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Neal D. Presa

Associate Director of Doctoral Studies
Visiting Associate Professor of Preaching

Direct: 858.367.0211

ndpresa@nbts.edu

The heart of ministry is the triune God of love, the love of God, and how God and God’s love transforms lives and this world. In connecting God’s Word with God’s world, we have a sacred call to bear witness of this God and of this love. What an awesome joy it is to be a part of supporting and equipping God’s people in the holy vocation of preaching and proclaiming God’s Word and work in doing justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly with God.

Bio

​The Rev. Neal D. Presa, Ph.D. is a Filipino American pastor theologian presently serving as Associate Director of Doctoral Studies and Visiting Associate Professor of Preaching at New Brunswick Theological Seminary. In this role he collaborates with faculty leadership in providing strategic leadership and administrative direction for the overall Doctor of Ministry program, and is the pedagogical head for the Transformational Preaching concentration.

Additionally, he serves  as Senior Visiting Professor of Pastoral Theology and Ministry  at Union Theological Seminary (Dasmariñas, Philippines), Adjunct Professor of Practical Theology at International Theological Seminary (West Covina, California), Research Fellow of Practical and Missional Theology at the University of the Free State (Bloemfontein, South Africa) and a Fellow with The Center for Pastor Theologians (Oak Park, Ilinois).  He is the Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Presbyterian Foundation, the oldest religious foundation in the United States founded in 1799 and as the fiduciary of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) stewards and manages over $2 billion in assets and annually disburses more than $92 million to support mission and ministries in the Unites States and around the world.

His previous academic and pastoral appointments include: Associate Pastor for Family, Connecting and Communication Ministries and Coordinator of the Faith & Work Initiative at the Village Community Presbyterian Church (Rancho Santa Fe, CA),  Pastor of Middlesex Presbyterian Church (Middlesex, New Jersey), PhD External Examiner with the Faculty of Theology of Stellenbosch University (South Africa),  Affiliate Assistant Professor of Worship and Preaching for New Brunswick Theological Seminary, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Worship at Fuller Theological Seminary,  and Adjunct Instructor at Somerset Christian College (now Pillar College).

In 2012, he was elected the Moderator of the 220th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the highest elected official of the 1.9-million member denomination’s national governing council, and, at the age of 35 at the time of his election, is the youngest to have been elected in the denomination’s history. As Moderator, he represented the Assembly and the denomination in various ecumenical, mission, ecclesiastical, and civic settings in 35 states and several countries including Cuba, Korea, Lebanon, Egypt, Japan, the Philippines, France, Scotland, The White House, and The Hoover Institution.

In ecumenical settings,  he is the Co-Vice Chair of the Third Round of Bilateral Dialogues between The Episcopal Church and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) from 2019-2024.  In 2022, he will be one of four official delegates of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to the 11th Assembly of the World Council of Churches to be held in Karlsruhe, Germany. In 2006-2011, he was the Convener of the Caribbean and North American Area Council (CANAAC) of both the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) and the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC), and in that capacity, served on the executive committees of both bodies.  As CANAAC Convener, he successfully led the reorganization of the regional council, working with the heads of communions and ecumenical officers of 20 member denominations.  He represented WARC at the Faith and Order Plenary Commission of the World Council of Churches in Kolympari, Crete, and was on a 5-member delegation which represented WARC at the Symposium on Harvesting the Fruits convened by the Pontifical Council of Promoting Christian Unity at the Vatican. For the historic 25th General Council of the WCRC, he served on the Theology Planning Group, which developed and brought proposals to the General Council for the Communion’s work in the areas of theology and ecumenical engagement for the period of 2017-2024. In 2013, he was the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s ecumenical representative to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.

In the regional and national settings of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Neal has served as presbytery moderator and vice moderator; vice chairman of the board of trustees of the Presbyterian Foundation (2018-2020); vice chair of the General Assembly Council; the Committee on Theological Education and its executive committee; the Mission Development Resources Committee; the Committee on the Office of the General Assembly; and as corresponding member to multiple General Assemblies. In 2009-2012, he chaired the General Assembly Special Committee on the Heidelberg Catechism, which collaborated with the Reformed Church of America and the Christian Reformed Church in North America for the updating of the translation of a common version of the Heidelberg Catechism, including accurate Scriptural citations/versifications from the Latin and German texts.

In the academy, Neal is a member of the American Academy of Religion, the North American Academy of Liturgy, the Academy of Homiletics, and Societas Liturgica. He served on the editorial board of Studia Liturgica, the peer-review journal for Societas Liturgica. He is the Book Review Contributing Editor for The Living Pulpit (www.pulpit.org), an online journal for preachers and teachers of preaching.  At International Theological Seminary, he is the chair of the Faculty Development and Support Committee and a member of the faculty’s Curriculum Review and Assessment Committee. He was a member of the Board of Trustees of Princeton Theological Seminary, serving on the Board’s Academic Affairs Committee, the Student Life Committee, and the Special Committee on the Bicentennial.

Neal is a prolific author and editor of six books and numerous articles and book chapters, and working on a seventh book (under contract with Cascade Books/Wipf & Stock) on the role of joy as a liturgical spirituality for the Christian life, a pastoral study project that is being funded by a grant from The Louisville Institute. He is a collaborative inquiry team member for two Louisville Institute grant projects: one on gender equality in Asian American and Latinx churches, and another project on Filipino American theologies and identity formation.

