Next Stop: Fuller Theological Seminary (and Texas!)

Dear friends, I am happy to announce that I have accepted the invitation to assume the position of Assistant Professor of Theology and Culture at Fuller Theological Seminary. I will also serve as the Director of Brehm Texas in Houston, Texas. I not only look forward to joining the community of Fuller in general, I also look forward to joining the community of Fuller Texas in particular and to serving its mission and body of students. I am excited to join the efforts of the Brehm Center for Worship, Theology and the Arts, and, with the Spirit’s help, to advancing Fuller’s commitment to spiritual, academic, and global formation.

In addition to teaching courses in systematic theology, in worship and in the intersection of both disciplines with the arts, I will be heading up a new effort at Fuller's Houston campus to extend the mission of the Brehm Center into Texas and beyond. See Fuller's announcement about this work here.

Frank Burch Brown once wrote that a "case could be made that, ever since the early nineteenth century, if not before, much of the finest art and music of spiritual and theological import—whether popular or highly cultivated—has been created without the Church’s blessing or, indeed, the Church’s knowledge.” Whether this is a fully accurate description of the case, it seems to me that there is enough truth in it to warrant an intentional and substantive investment by an academic institution like Fuller (much like St. Andrews University, Duke Divinity School and Regent College, among others) to serve the purposes of God for the arts.

My hope is that a Brehm Texas effort would benefit educators and seminary students, pastors and ministry leaders, artists and critical observers, and all those who seek a common vocabulary to advance the discussion of the church’s mission in the arts. My hope, as I've stated elsewhere, is that this effort would prod Christians to develop a vision capable of sustaining a long-lasting, fruit-bearing tradition of artmaking for the glory of God in the academy, the church and the world.

I can't wait to teach. I can't wait to research and write books. I can't wait to bring longstanding dreams into reality. I also can't wait to move to Texas; and neither can my family (who has persevered with me throughout this interview process).

The three of us can't wait to find good Texas BBQ and breakfast tacos and swimming pools and tickets to the Houston Rockets and the best route up to Phaedra's parents in Spring, Texas, and to the capital of Blue Bell Ice Cream (Brenham, TX) on our way to see my family in Austin.

Oh, and I can't wait to finish writing my dissertation.

All of which will happen around the summer of 2014 (three months from now).

It is with a gratitude, then, to God as well as to the board, administration and faculty at Fuller seminary for this tremendous opportunity that my family and I anticipate the beginning of a new season of work, friendship and ministry, for Christ and his kingdom.

Why Study at Fuller Texas? from Fuller Theological Seminary on Vimeo.