![\"20150901TEDSchapel006\"](\"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/doetd2kiw\/images\/w_800,h_530,c_scale\/f_auto,q_auto\/v1702072266\/trinity_newsroom\/20150901TEDSchapel006\/20150901TEDSchapel006.jpg?_i=AA\" "\\"20150901TEDSchapel006\\"")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
DEERFIELD, IL \u2014 Professor Joshua Jipp is the new Director of the Carl F. H. Henry Center for Theological Understanding at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.<\/p>\n
For nearly twenty years, the Henry Center has sought to bridge the gap between the academy and the church by cultivating resources and communities that advance Christian wisdom. Jipp is the center\u2019s fourth Director, following the leadership of Douglas Sweeney, Thomas McCall and, most recently, Geoffrey Fulkerson. \u201cI believe the theological academy operates best when it is informed by and invested in addressing the challenges that face our churches,\u201d Jipp commented. \u201cI have seen how the Henry Center has helped foster meaningful relationships between the academy and the church, and have witnessed first-hand the rich benefits of such relationships.\u201d<\/p>\n
This dual commitment to the academy and the church is one reason why Fulkerson is pleased to have Jipp as his successor: “With his scholarly record, interdisciplinary interests, collegiality and commitment to the church and academy alike, Josh is a natural fit for this role. I\u2019m eager to see his vision and direction for the Henry Center as it continues to promote Trinity\u2019s ethos of collaborative scholarship for the church, the academy and the world.”<\/p>\n
Fulkerson worked at the Henry Center for more than ten years, first as managing director from 2012\u201320 and then as director from 2020\u201322. He was instrumental in securing the $7.6 million Templeton grants<\/a>, which funded the Creation Project<\/a>; he led the execution of that project with a valuable blend of administrative and theological competence. Fulkerson and his family have moved to Sioux Center, Iowa, where he has taken a post as associate professor of philosophy and theology at Dordt University.<\/p>\n Jipp comes to the director role from TEDS where he serves as associate professor of New Testament and has been on the faculty since 2012. His scholarship has reached across the New Testament corpus, with his first book focusing on divine visitations in Luke-Acts<\/a>, his second treating Paul\u2019s royal Christology<\/a>, and his third showing how hospitality is at the very heart of the Christian faith<\/a>.<\/p>\n During the 2020\u201321 academic year, Jipp was a resident fellow at the Henry Center. His research focused<\/a> on Paul\u2019s vision for human flourishing and engaged positive psychology as he sought to trace the biblical depiction of the good life. The fruit of this Creation Project endeavor will be published later this year by Baker Academic<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m particularly looking forward to his forthcoming book on Pauline Theology as a Way of Life: A Vision of Human Flourishing in Christ<\/em>,\u201d says Kevin Vanhoozer, Research Professor of Systematic Theology at TEDS. \u201cPursuing that vision, and that way, is precisely what the Henry Center is all about.\u201d Jipp\u2019s demonstrated biblical expertise will lead the Center in its mission to promote theological understanding.<\/p>\n Jipp\u2019s faculty colleagues at TEDS are eager for him to step into this role. \u201cI\u2019m delighted that the Henry Center for Theological Understanding is once again in good faculty hands,\u201d Vanhoozer remarks. \u201cJosh Jipp is supremely qualified to serve as director. He\u2019s the best kind of biblical scholar, one who reads the New Testament both for meaning and for contemporary Christian wisdom.\u201d<\/p>\n Michelle Knight, Assistant Professor of Old Testament and Semitic Languages, agrees:<\/p>\n “Josh is well known as a skilled and thoughtful academic, but his real passion is to ensure that rigorous biblical and theological reflection makes a difference in the real world his students and readers inhabit. I\u2019ve always been impressed with his commitment (and ability) to navigate complex inter-disciplinary issues for the sake of better serving the corporate church. Josh has always embodied the mission of the Henry Center; it\u2019s fitting that he will be a part of shaping the next season of its ministry.”<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n This enthusiasm extends beyond TEDS. North Park University Professor of New Testament Max Lee \u201ccan\u2019t think of a better choice\u201d for the director role, and is \u201cexcited to see what the Lord will do through Josh\u2019s leadership these coming years.\u201d The executive director of theology and credentialing for the Evangelical Free Church of America, Greg Strand, concurs, saying, \u201cI am eager to see the Lord\u2019s will unfold in this next chapter of the Henry Center\u2019s vital ministry to the church.\u201d<\/p>\n The identity of the Henry Center is shaped around the concept of theological understanding. Rather than simply adding to the noise that often surrounds such conversations, it aims to harmonize past and current discussions in ways that produce insight, not just information. To achieve this task, the Center runs a host of recurring projects<\/a> involving a variety of people from across the Trinity community and funds faculty-led initiatives which draw attention to specific theological questions facing the evangelical church and academy.<\/p>\n In the judgment of Harold Netland, TEDS Professor of Philosophy of Religion and Intercultural Studies, \u201cthe mission of the Henry Center\u2014to advance biblically grounded Christian wisdom for the church\u2014has never been more significant or urgently needed than it is today.\u201d<\/p>\n Jipp is looking forward to leading the Henry Center as director as he believes TEDS is \u201cideally suited\u201d to house the Henry Center. First, because the theological diversity of the faculty, grounded in the broad streams of confessional evangelicalism, allows for a healthy range of perspectives on \u201chow to embody and apply biblical wisdom to concrete challenges that face the life of the church.\u201d Second, the academic excellence of the faculty is paired with a deep commitment to pursuing the health of the church. \u201cWe faculty continue to be learners who want our teaching and our scholarship to be informed by what is happening in the church,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n In addition to these two reasons, there is also a wealth of theologically engaged local pastors in Chicagoland, which makes it fertile ground for a place like the Henry Center. Amidst the shifting tides of evangelicalism, Jipp believes what is needed is \u201cthe ability to patiently work together, to listen, and to use our theological resources to help one another live faithful lives of Christian discipleship.”<\/p>\n Jipp will begin serving as Director immediately, providing theological and strategic oversight for the Henry Center\u2019s various programs. While continuing to teach at TEDS, he will lead the Center toward evangelical collaboration as it provides unique opportunities for ministers, professionals, and academics to collaborate with seminary faculty for the promotion of gospel-centered living and thinking.<\/p>\n
\n“He\u2019s the best kind of biblical scholar, one who reads the New Testament both for meaning and for contemporary Christian wisdom.”<\/em><\/span><\/h4>\n
\n
\n“We faculty continue to be learners who want our teaching and our scholarship to be informed by <\/em><\/span>what is happening in the church.”<\/em><\/span><\/h4>\n
\n