He has received numerous recognitions including being named:  the  2018 Distinguished Pastor Series Preacher for the First Presbyterian Church of Wheaton (Illinois), the 2017 Malcolm Lecture Series Preacher and Lecturer for the First Presbyterian Church of Texarkana (Arkansas),  a three-year honorary appointment (2014-17) as Extraordinary Associate Professor of Practical Theology with the North-West University (Potchefstroom, South Africa), New Brunswick Theological Seminary’s Mark Kraai Lecturer in Public Theology in 2013, the Alvin J. Poppen and John R. Young Fellowship Lecturer in Reformed Worship and Liturgy at the Reformed Church Center in 2012, the James Pearsall Prize Recipient by Drew University in 2009, and named in the Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities & Colleges for two consecutive years having been nominated by the Graduate Division of Religion of Drew University.

He holds the Ph.D. and M.Phil. in liturgics, ecumenics, and homiletics from Drew University, the Th.M. in pastoral theology from Princeton Theological Seminary, the M.Div. from San Francisco Theological Seminary, and the B.A. in political science (w/ highest honors) and history (w/ honors) from the University of California, Davis.  He is a candidate for the MBA in project management from Missouri State University.

Neal, his wife, two sons, and their puppy live in Carlsbad, California.

CV 

EDUCATION

  • BA (political science w/ highest honors; history w/ honors), University of California
  • Graduate Studies, Westminster Theological Seminary California
  • M.Div., San Francisco Theological Seminary
  • Th.M., Princeton Theological Seminary
  • M.Phil., Drew University
  • Graduate Certificate in Project Management, Missouri State University, 2022
  • MBA, Missouri State University, expected 2024
  • Ph.D., Drew University

            

CURRENT CALLS

  • Associate Director of Doctoral Studies and Visiting Associate Professor of Preaching, New Brunswick Theological Seminary, since 2022
  • Senior Visiting Professor of Pastoral Theology and Ministry, Union Theological Seminary, Dasmariñas, Cavite (Philippines), 2021-2024
  • Adjunct Professor of Practical Theology, International Theological Seminary, West Covina, CA, since 2021
  • Research Fellow, Department of Practical and Missional Theology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa, 2019-2022

 

PREVIOUS CALLS

  • Associate Pastor for Family, Connecting, and Communications Ministries and Coordinator of the Faith & Work Initiative, Village Community Presbyterian Church, Rancho Santa Fe, CA, 2014-2022
  • Visiting Professor of Practical Theology, International Theological Seminary, West Covina, CA, 2019-2021
  • Visiting Professor and Scholar, Union Theological Seminary, Dasmariñas, Cavite (Philippines), 2019-2021
  • PhD External Examiner, Department of Systematic Theology and Ecclesiology, Faculty of Theology, Stellenbosch University, South Africa, 2016-2019
  • Adjunct Assistant Professor of Worship, Fuller Theological Seminary, 2016-2019
  • DMin External Reader, Advanced Pastoral Studies, San Francisco Theological Seminary, 2016
  • Extraordinary Associate Professor of Practical Theology, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa, 2013-2016
  • Pastor, Middlesex Presbyterian Church, Middlesex, NJ, 2003-2014
  • Affiliate Assistant Professor of Preaching and Worship, New Brunswick (NJ) Theological Seminary, 2012-2014
  • Preaching and Worship Consultant, Ponds Reformed Church, Oakland, NJ, 2011
  • Adjunct Instructor, New Brunswick Theological Seminary, 2011-2012
  • Worship Consultant, Eliot Presbyterian Church, Lowell, MA, October 2008
  • Inaugural Henry Luce Foundation Graduate Fellow, Center for Christianities in Global Contexts, Drew University, 2007-08
  • Adjunct Instructor, Somerset Christian College, Zarephath, NJ; 2005-2008

 

EDITORIAL EXPERIENCES

  • External Reviewer, InterVarsity Academic of InterVarsity Press, 2018
  • External Reviewer, Palgrave MacMillan Publishers, 2018-2020
  • Book Review Contributing Editor, The Living Pulpit journal, since 2016
  • Editorial Advisory Board, The Book of Common Worship: 25th Anniversary Edition. Louisville, KY: Presbyterian Publishing Corporation,
  • Editorial Board, Studia Liturgica, 2011-2015
  • Theological Content Reviewer, re:form Traditions (a Confirmation Curriculum) by Theresa Latini and Jim Kast-Keat(Minneapolis, MN: Sparkhouse, 2010/2011)

 

GRANT-FUNDED PROJECTS

  •  “Re-discovering Joy: A Liturgical Spirituality for Life.” Pastoral Study Project. The Louisville Institute, 2020-2021.
  • “Emerging Filipino American Theology in Relationship to the Economy, Community, and Ecumenical Church in the Context of Covid-19 Pandemic.” Collaborative Inquiry Team Project. The Louisville Institute, 2020-2023.
  • “Imagining a More Equal Pulpit: Gender Equality in Latinx and Asian American Congregations in Southern California.” Collaborative Inquiry Team Project. The Louisville Institute, 2017-2020.

 

PUBLICATIONS

 Single-Authored Volumes:

  • Worship, Justice, and Joy: A Liturgical Pilgrimage. Foreword by John Witvliet. Worship and Witness series. Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, 2023. Forthcoming/Under Contract
  • Ascension Theology and Habakkuk: A Reformed Ecclesiology in Filipino American Perspective. Foreword by Reuel Norman Marigza. The Asian Christianity in Diaspora Series. Series editors: Grace Ji-Sun Kim and Joseph Cheah. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2018. 
  • Our Only Comfort: 52 Reflections on the Heidelberg Catechism. Foreword by M. Craig Barnes. Louisville, KY: Westminster JohnKnox Press, 2015
  • Here I Am, Lord, Send Me: Ritual and Narrative for a Theology of Presbyteral Ordination in the Reformed Tradition. Eugene,OR: Resource Publications/Wipf and Stock, 2012

 

Edited/Co-edited Volumes:

