now lives in Lisle, IL where she moved in 2024. Previously, she lived in Albuquerque, NM; the Upper Peninsula (Silver City and Trout Creek, MI); Evanston and Oak Park, IL; and Davenport, IA. She has three children, two step children, and five grand children. Her husband, Don Lenef, passed away in November 2022.