Our Faculty

At Duke Divinity, we’re not divided by rigid disciplinary boundaries between biblical studies, theology, and church history. We have people who move back and forth between these divides. Theologians here recognize the value of engaging the historic Christian tradition.

J. Warren Smith, Associate Professor of Historical Theology

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Meet Our Faculty

Our faculty are engaged in research and active in the life of the church.

Xi Lian: Learning from History about Changing the World

Douglas Campbell: Connecting Prison Ministry and Pauline Scholarship

Jerusha Neal poses in front of Duke Chapel

Jerusha Neal: Preaching and the Global Church

Brittany Wilson: The Importance of Context

Norman Wirzba: Connecting Theological Education with Ecology

Edgardo Colón-Emeric: Expanding the Vision of Ministry

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Faculty Books

Our faculty members publish extensively on scholarly and social issues that matter today. Their work influences academic thinking and ministerial practice, from biblical studies to theology to preaching to social justice. The worldwide community of scholars and ministry practitioners has been enriched by the innovative work of Duke Divinity School faculty—always through profound engagement with Scripture and tradition with an understanding of how this transforms our world.

Blood Letters: The Untold Story of Lin Zhao, a Martyr in Mao's China

Xi Lian

From Relief to Empowerment: How Your Church Can Cultivate Sustainable Mission

Laceye and Gaston Warner

Cover of Professor Douglas Campbell's new book showing image of the apostle Paul

Paul: An Apostle's Journey

Douglas A. Campbell

Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I’ve Loved

Kate Bowler

The Upper Room Disciplines 2018: A Book of Daily Devotions

Stephen Chapman and Laceye Warner (contributors)

Leaning on the Word: Worship with Argentine Baptists in the Mid-Twentieth Century

Lester Ruth

Cover image of new book on Rev. Billy Graham featuring an image of him taken from behind at a rally

Billy Graham: American Pilgrim

Grant Wacker

Image of Apostle Paul on cover of Susan Eastman's new book

Paul and the Person: Reframing Paul's Anthropology

Susan Grove Eastman

A Word to Live By: Church’s Teachings for a Changing World, Volume 7

Lauren F. Winner

Rise Up, Shepherd! Advent Reflections on the Spirituals

Luke A. Powery

American Religion: Contemporary Trends (Second Edition)

Mark Chaves

Five Means of Grace: Experience God's Love the Wesleyan Way

Elaine A. Heath

Undomesticated Dissent: Democracy and the Public Virtue of Religious Nonconformity

Curtis W. Freeman

Mentoring for Ministry: The Grace of Growing Pastors

Contributors Elaine A. Heath and William H. Willimon

Wager: Beauty, Suffering, and Being in the World

Raymond Barfield

Cover image of book titled "Lovin' On Jesus"

Lovin’ on Jesus: A Concise History of Contemporary Worship

Lester Ruth and Swee Hong Lim

Worshiping with the Anaheim Vineyard: The Emergence of Contemporary Worship

Lester Ruth

Grace to Lead: Practicing Leadership in the Wesleyan Tradition, Revised

Kenneth L. Carder and Laceye C. Warner

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Faculty Research

Intellectual Rigor in Service to the Church

At Duke Divinity School, students are exposed to a large and diverse community of some of the finest teachers and researchers in theological education. Their interests vary widely, but they share a commitment to the life of the Christian church. Through engagement with our faculty inside and outside of the classroom, our students are challenged to consider differing points of view and many avenues of theological thought and Christian ministry.

Douglas Campbell: Uniting Paul's Life & Theology

Jerusha Neal: The Spirit & Body

Curtis Freeman: Religious Nonconformity

Will Willimon: Preaching to Confront Racism

Unexpected Intersections: Arts, Medicine, and Theology

Interdisciplinary Connections

Our faculty are at the forefront of interdisciplinary scholarship. Professors Ray Barfield and Jeremy Begbie are part of landmark initiatives based in Duke Divinity School that bring together students and faculty across the humanities, medicine, and theology.

Faculty Experts

Details for media and scholars

Our faculty experts list, organized by subject matter, is available to help media outlets, researchers, and others connect with Duke Divinity scholars who can share information on the topics they study.

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Scholarship That Matters

Faculty Dedicated to the Church

Professor Jerusha Neal talks about why she wanted to join the faculty at Duke Divinity School to work with colleagues on scholarship that matters to the life of the church.