Randy Woodley, PhD
Distinguished Professor of Faith and Culture
Director of Intercultural and Indigenous Studies

Rev. Dr. Randy Woodley (PhD, Asbury Theological Seminary) is recognized as a Cherokee descendent by the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians. He is a teacher, poet, activist, former pastor, missiologist and historian. Woodley received his baccalaureate degree from Rockmont College in Denver. He was ordained to the ministry through the American Baptist Churches in the USA in Oklahoma after graduating with a Masters of Divinity degree from Eastern Seminary (now Palmer Seminary) in Philadelphia. Randy's PhD is in intercultural studies from Asbury Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky.
Woodley’s books include Mission and the Cultural Other: A Closer Look, 2022, (Wipf & Stock), Indigenous Theology and the Western Worldview: A Decolonial Approach to Christian Doctrine, 2022 (Baker Academic), Becoming Rooted: One Hundred Days of Reconnecting with Sacred Earth, 2022 (Broadleaf), Decolonizing Evangelicalism: An 11:59pm Conversation, 2020 (Wipf & Stock), The Harmony Tree: A Story of Healing and Community, 2016 (Friesen Press), Shalom and the Community of Creation: An Indigenous Vision, 2012 (Eerdmans) and Living in Color: Embracing God’s Passion for Ethnic Diversity, 2004 (IVP). He has authored numerous book chapters and contributed essays and articles in compilations such as the Dictionary of Scripture and Ethics (Baker Academic), Poverty and the Poor in the World ’ s Religions (Praeger), Evangelic
Professor Woodley is active in the ongoing discussions concerning new church movements, racial and ethnic diversity, peace, racism, earth justice, Indigenous spirituality, interreligious dialogue and mission.
He also co-hosts the "Peacing it all together" podcast a journey place with Bo Sanders.
Rev. Dr. Woodley was pastor of the Eagle Valley Church in Carson City, Nevada, which for many years, served as a unique role model as an authentic Native American church. He and his wife Edith, cofounders of Eloheh Indigenous Center for Earth Justice and Eloheh Farm and Seeds, are considered early innovators in what has been dubbed the “Native American Contextual Movement.” The Woodleys have spent over 30 years of culturally relevant service in Native North American Indigenous communities.
Academic Background
PhD, Intercultural Studies, Asbury Seminary; MDiv, Palmer Seminary; BA, Rockmont College (Colorado Christian University)
Expertise and Research Interests
Intercultural studies, racial and ethnic diversity, new church movements, eco-theology, and post-colonial theology
Published Works, Lecture Series, and Select Podcasts
Shalom and the Community of Creation: An Indigenous Vision
Living In Color: Embracing God's Passion For Ethnic Diversity
Mission As Shalom: Distinguished Augsburger Lecture Series Eastern Mennonite University
Homebrewed Christianity: Shalom and the Community of Creation
Homebrewed Christianity: HomeGrown Christianity Ecology
Homebrewed Christianity: Randy Woodley on Race
Revelation in Creation-Seeking the Harmony Way: PRISM Magazine Interview
What's the Truth About America? Debate with Dinish D'Souza
Ask An Indigenous Theologian: Rachael Held-Evans Interview
Q & A on Indigenous Subjects with Randy Woodley and the late Richard Twiss
Huffington Post Interview: Who Better to Teach the White Man Than the American Indian?
William Jessup University, Annual Bible and Theology Conference
The Global Church Project: Embracing Ethnic Diversity (podcast)