  • Liturgical-Missional: Perspectives on a Reformed Ecclesiology. Foreword by Olav Fykse Tveit. Eugene, OR: Wipf andStock/Pickwick Publications, 2016
  • That They May All Be One: Celebrating the World Communion of Reformed Churches. Foreword by Setri Nyomi Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2010
  • Insights from the Underside: An Intergenerational Conversation of Ministers. Foreword by Rodger Nishioka. Elizabeth, NJ: Broadmind Press, 2008

 

Essays/Sermons/Articles/Chapters:

  • “Between Memory and Hope: Filipinx American/AAPI Communities and the Leitourgia for Justice, Belonging, and Identity.” Confronting Racial Justice: Theory and Praxis for the Church. Edited by Gerald Hiestand and Joel Lawrence. Eugene, OR: Cascade Books/Wipf & Stock, 2022.  pp. 150-167. Forthcoming.
  • “Artificial Intelligence, the Ascension, and Human Flourishing.” Technē: Christian Visions for Technology. Edited by Gerald Hiestand and Todd A. Wilson. Eugene, OR: Cascade Books/ Wipf & Stock, 2022.  pp. 131-140. Forthcoming.
  • “Familiar Promises for Unfamiliar Times” Stewardship Lectionary Preview Jeffersonville, IN: Presbyterian Foundation, December 2021. Commissioned essay.
  • “Liturgical Theology and the Trinity: The Mission, Vision, and Values of the Church and the Christian Life.” The Wiley-Blackwell Companion to Liturgical Theology. Edited by Porter Taylor and Khalia Williams. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Blackwell Publishing, 2022. Forthcoming.
  • “Filipina/x/o Americans and Theology” in The SAGE Encyclopedia of Filipina/x/o American Studies. Edited by Kevin L. Nadal. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc., 2022. Forthcoming
  • “A Call From an API Male Co-Conspirator” in A Biblical Study Guide for Equal Pulpits. Foreword by Edwin Aponte. Edited by Young Lee Hertig. Eugene, OR: Cascade Books/Wipf & Stock, 2022.
  • “Spirit-Timed Disclosure: Who Jesus Is and Who We Are” Stewardship Lectionary Preview Jeffersonville, IN: Presbyterian Foundation, June 2021. Commissioned essay. Access: https://www.presbyterianfoundation.org/spirit-timed-disclosure-who-jesus-is-and-who-we-are-june-2021-lectionary-previews/
  • “Patience’s Long Suffering: Fruit of the Spirit.” Presbyterian Outlook. 2021. Commissioned essay. (access: https://pres-outlook.org/2021/05/patience-the-longsuffering-fruit-of-the-spirit/)
  • “Thus Saith the Lord” Stewardship Lectionary Preview Jeffersonville, IN: Presbyterian Foundation, January 2021. Commissioned essay
  • “Begin Again: Closure and Anticipation” Stewardship Lectionary Preview Jeffersonville, IN: Presbyterian Foundation, December 2020. Commissioned essay.
  • “Reckoning, Repentance, Reconciliation: Towards a More Just Society.” Center for Pastor Theologians. September 28, 2020. Commissioned essay. Online article: https://www.pastortheologians.com/articles/2020/9/28/reckoning-repentance-reconciliation-towards-a-more-just-society
  • “Being and Doing Church in the Age of Pandemics.” Threshold Dwellers in the Age of Global Pandemic. Edited by Eleazar Fernandez. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2022. Forthcoming.
  • “The Arc and The Road: A Journey Towards a More Just Society” in The Living Pulpit (December 2020). Online article: http://www.pulpit.org/the-arc-and-the-road-a-journey-towards-a-more-just-society/
  • “Theo-Drama: The ‘Now What?’ of Faith” Stewardship Lectionary Preview Jeffersonville, IN: Presbyterian Foundation, August 2020. Commissioned essay.
  • “Love Casts Out Fear” Stewardship Lectionary Preview Jeffersonville, IN: Presbyterian Foundation, June 2020. Commissioned essay.
  • “Sacred Encounters” Stewardship Lectionary Preview Jeffersonville, IN: Presbyterian Foundation, March 2020. Commissioned essay.
  • “God’s Present of Presence” Stewardship Lectionary Preview Jeffersonville, IN: Presbyterian Foundation, December 2019. Commissioned essay.
  • “God’s Pursuit, In Pursuit of God” Stewardship Lectionary Preview Jeffersonville, IN: Presbyterian Foundation, September 2019. Commissioned essay.
  • “It’s All About Community and Stewardship” Stewardship Lectionary Preview Jeffersonville, IN: Presbyterian Foundation, June 2019. Commissioned essay.
  • “Wisdom in a Wikipedia World: Education, Ecumenism and Leadership in an Age of Globalization” in Schools of Faith: Essays on Theology, Ethics and Education in Honour of Iain R. Torrance. Edited by David Fergusson and Bruce McCormack. London: Bloomsbury T&T Clark, 2019. pp. 279-287.
  • “Reconciliation: On the 50th Anniversary of The Confession of 1967” in The Living Pulpit (www.pulpit.org), vol. 26 (Fall/Winter 2017): 4-6.
  • Theological Background for “The Beginnings” Colaborate Presbyterian Confirmation Curriculum. Minneapolis, MN: 1517 Media/Sparkhouse, 2017.
  • Theological Background for “Reformed and Always Reforming” Colaborate Presbyterian Confirmation Curriculum. Minneapolis, MN: 1517 Media/Sparkhouse, 2017.
  • Theological Background for “The Sovereignty of God” Colaborate Presbyterian Confirmation Curriculum. Minneapolis, MN: 1517 Media/Sparkhouse, 2017.
  • “Ordination Best Practices for Ministers, Elders, and Deacons.” Calvin Institute for Christian Worship. On-line resource library. February 8, 2017. http://worship.calvin.edu/resources/resource-library/ordination-best-practices-for-ministers-elders-and-deacons
  • “Scripture in Worship” in special issue: “Reformed and Ecumenical: The Liturgical Legacy of Harold Daniels” Call to Worship: Liturgy, Music, Preaching and the Arts. vol. 51.2, pp. 43-46.
  • Devotional essay in Lenten Meditations on Belhar. Edited by Kerri Allen and Donald McKim. Louisville, KY: Congregational Ministries Publishing, 2017
  • “Stewardship of Mind: The Ascension and Our Life Together” in Beyond the Offering Plate: A Holistic Approach to Stewardship.  Edited by Adam J. Copelan Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2017
