Timothy Tennent
Encyclopedia
Timothy C. Tennent is the president of Asbury Theological Seminary
.
, an M.Div. from Gordon Conwell (1984), a Th.M. from Princeton Theological Seminary
(1991), and a Ph.D. from the University of Edinburgh
's Centre for the Study of Christianity in the Non-Western World (1998), where his dissertation was on Indian theologian Brahmabandhab Upadhyay.
Tennent studied under Professor John Brockington, Dr James Cox, and Professor Andrew Walls, and his research focused on the rapidly growing churches outside the West. His Ph.D. dissertation was revised and published in 2000 under the title Building Christianity on Indian Foundations.
Tennent is also one of four graduates of a three year mentoring in academic leadership program funded through a Lilly Endowment grant.
in South Hamilton
, Massachusetts
, where he served as professor of world missions and Indian studies from 1998–2009. Previously he taught missions on the faculty of Toccoa Falls College where he was named Teacher of the Year in 1995. He continues to serve as a visiting professor at the Luther W. New Jr. Theological College
of Dehradun
, India
where he has taught each summer since since 1988.
He is an ordained elder (minister) in the United Methodist Church
in the Kentucky Annual Conference. He is also a direct descendant of William Tennent
, the founder of Log College
, which was the precursor to Princeton University
.
He was elected to his current post on February 17, 2009 and his tenure began on July 1, 2009. Tennent succeeded Ellsworth Kalas
as president of Asbury.
In November 2009, Tennent signed an ecumenical statement known as the Manhattan Declaration
calling on evangelicals, Catholics and Orthodox not to comply with rules and laws permitting abortion, same-sex marriage and other matters that go against their religious consciences.
Christianity at the Religious Roundtable is also available in Hindi.
He is also the author of several devotional books, including Word Made Flesh, Christ the Fulfillment, and a study of the Apostles' Creed entitled, "This We Believe!" distributed by Asbury Theological Seminary
His blog can be read at www.timothytennent.com
His tweets can be followed at TimTennent
Asbury Theological Seminary
Asbury Theological Seminary is a multi-denominational, graduate institution that offers a variety of master degree and postgraduate degree programs through the schools of Biblical Interpretation and Proclamation, Theology and Formation, Practical Theology, World Missions and Evangelism, and...
.
Education
Tennent's education includes a B.A. from Oral Roberts UniversityOral Roberts University
Oral Roberts University , based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in the United States, is an interdenominational, Charismatic Christian, comprehensive university with an enrollment of about 3,790 students from 49 U.S. states along with a significant number of international students from 70 countries...
, an M.Div. from Gordon Conwell (1984), a Th.M. from Princeton Theological Seminary
Princeton Theological Seminary
Princeton Theological Seminary is a theological seminary of the Presbyterian Church located in the Borough of Princeton, New Jersey in the United States...
(1991), and a Ph.D. from the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
's Centre for the Study of Christianity in the Non-Western World (1998), where his dissertation was on Indian theologian Brahmabandhab Upadhyay.
Tennent studied under Professor John Brockington, Dr James Cox, and Professor Andrew Walls, and his research focused on the rapidly growing churches outside the West. His Ph.D. dissertation was revised and published in 2000 under the title Building Christianity on Indian Foundations.
Tennent is also one of four graduates of a three year mentoring in academic leadership program funded through a Lilly Endowment grant.
Career
Tennent previously worked as the director of missions at Gordon-Conwell Theological SeminaryGordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
Gordon–Conwell Theological Seminary is an evangelical theological seminary whose main campus is based in South Hamilton, Massachusetts, with three other campuses in Boston, Charlotte, North Carolina and Jacksonville. The current president of Gordon-Conwell is Dennis Hollinger...
in South Hamilton
South Hamilton, Massachusetts
South Hamilton is that part of Hamilton, Essex County, Massachusetts, United States that the Postal Service has assigned the zip code 01982; otherwise it is indistinguishable from Hamilton...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, where he served as professor of world missions and Indian studies from 1998–2009. Previously he taught missions on the faculty of Toccoa Falls College where he was named Teacher of the Year in 1995. He continues to serve as a visiting professor at the Luther W. New Jr. Theological College
Luther W. New Jr. Theological College
Luther W. New Jr. Theological College, known as NTC, is a private, accredited Christian seminary in Dehra Dun, India. It was founded in 1989 by George Kuruvila Chavanikamannil...
of Dehradun
Dehradun
- Geography :The Dehradun district has various types of physical geography from Himalayan mountains to Plains. Raiwala is the lowest point at 315 meters above sea level, and the highest points are within the Tiuni hills, rising to 3700 m above sea level...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
where he has taught each summer since since 1988.
He is an ordained elder (minister) in the United Methodist Church
United Methodist Church
The United Methodist Church is a Methodist Christian denomination which is both mainline Protestant and evangelical. Founded in 1968 by the union of The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church, the UMC traces its roots back to the revival movement of John and Charles Wesley...
in the Kentucky Annual Conference. He is also a direct descendant of William Tennent
William Tennent
William Tennent was an early American religious leader and educator in British North America.-Early life:Tennent was born in Mid Calder, Linlithgowshire, Scotland, in 1673. He graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 1695 and was ordained in the Church of Ireland in 1706...
, the founder of Log College
Log College
The Log College was the first American Presbyterian theological seminary located in what is now Warminster, Pennsylvania. It was founded by William Tennent and his son Gilbert Tennent and operated from 1726 until William Tennent's death in 1746....
, which was the precursor to Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
.
He was elected to his current post on February 17, 2009 and his tenure began on July 1, 2009. Tennent succeeded Ellsworth Kalas
Ellsworth Kalas
J. Ellsworth Kalas is the former president and a current professor of Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. He also served as pastor for 38 years in the Wisconsin and Ohio Conferences of the United Methodist Church and was associated for 5 years with the World Methodist...
as president of Asbury.
In November 2009, Tennent signed an ecumenical statement known as the Manhattan Declaration
Manhattan Declaration: A Call of Christian Conscience
The Manhattan Declaration: A Call of Christian Conscience is a manifesto issued by Orthodox, Catholic, and Evangelical Christian leaders to affirm support of "the sanctity of life, traditional marriage, and religious liberty". It was drafted on October 20, 2009 and released November 20, 2009,...
calling on evangelicals, Catholics and Orthodox not to comply with rules and laws permitting abortion, same-sex marriage and other matters that go against their religious consciences.
Writings
Tennent has authored six books and many academic articles on missions work. His newest book, released in February 2010, is Invitation to World Missions: A Trinitarian Missiology for the Twenty-first Century. He has also co-authored several books, including Revitalizing Practice (Peter Lang, 2008) and Encountering Theology of Missions (Baker Academic, 2010). Currently, his two most well-known books are:Christianity at the Religious Roundtable is also available in Hindi.
He is also the author of several devotional books, including Word Made Flesh, Christ the Fulfillment, and a study of the Apostles' Creed entitled, "This We Believe!" distributed by Asbury Theological Seminary
His blog can be read at www.timothytennent.com
His tweets can be followed at TimTennent