Edmund Clowney
Encyclopedia
Edmund Prosper Clowney (July 30, 1917 – March 20, 2005) was a theologian
, educator, and pastor
. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
, he earned a Bachelor of Arts
from Wheaton College
in 1939, a Bachelor of Theology
from Westminster Theological Seminary
in 1942, a Master of Sacred Theology
from Yale Divinity School
in 1944, and a Doctor of Divinity
from Wheaton College in 1966.
Clowney was ordained in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church
, and served as pastor for churches in Connecticut
, Illinois
, and New Jersey
from 1942 to 1946. Westminster Theological Seminary
invited him to become an assistant professor of practical theology in 1952. In 1966 he became the first president of that seminary
, and remained so until 1984, when he became the theologian-in-residence of Trinity Presbyterian Church (part of the Presbyterian Church in America
) in Charlottesville, Virginia
. In 1990, he moved to Escondido, California
where he was adjunct professor at Westminster Seminary California
. In 2001 he began a full-time position as associate pastor at Christ the King Presbyterian Church in Houston, Texas
. After two years in Texas, Clowney returned to Trinity Presbyterian Church as part-time theologian-in-residence, a position he held until his death in 2005.
Clowney married Jean Granger Wright (b. Feb 17, 1920) on August 30, 1942. They had five children.
Clowney was also a prolific writer. Books that he has authored include:
In addition, he authored many articles, lectures and sermons, including the humor column "Eutychus and His Kin" for the magazine Christianity Today
and Bible studies for the daily devotional Tabletalk.
A memorial fund has been established in his name, with income coming from investments used to create student scholarships.
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
, educator, and pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
, he earned a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from Wheaton College
Wheaton College (Illinois)
Wheaton College is a private, evangelical Protestant liberal arts college in Wheaton, Illinois, a suburb west of Chicago in the United States...
in 1939, a Bachelor of Theology
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
from Westminster Theological Seminary
Westminster Theological Seminary
Westminster Theological Seminary is a Presbyterian and Reformed Christian graduate educational institution located in Glenside, Pennsylvania, with a satellite location in London.-History:...
in 1942, a Master of Sacred Theology
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
from Yale Divinity School
Yale Divinity School
Yale Divinity School is a professional school at Yale University, in New Haven, Connecticut, U.S. preparing students for ordained or lay ministry, or for the academy...
in 1944, and a Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
from Wheaton College in 1966.
Clowney was ordained in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church
Orthodox Presbyterian Church
The Orthodox Presbyterian Church is a conservative Presbyterian denomination located primarily in the United States. It was founded by conservative members of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America who strongly objected to the pervasive Modernist theology during the 1930s . Led...
, and served as pastor for churches in Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, and New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
from 1942 to 1946. Westminster Theological Seminary
Westminster Theological Seminary
Westminster Theological Seminary is a Presbyterian and Reformed Christian graduate educational institution located in Glenside, Pennsylvania, with a satellite location in London.-History:...
invited him to become an assistant professor of practical theology in 1952. In 1966 he became the first president of that seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
, and remained so until 1984, when he became the theologian-in-residence of Trinity Presbyterian Church (part of the Presbyterian Church in America
Presbyterian Church in America
The Presbyterian Church in America is an evangelical Protestant Christian denomination, the second largest Presbyterian church body in the United States after the Presbyterian Church . The PCA professes a strong commitment to evangelism, missionary work, and Christian education...
) in Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville is an independent city geographically surrounded by but separate from Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of King George III of the United Kingdom.The official population estimate for...
. In 1990, he moved to Escondido, California
Escondido, California
Escondido is a city occupying a shallow valley ringed by rocky hills, just north of the city of San Diego, California. Founded in 1888, it is one of the oldest cities in San Diego County. The city had a population of 143,911 at the 2010 census. Its municipal government set itself an operating...
where he was adjunct professor at Westminster Seminary California
Westminster Seminary California
Westminster Seminary California is a Reformed Christian graduate educational institution located 25 miles north of San Diego, California in Escondido. It was initially a branch campus of Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia until 1982 when it became fully independent...
. In 2001 he began a full-time position as associate pastor at Christ the King Presbyterian Church in Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
. After two years in Texas, Clowney returned to Trinity Presbyterian Church as part-time theologian-in-residence, a position he held until his death in 2005.
Clowney married Jean Granger Wright (b. Feb 17, 1920) on August 30, 1942. They had five children.
Clowney was also a prolific writer. Books that he has authored include:
- Preaching and Biblical Theology (ISBN 0-87552-145-2)
- Called to the Ministry (ISBN 0-87552-144-4)
- Christian Meditation (ISBN 1-57383-227-8)
- Doctrine of the Church
- The Message of I Peter: The Way of the Cross (The Bible Speaks Series, ISBN 0-8308-1227-X)
- The Unfolding Mystery: Discovering Christ in the Old Testament (ISBN 0-87552-174-6)
- Preaching Christ in All of Scripture (ISBN 1-58134-452-X)
- The Church (Contours of Christian Theology, ISBN 0-8308-1534-1)
- How Jesus Transforms the Ten Commandments (ISBN 978-1-59638-036-3)
In addition, he authored many articles, lectures and sermons, including the humor column "Eutychus and His Kin" for the magazine Christianity Today
Christianity Today
Christianity Today is an Evangelical Christian periodical based in Carol Stream, Illinois. It is the flagship publication of its parent company Christianity Today International, claiming circulation figures of 140,000 and readership of 290,000...
and Bible studies for the daily devotional Tabletalk.
A memorial fund has been established in his name, with income coming from investments used to create student scholarships.
External links
- "The Politics of the Kingdom" a biblical-theologicalBiblical TheologyBiblical theology is a discipline within Christian theology which studies the Bible from the perspective of understanding the progressive history of God revealing Himself to humanity following the Fall and throughout the Old Testament and New Testament...
essay in PDF by which Clowney discusses how the Church must resist the temptation to become subservient to earthly politicalPoliticsPolitics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
powers and programs. - Obituary for Dr. Edmund Clowney by Westminster Theological Seminary
- EdmundClowney.com, a tribute site