  • “New Heaven and New Earth” in Proclaiming the Good  News of  God’s Peace: The Witness of the Belhar Confession: 2015Peacemaking Advent Devotions.  Edited by Clifton Kirkpatrick. Louisville, KY: Presbyterian Peacemaking Program, 2015
  • The Accra Confession and Ecumenism Today”in Ecclesio.com, August 2014 at: http://www.ecclesio.com/2014/08/the-accra-confession-and-ecumenism-today-by- neal-d-presa/
  • “Holy Gifts, Wholly Giving…Island Style: Sermon Delivered at the Opening Convocation at Columbia Theological Seminary,September 2013” (sermon) in Journal for Preachers, vol 38, no. 1 (Advent 2014): 36-37
  • “Sacrosanctum Concilium Through the Ministry of Anscar Chupungco” in Proceedings of the North American Academy of Liturgy(January 2014): 41-43
  • Foreword for Here I Am: Faith Stories of Korean American Clergywomen, edited by Grace Ji-Sun Ki Valley Forge, PA: JudsonPress, 2015.
  • Foreword for A Christian Guide to Spirituality: Foundations for Disciples by Stephen Hiemstra. Centreville, VA: T2Pneuma Publishers LLC, 2014.
  • “To Be Crucified and Then to Live” (sermon ) in Call to Worship: Liturgy, Music, Preaching, and the Arts, vo 46.3 (2013): 87-89.
  • Theological Perspective sections on Luke 8:4-15, Luke 8:16-21, Luke 8:22-25. Feasting on the Gospels, edited by Cynthia Jarvis and Elizabeth Johnson. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2014.
  • “For Such a Time as This, For the Life of the World” (sermon) in Call to Worship: Liturgy, Music, Preaching, and the Arts, vo 46.2 (2012): 70-71.
  • “Baptism, Eucharist, and Ministry Revisited at Thirty: A Reformed Ecumenical Perspective” Call to Worship: Liturgy, Music, Preaching, and the Arts, vol. 46.2 (2012), 51-55
  • “Reformata, Semper Reformanda” Association of Reformed Liturgy & Worship newsletter Vol. 8, issue 1 (Spring 2012): 5-6.
  • Butt-Naked: Jesus’ Call for Authentic Ministry” The Hardest Question blog of Sparkhouse Publishing (July 8, 2012 – Year B), http://thq.wearesparkhouse.org/
  • “Jesus Followers as A-Theists: Foolishness Meets Reason” The Hardest Question blog of Sparkhouse Publishing (July 8, 2012 – Year B), http://thq.wearesparkhouse.org/
  • “Being Here, Not Here, and Not Yet: The Full Absence and Full Presence of Christ Among Us” The Hardest Question blog of Sparkhouse Publishing (May 27, 2012 – Year B), http://thq.wearesparkhousorg/
  • The Walking Alive: On Being Affected/Infected by the Spirit” The Hardest Question blog of Sparkhouse Publishing (May 27, 2012 – Year B), http://thq.wearesparkhouse.org/
  • “Ecumenism in a Post-Denominational Time” Ecclescom on-line journal (November 15-19, 2010), http://www.ecclesio.com/2010/11/ecumenism-in-a-post-denominational- time-neal-d-presa/
  • “Take, Bless, Break, Give: A Reformed Perspective on Why the Church” Ecumenical Review  62:3 (October 2010): 282-288.
  • “Whenever You Eat This Bread and Drink This Cup: Being a Communion of Churches” in That They May All Be One:Celebrating the World Communion of Reformed Churches. Edited by Neal D. Pres  Louisville, KY: Westminster John KnoxPress, 2010
  • “Harvesting the Fruits: Promoting Unity in the Church” Patheos on-line journal (May 11, 2010),http://www.patcom/Resources/Additional-Resources/Harvesting-the-Fruits- Promoting-Unity-in-the-Church.html
  • Healing Word sections for Year C (2010) Sunday Lectionary readings: April 4-25, May 2-16 in Homily Service, vol. 43, no. 2Minute for Mission on “Christian Unity” focus for January 24, 2010, Presbyterian Church (U.S.) 2010 Mission Yearbook.Louisville, KY: General Assembly Council, 2009.
  • Healing Word sections for Year B (2009) Sunday Lectionary readings: July 12-August 30 in Homily Service, vo 42, no. 3
  • Studying the Lectionary sections for Year B (2008/2009) Sunday Lectionary readings: January 11 and February 22, 2009 inHomily Service, vo 42, no. 1
  • Healing Word sections for Year A (2008) Sunday Lectionary readings: October 5-19, November 1-23 in Homily Service, vo 41, no. 4
  • “Stale Bread and Sour Wine: Keeping the Gospel Real Through the Sacraments” with accompanying response from the Rev. Dr. Laura Mendenhall in Insights from the Underside: An IntergenerationalConversation of Ministers.  Edited by Neal D. Presa. Elizabeth, NJ: Broadmind Press, 2008.
  • Healing Word sections for Year A (2008) Sunday Lectionary readings: August 3-31 in Homily Service , vol. 41,  no. 3
  • Daily Meditations for May 25-31, 2008, These Days: Daily Devotions for Living By Faith, Presbyterian Publishing Corporation, April-June 2008
  • “Ordination in The Apostolic Tradition” Call to Worship: Liturgy, Music, Preaching, and the Arts.  vo 40.2 (November 2006)
  • With Martha Moore-Keish, “Finding a Theology of Ordination and Vocation in Baptism” The Presbyterian Outlook June 19, 2006 (Issue 188-21)
  • Healing Word sections for Year C (2007) Lectionary readings: October 7, 8 (Canadian Thanksgiving), 14, 21, 28 in Homily Service, vol. 40, no. 11
  • Healing Word sections for Year B (2006) Lectionary readings: November 1, 5, 12, 19, 26 in Homily Service, vol. 39, no. 12
  • Healing Word sections for Year B (2006) Lectionary readings: September 3, 17, 24 in Homily Service, vol. 39 , no. 11
  • “Putting Faith Into Practice”, The Text in Context section, The Present Word Bible Study Curriculum. Louisville, KY: Congregational Ministries Publishing, Fall 2003
  • “Jesus Fulfills His Mission”, The Text in Context section, The Present Word Bible Study Curriculum. Louisville, KY: Congregational Ministries Publishing, Spring 2004
  • “Hold Fast to the Faith”, The Text in Context section, The Present Word Bible Study Curriculum. Louisville, KY: Congregational Ministries Publishing, Summer 2004

