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Dr Gregory A. Barker PhD, Mdiv. BA

Gregory A. Barker

Contact Details

School of Theology and Religious Studies
Faculty of Education and Training
Tel: (01267) 676651 (6651)
E-mail : g.barker@trinity-cm.ac.uk

Job Title

 Head of School

Role in the University

Head of School, Theology and Religious Studies
Master of Arts lecturer, University of Wales

I lecture at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels in the following areas:

  • Religious Studies History and Method
  • Religion and War: Conflict in a Post 9/11 world
  • The Quest for the Historical Jesus (I am currently the postgraduate module tutor for this distance module for UWL)
  • Religion and Film: Holy Hollywood; Jesus in Hollywood and History
  • Buddhism (introductory level)
  • Hinduism (introductory level)
  • Islam (introductory level)
  • Judaism (introductory and intermediate levels)
  • Interfaith Dialogue (undergraduate and postgraduate)
  • Study Skills (currently teaching study skills at MA distance learning ‘residentials’; have taught in this area to Theology undergraduates.)
  • My background in Religious Studies, Biblical studies, and Theology enables me to teach a wide area of studies relating to Christianity.

Background

Academic Qualifications

2001-2008 Doctorate of Philosophy at the University of Wales, Lampeter Research Focus: The Role of Jesus in Non-Christian Faiths.
1987-1991 Master’s of Divinity in Theology (top of class), June 1991, The Lutheran School of Theology at the University of Chicago.
1991- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC). I currently hold ordained clergy status.  The ELCIC now exists in full partnership with the Anglican Church in Canada.
1981-1987 Bachelors of Arts in Religious Studies (awarded with Honors) April
1987- Trinity Western University, Langley, British Columbia, Canada

Professional Experience

2002 MA Lecturer in Religious Studies and Open Learning Theology at the University of Wales, Lampeter
2003-2004 Assistant Registrar University of Wales, Lampeter. In this position I supervised 5 staff positions in the Academic Registry
1995-2001 Lead Pastor, Grace Lutheran Church, Victoria, British Columbia.  This was a congregation of about 500 regularly attending members. I acted as the lead pastor and coordinator for 5 staff positions.
2001 Vipassana Center (Buddhist Meditation), Northwest Washington
1999-2002 Habitat for Humanity
1999-2001 Victoria Holocaust Remembrance Society (1999-2001)
1993-1999 Amor Ministries. This organization builds houses in Mexico for the homeless. I led two house-building groups to Mexico and supported a third one.
1991-1995 Youth and Assistant Pastor, Grace Lutheran Church.

Member of

The Oxford International Interfaith Center

Academic Interests

  • Perceptions of Jesus in the World’s Religions;
  • The Jewish Jesus;
  • Religion and Film;
  • Interfaith Dialogue;
  • The Quest of the Historical Jesus in the West.

Publications

Publications & Papers

2009 (forthcoming) Jesus Beyond Christianity: The Classic Texts, Oxford: Oxford University Press.

2008 'The Future of Religion(s): A Critical Examination of Hick's Vision' paper presented at University of Winchester, Interfaith Dialogue in Modernity and Postmodernity Conference 9-11 September 2008.

2007 “Is Everything Relative?: A Response to Dr. Ismail Latif Hacinebioglu’s ‘An Epistemological Analysis of the Logical Premises
of Pluralism’” Ilahiyat Fakultesi Dergisi, 18, 2007.

2005  Gregory A. Barker ed., Jesus in the World’s Faiths: Leading Thinkers from Five Religions Reflect on His Meanin, New York: Orbis Press.

2005  Christianity Faith Guide for Higher Education in the UK—a PR-LTSN publication.

2003  Co-author of the University of Wales on-line learning course: Jesus and Mohammed release date: January 2003. 

2003  “A Jewish Jesus in the University Classroom: from confusion to clarity”, Journal of Beliefs and Values, October.

2003  "Jesus and the Buddha: A Compatible Marriage", Journal of Beliefs and Values, October, 2003.

2002  “A New View of Jesus: Byron L. Sherwin’s Proposal for Jesus as a Messiah ben Joseph” presented to the University of Wales Gregynog Colloquium, June 2002.

2002  “Jesus: Prophet of Islam?” Presented to the University of Wales Gregynog Colloquium November, 2002

1998  “Hi There Ugly” Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul II Canfield, Jack; Victor-Hansen, Marc eds.  (California: Health Communications International, 1998).

Further information

Awards
  • 2001-2004 3 Overseas Research Scholarships
  • 2002 Sir Richard Stapley Educational Trust award
  • 1987-1991 Four Munderlough Foundation Scholarships (these provided full tuition for my Master’s degree).
  • 1981 British Columbia Provincial Scholarship

Other

Appearances on BBC Cymru Wales radio 4 (The Nicola Heywood-Tucker Show) to discuss ccurrent religious issues; Film production; Advisor for the Great Primate Handshake.