Mark Labberton
Mark Labberton | |
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Nationality | American |
Occupation | Pastor, preacher, theology professor, seminary president |
Known for | Preaching, hermeneutics, holistic Christian formation, leadership, worship, social justice |
Movement | Evangelicalism, American Presbyterianism |
Denomination | Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) |
Family |
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Mark Labberton is the President and Lloyd John Ogilvie Professor of Preaching at Fuller Theological Seminary.[1]
Education and career
Labberton grew up in Washington State and received a Bachelor of Arts in English literature from Whitman College. About the time he entered college, he left the anti-religion atmosphere of his home and professed belief in Jesus Christ. That decision led him to earn a Master of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary and to serve served as study assistant to the Rev. John R. W. Stott (1980–1981).
He was ordained to the ministry of word and sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (USA) in 1982, beginning three decades of pastoral ministry. His pastorates include Associate Pastor for College and University Ministries, First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley (California, 1981–1987); Interim Pastor, Carmel Presbyterian Church (California, 1990–1991); Pastor, Wayne Presbyterian Church, Wayne, Pennsylvania (1991–1993); and Senior Pastor, First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley[2] (1993–2009).
Interspersed with his first decade of ministry, Labberton earned a PhD in Theology at Jesus College, Cambridge University (1990), with his dissertation titled “Ordinary Bible Reading: Reader-Response Criticism and the Reformed Tradition”.
While pastoring, Labberton’s denominational service included participation in the Presbytery of San Francisco Personnel Committee, Theological Forum Group, and Evangelism Committee, as well as service with the Office of Theology and Worship of the Presbyterian Church (USA), giving presentations and sermons at a number of events and Pastor-Theologian Seminars. He also served in various capacities with the Westminster House Campus Ministry at UC Berkeley. Since moving to an academic setting, his continuing service with the PCUSA can be seen, for instance, in his work on the Special Committee on the Belhar Confession (2013)[3] and his preaching at the 221st General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA), June 18, 2014.[4]
Labberton came to Fuller Seminary in 2009 to teach in the position of Lloyd John Ogilvie Associate Professor of Preaching and to direct the Lloyd John Ogilvie Institute of Preaching.[5] Upon the retirement of Richard J. Mouw, he stepped into the presidency of Fuller Theological Seminary, inaugurated on November 6, 2013.[6]
Views, organizations, advocacy
Labberton has spoken before a broad range of audiences, including numerous conferences and events for the Presbyterian Church (USA), InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, the National Pastors Convention, and the International Justice Mission. He has also taught courses at New College Berkeley for Advanced Christian Studies.
Education and Resources for Christian Leaders Worldwide
In 1982 Labberton co-founded the Christian International Scholarship Foundation (CISF)[7]—an organization funding the advanced theological education of Christian leaders from the Majority World, including executives of relief organizations, college and seminary faculty, and denominational presidents—and served on the board of CISF for 17 years.
Labberton has also served on the board of Langham Partnership International (1993–2000; 2010–2013),[8] which provides books, scholarships, and seminars for Majority World pastors, and served as chair of John Stott Ministries (the US member of Langham Partners) from 2001 to 2004 and co-chair of the John Stott Ministries Global Initiative Fund from 2004 to 2007.
International Social Justice
Labberton is a senior fellow of the International Justice Mission’s Institute for Biblical Justice,[9] “an ‘action-oriented’ leadership think tank” working to advance ways to overcome injustice and to provide resources for the global church. In 1999 he founded Save-A-Life: Campaign for Mother-to-Child AIDS transmission. Labberton also serves on the advisory council for Network 9:35, a resourcing and networking ministry assisting churches and faith-based organizations, affiliated with Evangelicals for Social Action.