 

Book Reviews:

  • Diary of a Pastor’s Soul: The Holy Moments in a Life of Ministry by M. Craig Barnes (Grand Rapids: Brazos Press, 2020) in Bulletin for Ecclesial Theology (Fall 2022), forthcoming
  • Liturgical Mysticism by David Fagerberg (Steubenville, OH: Emmaus Academic, 2019) in Bulletin for Ecclesial Theology (Fall 2022), forthcoming
  • Theology as a Way of Life: On Teaching and Learning the Christian Faith by Adam Neder (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2019) in Bulletin for Ecclesial Theology. Vol. 7.2 (Fall 2020), 117-118.
  • Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know About the People We Don’t Know by Malcolm Gladwell (New York: Little, Brown, and Company, 2019) in The Living Pulpit (Oct. 2020), http://www.pulpit.org/2020/10/book-review-talking-to-strangers-by-malcolm-gladwell/
  • A Little Book for New Preachers: Why and How to Study Homiletics by Matthew Kim (InterVarsity Press, 2019) in Bulletin for Ecclesial Theology. Vol. 7.1 (Spring 2020), pp. 103-104.
  • The Christian Imagination: Theology and the Origins of Raceby Willie James Jennings (New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2010) in The Living Pulpit (Feb. 2019), http://www.pulpit.org/2019/02/book-review-8/
  • The Collected Sermons of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Volume Oneby Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Edited by Isabel Best. (Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2012) in The Living Pulpit (Nov. 2018), http://www.pulpit.org/2018/11/book-review-5/
  • The Pastoral Theologian: Resurrecting an Ancient Vision by Gerald Hiestand and Todd Wilson (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2015) in The Living Pulpit, vol. 26 (Spr 2018): 34-35.
  • Let the Whole Church Say Amen!: A Guide for Those Who Pray in Public by Laurence Hull Stookey (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2001) in The Living Pulpit, vo. 26(Spr 2018):35.
  • Beginnings: Ancient Christian Readings of the Biblical Creation Narratives by Peter C. Boutenoff (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2008) in Bulletin of Ecclesial Theology, vol. 5.1 (2018):113-114.
  • Radical Discipleship: A Liturgical Politics of the Gospel by Jennifer M. McBride (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2017) in The Living Pulpit, vol. 26 (Fall/Winter 2017): 28-29.
  • Overrated: Are We More in Love with the Idea of Changing the World Than Actually Changing the World? by Eugene Cho (Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook, 2014) in The Living Pulpit (www.pulpit.org), February 2018
  • Comparative Review of the following 2 books and 1 film published in The Living Pulpit (www.pulpit.org), vol. 26 (Summer 2017): 29-30 Silence by Shusaku Endo. Translated by William Johnston. (New York: Taplinger Publishing Company, 1980) Silence and Beauty by Makoto Fujimura. (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2016) Silence (2016 film). Directed by Martin Scorsese.
  • At the Heart of Christian Worship: Liturgical Essays of Yves Congar by Yves Congar. Translated and edited by Paul Philibert. (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2010) in The Living Pulpit (www.pulpit.org), vol. 26 (Spring 2017): 30-31.
  • Come and See: Presbyterian Congregations Celebrating Weekly Communion by Ronald P. Byars (Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, 2014) in The Living Pulpit (www.pulpit.org), vol. 25 (Winter 2016): 26-27.
  • Preaching the Presence of God: A Homiletic from an Asian American Perspective by Eunjoo Mary Kim (Valley Forge, PA: Judson Press, 1999) in The Living Pulpit (www.pulpit.org), vol. 25 (Winter 2016): 27-29.
  • Apostolicity: The Ecumenical Question in World Christian Perspective by John G. Flett (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2016) in Interpretation: A Journal of Bible and Theology, vol. 72(3): 350-351.
  • Justification: God’s Plan and Paul’s Vision by N.T. Wright (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2009) in The Living Pulpit(www.pulpit.org), vol. 25 (Summer/Fall 2016): 26-27.
