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 al Post-colonial Conversations (IVP Academic), and The Global Dictionary of Theology (IVP Academic).

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.