Racial Justice
Martin E. Marty, in a September 1, 2014, editorial published online in Sightings about the events in Ferguson, “noted that one of the most eloquent statements of confession of guilt and resolve to change came from Mark Labberton.”[10]
Immigration reform
In a November 2013 call for comprehensive immigration reform, Labberton and four others carried the banner leading the group of well over 100 Fuller students, staff, and faculty in a march to Pasadena City Hall.[11]
Writings
Books
- Called: The Crisis and Promise of Following Jesus Today (InterVarsity Press, 2014)
- The Dangerous Act of Loving Your Neighbor: Seeing Others Through the Eyes of Jesus (InterVarsity Press, 2010)
- The Dangerous Act of Worship: Living God’s Call to Justice (InterVarsity Press, 2007)
Chapters
- “Some Implications of Global Theology for Church, Ministry, and Mission,” in Global Theology in Evangelical Perspective: Exploring the Contextual Nature of Theology and Mission, ed., Geoffrey P. Greenman and Gene L. Green (InterVarsity Press, 2012)
- “Women, HIV, and the Heart of God,” in Women, HIV and the Church, ed. Arthur Ammann (Wipf and Stock, 2012)
- “The Sermon on a Carpet,” in John Stott: A Portrait by His Friends (InterVarsity Press, 2012)
- “Whose Agenda Matters?” in The Sunday after Tuesday: College Pulpits Respond to 9/11, ed., William H. Willimon (Abingdon, 2002)
Articles
Academic Journals
- “Four Windows and a Hope,” Theology, News, and Notes (Fuller Theological Seminary), Spring 2011
- “When Is the Right Time to Go to Seminary,” Pastors’ Panel of Insights (The Faculty Journal of Austin Seminary), Spring 2003
- “Theology Happens,” Perspectives: A Journal of Reformed Thought (Western Theological Seminary), Spring 2000
Leadership Journal
- Backpage Articles, 2004-2008
- “Betty’s Secret Ingredient,” July 2008
- “Between Failure and Fraud,” January 2008
- “Want to Be Wonder-Full?” November 2007
- “The Real Worship War,” July 2007
- “The Art of Dying,” July 2007
- “Leading by Naming,” April 2007
- “Pastor of Desperation,” January 2006
- “Nothing but Time,” July 2006
- “Our Daunting Hope,” July 2005
- “Glorious Foolishness,” Winter 2000
Other Publications
- “Misnaming Our Neighbors: Power, Justice, and What Our Assumptions Mean,” Conversations, Spring/Summer 2012
- “Living by the Word,” Christian Century, November 2011
- “The Lima Bean Gospel,” Christianity Today, January 2008
- “Reading the Bible with the Big Picture in Mind,” The Nature and Use of Scripture (reForm, 2001)
- “Combining Conviction and Compassion,” Preaching Today, Tape 191, 1999
- “The Constellation of God’s Call,” Radix Magazine, vol. 22, 1999
- “Finding Our True Vocation: Discerning God’s Will,” Radix Magazine, vol. 25, no. 1, 1997
- “Why Keep a Journal?” Stepping Out: A Guide to Short-Term Missions, 1987
Curriculum
- “First Things” Micah Groups Curriculum, Ogilvie Institute of Preaching, Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, CA, 2012–2013
- “Soulwork: A Three Year Adult Discipleship Experience (Scripture, Theology, Visual Arts, Community, and Ministry)” First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley, CA, 2003–2006
- “Wordstudy: A Two Year Comprehensive Study of the Bible,” First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley, CA, 1986–1988
References
- ↑ "Fuller Theological Seminary: President Mark Labberton".
- ↑ http://www.fpcberkeley.org/vision.asp
- ↑ http://www.pcusa.org/site_media/media/uploads/oga/pdf/thebibleandbelhar.pdf
- ↑ http://www.pcusa.org/news/2014/6/18/convergence-voice-and-action-key-christian-leaders/
- ↑ http://www.ogilvieinstitute.com
- ↑ http://www.fuller.edu/About/News-and-Events/Articles/2013/This-is-a-Moment--The-Inauguration-of-President-Mark-Labberton/
- ↑ http://www.scholarleaders.org/about.html
- ↑ http://us.langham.org/
- ↑ https://www.ijm.org/ijm-institute-biblical-justice
- ↑ http://divinity.uchicago.edu/sightings/ferguson-%E2%80%94-martin-e-marty; Labberton, Mark. “Fuller’s President Reflects on Events in Ferguson.” Fuller Theological Seminary Presidential Communications, August 25, 2014. http://www.fuller.edu/offices/president/from-the-president/2014-posts/fuller-s-president-reflects-on-events-in-ferguson/
- ↑ http://www.pasadenanow.com/main/fuller-seminary-holds-prayer-walk-for-immigration-reform; http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/social-affairs/20131118/fuller-seminary-students-staff-march-on-pasadena-city-hall-for-immigration-reform
External links
President’s page on the Fuller Theological Seminary website: http://www.fuller.edu/president
Huffington Post article, “What the Church Has to Offer,” July 21, 2012: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-labberton-phd/what-the-church-has-to-offer_b_1681111.html
Interview by Korea Daily Los Angeles, November 19, 2013, “The immorality of today’s churches makes a mockery of the gospel”: http://www.koreadaily.com/news/read.asp?art_id=2132868 (in Korean)
Articles by Dr. Labberton in Fuller magazine: http://fullermag.com/contributor/mark-labberton/
Amazon.com author site: http://www.amazon.com/Mark-Labberton/e/B001JSC4U6
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