  • Preaching: Communicating Faith in an Age of Skepticism by Timothy Keller (New York: Viking, 2015) in The Living Pulpit(www.pulpit.org), vo 25 (Spring 2016): 30-31.
  • Homiletical Theology: Preaching as Doing Theology. Edited by David Schnasa Jacobsen (Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, 2015) in The Living Pulpit (www.pulpit.org), vo 24 (Winter 2015): 30-32.
  • Faith, Freedom and the Spirit: The Economic Trinity in Barth, Torrance and Contemporary Theology by Paul D. Molnar (DownersGrove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2015) in The Living Pulpit (www.pulpit.org), vo 24 (Winter 2015): 29-30.
  • Evangelical Versus Liturgical? Defying a Dichotomy by Melanie C. Ross (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm Eerdmans, 2014) in Interpretation: A Journal of Bible and Theology, vo 70, no. 4 (October 2016), p. 505.
  • Embodying Grace: Proclaiming Justification in the Real World by Andrea Bieler and Hans-Martin Gutmann. Translated by LindaM. Maloney (Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2010) in The Living Pulpit (www.pulpit.org), vo 24 (Summer 2015): 39-40
  • Comparative review of Called: The Crisis and Promise of Following Jesus Today by Mark Labberton (Downers Grove, IL:InterVarsity Press, 2014) and Every Good Endeavor : Connecting  Your  Work to  God’s Work  by Timothy Keller (New York:Riverhead Books, 2012) in The Living Pulpit (www.pulpit.org), vo 24 (Spring 2015): 24-25    
  • The Dangerous Act of Loving Your Neighbor: Seeing Others Through the Eyes of Jesus by Mark Labberton (Downers Grove, IL:InterVarsity Press, 2010) in The Living Pulpit (www.pulpit.org), vo 23 (Winter 2014): 26-27.
  • Faith, Hope & Love: The Ecumenical Trio of Virtues by Geoffrey Wainwright (Waco, TX: Baylor University Press, 2014) inEcumenical Review, vol 66, issue 4 (December 2014): 520-
  • Missional Preaching: Engage, Embrace, Transform by Al Tizon (Valley Forge, PA: Judson Press, 2012) in The Living Pulpit(www.pulpit.org), vo 23 (Summer 2014): 46-47.
  • Flourishing Churches and Communities: A Pentecostal Primer on Faith, Work, and Economics for Spirit-Empowered Discipleshipby Charlie Self (Grand Rapids, MI: Christian’s Library Press, 2013) in The Living Pulpit (www.pulpit.org), vo 23 (Spring 2014): 49-50.
  • My Bright Abyss: Meditation of a Modern Believer by Christian Wiman (New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2013) in The Living Pulpit (www.pulpit.org), vo 22 (Winter 2013): 42.
  • Rewiring Your Preaching: How the Brain Processes Sermons by Richard H. Cox (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2012) inThe Living Pulpit (www.pulpit.org), vo 23 (Fall 2013): 51.
  • Dem Dry Bones: Preaching, Death, and Hope by Luke A. Powery (Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2012) in The Living Pulpit(www.pulpit.org), vo 22 (Summer 2013): 45-46.
  • What Not to Say: Avoiding the Common Mistakes That Can Sink Your Sermon by John C. Holbert and Alyce M. McKenzie (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2011) in The Living Pulpit (www.pulpit.org), vo 22 (Summer 2013): 46.
  • The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith by Timothy Keller (New York: Riverhead Books, 2008) in The Living Pulpit (www.pulpit.org), vo 21.2 (April- June 2012): 45-46.
  • Free of Charge: Giving and Forgiving in a Culture Stripped of Grace by Miroslav Volf (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2005) in The Living Pulpit (www.pulpit.org), vo 21.2 (April-June 2012): 43-44
  • Ratzinger ’s Faith:  The  Theology  of  Pope  Benedict  XVI  by Tracey Rowland (New York: Oxford University Press, 2008) inEcumenical Review vo 63, issue 2 (July 2011): 242-243
  • Sacraments: Revelation of the Humanity of God: engaging the fundamental theology of Louis-Marie Chauvet eds. Philippe Bordeyne and Bruce T. Morrill (Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, 2008) in Homiletic, vo 35, no. 1 (2010)

