Thomas Jay Oord

Thomas Jay Oord (born November 10, 1965) is a theologian, philosopher, and scholar of multidisciplinary studies who teaches at Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, Idaho. He is the author or editor of more than twenty books and hundreds of articles. Oord is known for his contributions to research on love, open theism, postmodernism, the relationship between religion and science, Wesleyan, Holiness, Nazarene, and Evangelical theology.[1] He is regarded by many as the leading theologian of love at work today.

Early life and education

Raised in Othello, Washington, Oord went from high school to attend Northwest Nazarene College, graduating in 1988. After serving as a pastor for several years in a church in Walla Walla, Washington, he enrolled at Nazarene Theological Seminary, graduating with a Master of Divinity. While in seminary, he was a pastor in Lenexa, Kansas. Oord then attended Claremont Graduate University, earning an M.A and Ph.D. in Religion in 1999. While at Claremont, Oord was a pastor at the Bridgepoint Church of the Nazarene in Bloomington, California. He then taught at Eastern Nazarene College before returning to his alma mater, Northwest Nazarene.[2][3]

NNU Employment

Oord is a professor at NNU, where he has taught since 2002.[3] Despite his status as a tenured professor, Dr. Oord learned that he would be laid-off at the end of the 2014-2015 school year. The reason cited by the administration was declining enrollments in the theology program,[4] but it is surmised that he is being dismissed because of theological positions that are not in the mainstream of the Nazarene tradition.[5] Oord was not charged for having false beliefs but university Trustees upheld the President's decision to lay him off nevertheless.

Personal life

Oord is married to his wife Cheryl and has three daughters. He is an ordained elder within the Church of the Nazarene.[3]

Oord is an avid blogger. His writing addresses issues in popular culture, the academy, and the church. His blog is titled, "For the Love of Wisdom and the Wisdom of Love." Click to enter...

Selected bibliography

As editor and contributor:

Photography

See also

References

  1. Faculty page at Northwest Nazarene University's website
  2. http://www.enc.edu/history/ot/oordcv.pdf
  3. 1 2 3 http://thomasjayoord.com/index.php/biography/
  4. http://www.idahopress.com/members/nnu-to-shift-m-in---budget/article_4a2fa33e-dda9-11e4-84c0-ffc32a9f79c2.html
  5. <https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2015/04/09/theologian-whose-views-evolution-differed-his-church-loses-tenured-job>

External links

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