George Fox University | Academics | Departments | Religious Studies | Faculty | Roger Newell

Roger Newell
Associate Professor of Religious Studies

Telephone: 503-554-2660
E-mail: rnewell@georgefox.edu



Classes Roger is Currently Teaching

Specialities: Pastoral Ministry, Reformed Theology, C. S. Lewis, T. F. Torrance


Education
B.A., Westmont College; M.Div., Fuller Theological Seminary; Ph.D., University of Aberdeen. George Fox University 1997-

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Following doctoral studies with James Torrance in Aberdeen, Scotland, and eight years as a pastor in Durham, England, my family and I returned to the Pacific Northwest in 1992, where I served as an associate pastor in charge of Christian education at a suburban Presbyterian church in Portland. Five years ago, I came to the Christian education position here at George Fox, where it is indeed a pleasure to work alongside such a fine group of colleagues.

Let me say a few words about the classes I teach. In general education classes on Old and New Testament. I enjoy exploring together the many challenging issues contained therein. Is grace a New Testament invention? How do we read a document which is at once a genuinely human document as well as a divine one? Why are so many Psalms "laments"? Why does the book of Proverbs contain wisdom from a pagan king's mother? Was Jesus' birth really accompanied by innkeepers, late night arrivals, and an angel choir? What does the New Testament teach about the ancient institution of slavery? Why are there four Gospels instead of one? Is Barney really the antiChrist? The list is endless.

In "Christian Discipling" we seek to discover the meaning of the church's mission as "sign, instrument and foretaste" of the kingdom of God.

In "Perspectives in Christian Education", we form a "lived parable" of a community in which everyone is a teacher and everyone a learner. Impossible? "Come and see."

Shared Praxis is a unique journey together through a four semesters exploring the meanings of community, Christian identity, and the manifold meaning of theology. We research skills both of the mind, the heart, and the hands. All this is wrapped around a supervised internship at a church or mission agency.

The time here at George Fox races by. But the gift of working with students and colleagues, the announcing and sharing of Good News is a precious and good work.

When caught relaxing, you may find me listening to Mozart, watching soccer, or riding a bicycle. My dear wife teaches part time in the sociology/social work department at George Fox. I have two incredible daughters: Marilee, a student at GFU, and Melanie is a recent graduate of Newberg High who plans to attend Whitworth College somewhere near the frozen north.

- Roger