Thomas Jay Oord

Thomas Jay Oord (born 1965) is a theologian, philosopher, and multidisciplinary scholar who directs a doctoral program at Northwind Theological Seminary and the Center for Open and Relational Theology. He formerly taught for sixteen years as a tenured professor 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]

The Reverend

Thomas Jay Oord
Oord in 2009
Born (1965-11-10) November 10, 1965
NationalityAmerican
Ecclesiastical career
ReligionChristianity
ChurchChurch of the Nazarene
Academic background
Alma mater
Doctoral advisorDavid Ray Griffin
Academic work
Discipline
School or traditionOpen theism
InstitutionsNorthwest Nazarene University
Websitethomasjayoord.com

Early life and education

Born on November 10, 1965, and 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 MA and PhD 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 was a tenured professor at NNU, where he had taught since 2002.[3] He was asked to resign by the new president of NNU in 2014 before learning that he would be laid-off at the end of the 2014–2015 school year. The reason cited by the president was declining enrollment in the theology program,[4] but it was clear to other faculty and alumni that he was being dismissed because of theological positions that are not in the mainstream of the Nazarene tradition.[5] The president received a no-confidence vote of 77 percent in 2015 and then resigned, leaving Oord employed at a lower status and pay scale.[6] A negotiated settlement and parting of ways was finally put into effect in 2018.

Personal life

Oord is married and the couple have 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.

Selected bibliography
  • God Can't: How to Believe in God and Love After Tragedy, Abuse, and Other Evils (2019) ISBN 978-1948609128
  • The Uncontrolling Love of God: An Open and Relational Account of Providence (2015) 978-0830840847
  • Defining Love: A Philosophical, Scientific, and Theological Engagement (2010) ISBN 1-58743-257-9
  • The Nature of Love: A Theology (2010) ISBN 978-0-8272-0828-5
  • The Best News You Will Ever Hear (with Robert Luhn) (2011) ISBN 978-0-9829300-5-2
  • The Many Facets of Love: Philosophical Perspectives (2007) ISBN 978-1-84718-123-7
  • Relational Holiness: Responding to the Call of Love (with Michael Lodahl) (2005) ISBN 978-0-8341-2182-9
  • Science of Love: The Wisdom of Well-Being (2004) ISBN 978-1-932031-70-6
  • Matching Theology and Piety (1999)

As editor and contributor:

  • Theologies of Creation: Creatio ex Nihilo and Its New Rivals (2015) 978-0415712156
  • Renovating Holiness (with Joshua Broward) (2015) B00TKNDUKK
  • Nazarenes Exploring Evolution (with Sherri Walker) (2014)
  • Relational Theology: A Contemporary Introduction (2012)
  • God in an Open Universe: Science, Metaphysics, and Open Theism (2011)
  • The Bible Tells Me So (with Richard Thompson) (2011)
  • The Polkinghorne Reader (2010)
  • Creation Made Free: Open Theology Engaging Science (2009)
  • Love Among Us (with Darrin Grinder) (2009)
  • Divine Grace and Emerging Creation: Wesleyan Forays in Science and Theology of Creation (2009)
  • Postmodern and Wesleyan? Exploring the Boundaries and Possibilities (with Jay Akkerman and Brent Peterson) (2009) ISBN 978-0-8341-2458-5
  • The Altruism Reader: Selections from Writings on Love, Religion, and Science (2007) ISBN 978-1-59947-127-3
  • Philosophy of Religion: Essay Introductions (2003) ISBN 978-0-8341-1995-6
  • Thy Name and Thy Nature is Love (with Bryan P. Stone) (2001) ISBN 978-0-687-05220-2
  • Generation Xers Talk about the Church of the Nazarene (1999) ISBN 978-0-8341-1815-7

Photography

  • Through Both Creations Shine (2015) ISBN 978-1320890663

See also

References
  1. "Faculty page at Northwest Nazarene University's website". Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  2. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on May 16, 2012. Retrieved June 21, 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. "Bio/Contact". Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  4. "NNU to shift $1.3M in 2015-16 budget". Idaho Press. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  5. "Theologian whose views on evolution differed from his church loses tenured job". insidehighered.com. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  6. Roberts, Bill (August 14, 2016). "Northwest Nazarene professor shares views on God, loses academic freedom". Idaho Statesman. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
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