 

SELECTED KEYNOTES, ADDRESSES, PRESENTATIONS

  • “Between Memory and Hope: Filipinx American/AAPI Communities and the Leitourgia for Justice, Belonging, and Identity,” Invited Paper Presentation, “Confronting Racial Injustice: Theory and Praxis for the Church” Annual Conference of The Center for Pastor Theologians, October 18-20, 2021, Oak Park, Illinois
  • “Excellence and Embodiment: Ethics, Integrity and Authenticity.” 3rd session of 3-part virtual class on church leadership and administration. Continuing Education seminar for Master’s and DMin students. Innovative Theological Education Program (ITEP). Virtual course. Union Theological Seminary, Dasmariñas, Cavite (Philippines), December 11, 2020.
  • “What Does It Mean to be Reformed/Reformed Christian?” Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, Directorate of Lay Development and Leadership Training, 2020 Reformation Day Webinar, October 31, 2020.
  • “Theopraxis in Ministry: Challenges and Opportunities.” Continuing Education seminar for Master’s and DMin students. Innovative Theological Education Program (ITEP). Virtual course. Union Theological Seminary, Dasmariñas, Cavite (Philippines), August 3-5, 2020.
  • “Thesis Writing.” Continuing Education intensive seminar for Master’s and DMin students. Innovative Theological Education Program (ITEP). Union Theological Seminary, Dasmariñas, Cavite (Philippines), August 16, 2019.
  • “Biblical Hermeneutics and Homiletics.” Continuing Education seminar for Master’s and DMin students. Innovative Theological Education Program (ITEP). Union Theological Seminary, Dasmariñas, Cavite (Philippines), August 12-15, 2019.
  • “Artificial Intelligence, the Ascension, and Human Flourishing.” Paper presentation. Annual Conference of The Center for Pastor Theologians, Oak Park, IL. October 14-16, 2019.
  • Keynote Speaker, “Following Jesus: Faithfulness as Seen from Hebrews 12 and Matthew 28:18-20,” Presbyterian Men of the Synod of Mid-Atlantic, Massanetta Bible Springs Conference Center, Harrisonburg, VA, July 18, 2014
  • Keynote Speaker, “A Theological Framework for Hispanic Ministries: A General Assembly Moderator’s Perspective,” NationalPresbyterian Hispanic Caucus, Detroit, MI, June 17, 2014
  • Panel Moderator, “Celebrating the 40th anniversary of the North American Academy of Liturgy, the 50th anniversary ofSacrosanctum Concilium of the Second Vatican Council through the lens of the ministry of the late Fr. Anscar Chupungco,”Plenary of the North American Academy of Liturgy, Orlando, FL, January 2014
  • With Rantoa Letsosa, “They Shall Come from East and West and North And South And Sit at Table in the Kingdom of God: 50 Years of Liturgical Ecclesiologies through a Reformed South African and a Reformed Asian American in Conversation” Paper presentation at the Congress of the Societas Liturgica, Würzburg, Germany, August 2013.
  • Keynote Address, “ReVisioning Church and Academy in an Age of Upheaval,” 2013 English Ministry Conference, Princeton Theological Seminary, April 9, 2013
  • Mark Kraai Lecturer in Public Theology, New Brunswick Theological Seminary, April 16, 2013, Lecture: “Theological Method in a Wikipedia World: Ritual, Narrative & Communities”
  • Alvin J. Poppen and John Young Fellowship Lecturer in Reformed Worship and Liturgy, Reformed Church Center, New Brunswick Theological Seminary, Feb. 2012 Lecture: “Sacramental Theology and Practice for a Google Generation”
  • Respondent, What, Then, Is Liturgy?: Musings and Memoir by Anscar Chupungco (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2010), atNorth American Academy of Liturgy, Liturgical Theology Seminar, Montreal, Quebec (Canada), January 2012
  • Seminar Speaker, “Conflict Resolution and Non-violent Communication,” Northeast region of the Administrative Personnel Association of the Presbyterian Church (S.A.), Princeton Theological Seminary, June 11, 2011
  • Panelist, 1st Scholars Roundtable, Center for Christianities in Global Contexts, Drew University, November 30, 2009
  • Panel Convener and Discussant, “In the Trenches: Surviving and Thriving In Ministry,” 2008-2009 Seminary Saturdays Continuing Theological Education Event, Drew University Theological School, February 7, 2009
  • “Church Orders in the Reformed Tradition: Official Theology, Lived Theology and Pathways Towards a Reformed Theology ofOrdination,” paper presented at the North American Academy of Liturgy, Liturgical Theology seminar, January 2009
  • Respondent to Dr. M. Craig Barnes, “The Unpoetic Congregation,” Alumni/ae Leadership Forum, Princeton Theological Seminary, October 24, 2008 
  • Keynote Speaker/Preacher, “Do More (By Doing Less),” Joint Conference of the National Taiwanese Presbyterian Council and the National Taiwanese Presbyterian Young Adult Council, Atlanta, GA, July 10-13, 2008
  • Preacher, “Once Upon a Time: The Stor(ies) of Life,” Chase Village-Nistar Church, Chase Village, Trinidad, October 21, 2007.

 

SELECTED FELLOWSHIPS, AWARDS, HONORS, AND DISTINCTIONS

  • The 2018 Distinguished Pastors Series Preacher, First Presbyterian Church, Wheaton, IL. September 23, 2018.
  • The 2017 Malcolm Lecture Series Preacher and Lecturer, “Why the Presbyterian/Reformed Witness Matters in the 21st Century Church, Nation, World” First Presbyterian Church, Texarkana, AR.  April 29-30, 2017.
  • The Mark Kraai Lecturer in Public Theology, New Brunswick Theological Seminary, 2013
  • The Alvin J. Poppen and John Young Fellowship Lecturer in Reformed Worship and Liturgy, Reformed Church Center, NewBrunswick Theological Seminary, 2012
  • Honorary Joint Legislative Resolution, sponsored by Senator Turner, Assemblyman Gusciora and Assemblywoman Watson Coleman, State House, Trenton, NJ, September 2012
  • Featured as one of 10 “Emerging Leaders in the Presbyterian Church (S.A.)” Presbyterians Today magazine, August 2010
  • 2010 Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities & Colleges Only student nominated by the Drew Theological School-Graduate Division of Religion
  • 2009 Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities & Colleges
  • The James Pearsall Prize – outstanding achievement on PhD qualifying comprehensive exams, Graduate Division of Religion,Drew University, May 2009
  • Completed all PhD Qualifying Comprehensive Exams with Distinction
  • Reformation Liturgies
  • Reformed-Eastern Orthodox Bilateral Dialogues
  • Karl Barth’s Homiletics and Barth’s Doctrines of Word and Sacraments
  • Eucharistic Presidency and Notions of Apostolic Tradition and Succession
  • Completed all PhD doctoral-level seminars with overall 4.0 GPA
  • Graduate Division of Religion Scholarship Award, Drew University, 2006-07, 2008-09
  • Selected one of “40 Presbyterians under 40 to Watch”, June/July 2004, Presbyterians Today
  • Samuel Robinson Westminster Shorter Catechism Prize (3rd Place), 2002
  • Knights Templar Foundation Scholarship Prize Recipient, 2001-2002
  • Special M.Div. Project, “Salvation Systems and the Last Things: A Reformed Critique of Dispensational Eschatology”, Department of Systematic Theology, San Francisco Theological Seminary; Research Advisor: The Rev. Dr. Gregory Love,2000-2001
  • Department of Political Science Citation Award for Top Graduating Senior, University of California, Davis
  • Graduated with Highest Honors in Political Science and Honors in History, University of California, Davis
  • Undergraduate Honors Societies: Golden Key, Sigma Xi (Research), Pi Sigma Alpha (Political Science), Phi Alpha Theta (History)
  • Dean’s List, College of Letters and Science, University of California, Davis – multiple quarters

