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, Professor of Historical Theology

Meet Our Faculty

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

Quinton Dixie stands in front of Hayti Heritage Center in Durham NC

Quinton Dixie Understands the Value of a Cultural Legacy

Jan Holton: Preparing Pastors to Accompany People Who Are Suffering

Wylin Wilson: Helping the Church Pursue Justice

Alma Tinoco Ruiz’s Journey from Mathematics to Ministry Leadership

Brent Strawn on Why the Old Testament Still Matters

Edgardo Colón-Emeric: Called to Much More than Just Saving Souls

More Faculty Profiles

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.

Leading Christian Communities

C. Kavin Rowe

The Works of John Wesley Volume 28: Letters IV (1766–1773)

Randy L. Maddox

Naming God: Addressing the Divine in Philosophy, Theology and Scripture

Janet Soskice

A Primer in Christian Ethics: Christ and the Struggle to Live Well

Luke Bretherton

Protest at Midnight: Ministry to a Nation Torn Apart

Peter Storey

Heaven and Earth: Advent and the Incarnation

William H. Willimon

Pilgrim Journey: Instruction in the Mystery of the Gospel

Curtis W. Freeman

Abundantly More: The Theological Promise of the Arts in a Reductionist World

Jeremy S. Begbie

Getting to God: Preaching Good News in a Troubled World

Luke A. Powery

Living the Questions of the Bible

Luke A. Powery

Book cover for "The Incomparable God" with colorful painted splotches and an image of God standing in the center

The Incomparable God: Readings in Biblical Theology

Brent Strawn

The Lives We Actually Have

Kate Bowler and Jessica Richie

Book cover for "Our Hearts Are Restless" featuring books formed into the shape of a heart

Our Hearts Are Restless: The Art of Spiritual Memoir

Richard Lischer

Becoming Human: The Holy Spirit and the Rhetoric of Race

Luke A. Powery

Don't Look Back: Methodist Hope for What Comes Next

William H. Willimon

Book cover for "The People Called Metodista" pictures many colorful buildings and homes surrounding a small church

The People Called Metodista: Renewing Doctrine, Worship, and Missions from the Margins

Edgardo Colón-Emeric

Book cover for "Becoming the Baptized Body" - artistic rendering of the dove after Jesus' baptism

Becoming the Baptized Body: Disability and the Practice of Christian Community

Sarah Jean Barton

Agrarian Spirit book cover displays a tree trunk and roots

Agrarian Spirit: Cultivating Faith, Community, and the Land

Norman Wirzba

More Faculty Books

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.

Luke Bretherton: Christ and the Common Life

Xi Lian on Lin Zhao

Jerusha Neal: The Spirit & Body

Douglas Campbell: Uniting Paul's Life & Theology

Curtis Freeman: Religious Nonconformity

Will Willimon: Preaching to Confront Racism

Amy Laura Hall on Julian of Norwich

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.

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.

Faculty News

Read the latest news about our faculty members and their research.

Randy Maddox Receives Special GCAH Recognition

Maddox, William Kellon Quick Professor Emeritus of Wesleyan and Methodist Studies, was selected as the 2023 recipient of the Distinguished Service Award by the General Commission on Archives and History.

Brent Strawn sits in a pew in Duke chapel holding a Hebrew Bible.

Brent A. Strawn Awarded NEH Grant to Create Critical Edition of the Hebrew Psalter

The grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities will support the first robust critical edition of the first 50 chapters of the book of Psalms.

Eric Lewis Williams on Theological Vision

The former curator of religion at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture discusses his work there and his hopes for his new role as director of the Office of Black Church Studies at Duke Divinity School.

More Faculty News