 

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

  • American Academy of Religion
    -Asian North American Religion, Culture, and Society Unit
  • Fellow, The Center for Pastor Theologians
  • North American Academy of Liturgy
    -Liturgical Theology Seminar
  • Societas Liturgica
  • Academy of Homiletics

 

SERVICE TO THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION

  • Board of Directors, Innovative Space for Asian American Christianity (ISAAC), 2018-2019
  • General Assembly Committee on Theological Education, 2006-2008
    -Executive Committee, 2007-08

International Theological Seminary:

  • Chair, Faculty Support and Development Committee, since 2022
  • Faculty Curriculum Assessment and Review Committee, since 2021
  • Faculty Member, Department of Pastoral Studies, since 2021

Princeton Theological Seminary:

  • Board of Trustees, 2008-2011
  • Alumni/ae Association Executive Council, 2006-2008

New Brunswick Theological Seminary:

  • Doctor of Ministry Oversight Committee, since 2022
  • Curriculum and Assessment Committee, since 2022
  • Chapel Worship Committee, 2011-2014
  • Chapel and Arts Committee, 2011-2014
  • Teaching and Instruction Subcommittee –preparatory for Association of Theological Schools’ Re-Accreditation Visit Committees, 2013-2014

 

SERVICE TO THE WIDER CHURCH

Ecumenical:

  • Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Delegate to the 11th Assembly of the World Council of Churches (Karlsruhe, Germany), 2022
  • Co-Vice Chair, Third Round of the Episcopal-Presbyterian Bilateral Dialogue, 2019-2024
  • Theology Planning Group, 26th General Council (Leipzig, Germany, 2017) of the World Communion of Reformed Churches
  • Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Ecumenical Representative to the 2013 General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, Edinburgh, Scotland, May 2013
  • Board of Directors (ex-officio), Caribbean and North American Endowment Fund of the World Communion of Reformed Churches, 2010-2011
  • Executive Committee, World Communion of Reformed Churches, 2010-11
  • Member and Rapporteur, Policy Committee of the Uniting General Council of the World Communion of Reformed Churches, June 2010
  • Member, Theology and Ecumenical Engagement Section, Uniting General Council of the World Communion of Reformed Churches, June 2010
  • World Alliance of Reformed Churches delegation to the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity consultation on “Harvesting the Fruits: 40 Years of Ecumenical Dialogues,” Vatican City (Italy), February 8-10, 2010
  • World Alliance of Reformed Churches representative to the World Council of Churches Faith and Order Plenary Commission, Crete (Greece), October 2009
  • Presbyterian Church (S.A.) Delegate to the Uniting General Council of the World Communion of Reformed Churches, Grand Rapids, MI, June 18-28, 2010
  • Expanded Planning Committee, World Alliance of Reformed Churches/Reformed Ecumenical Council, Grand Rapids, MI,February 2009
  • Final Drafting Team for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Ecumenical Stance Statement, subsequently approved by the 218thGeneral Assembly (2008)
  • Corresponding Member (ex-officio), World Alliance of Reformed Churches Executive Committee, 2006-2010
  • Caribbean and North American Area Council, World Alliance of Reformed Churches/World Communion of Reformed Churches, 2003-2011
    -Convener/Chair, 2006-2011

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) General Assembly:

  • Moderator, 220th General Assembly, 2012-2014
  • Chair, Special Committee on the Heidelberg Catechism, 2009-2012
  • Corresponding Member to the 225th General Assembly (2022), 224th General Assembly (2020), 223rd General Assembly (2018), 222nd General Assembly (2016), 221st General Assembly (2014), 219th General Assembly (2010), 216th General Assembly (2004), 214th General Assembly (2002)
  • Committee on the Office of the General Assembly (ex-officio), 2003-04, 2012-2014

Presbyterian Church Foundation:

  • Board of Trustees, 2016-2020
               -Chair, 2020-2022; Vice Chair, 2018-2020
               -Chair, Finance Committee, 2020-2022
               -Chair, Board Nominating Task Force, 2018-2020; Member, Nominating Cmte, 2017
               -Vice Chair, Asset Gathering Committee, 2017

Presbyterian Mission Agency Board (formerly General Assembly Council),1998-2004, 2012-2016

  • Vice Chair, 2003-04
  • Executive Committee, 2001-04
  • Parliamentarian, 2001-03
  • Chair, Procedures Subcommittee of the Executive Committee, 2002-04
  • Chair, Personnel Subcommittee of the Executive Committee, 2003-04 (ex-officio)
  • Mission Work Plan Project Team, 2003-04
  • Sacraments Work Group, 2003-06
  • Board of Directors, Stony Point Conference Center, 2010-2013

Presbytery of Elizabeth:

  • Moderator, 2011-2012
  • Vice Moderator, 2010-2011
  • Facilitator (ex-officio), Worship and Theology Team, 2010-2011
  • Chair, Bills and Overtures Committee, 2010-2011
  • Permanent Judicial Commission, 2008-2011
    -Clerk, 2008-2011
  • Committee on Preparation for Ministry, 2005-10
    -Chair, CPM Commission for Alternative Ordination Exams
  • Chair, Evangelism and Church Growth Unit, 2004-05
    Presbytery Cabinet (formerly Presbytery Council), 2004-05, 2010-2013

Presbytery of San Diego:

  • Committee on Preparation for Ministry, since 2017
  • Joint Certification Committee for Commissioned Ruling Elders, since 2020
  • Committee on Ministry Task Force to Develop a Process and Policy for Commissioned Ruling Elders, 2017-18
  • Presbytery Task Force for the Korean United Presbyterian Church of San Diego, 2016-17

 

 

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