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Revd Andrew Byers, ThM, MDiv, BS
(email at a.j.byers@durham.ac.uk)
Biography
My doctoral research is following almost a decade of pastoral ministry. After four years as the Director of Student Ministries at Gardner-Webb University (Boiling Springs, NC), I spent two years pastoring Mount Hermon Baptist Church (Durham, NC). Just before moving to Durham, England, I served for three years as the Director of University Christian Fellowship, the college ministry of Mountain Brook Community Church (Birmingham, AL). In terms of educational background, I have a B.S. (in Forestry) from the University of Georgia, an M.Div from Beeson Divinity School, and a Th.M. from Duke.
In terms of academic research, I am studying narrative and theology in the Fourth Gospel. I am also keenly interested in issues related to pastoral ministry, preaching, the church's engagement with culture, and the vocational identity of the pastor-theologian. My first book, Faith Without Illusions (IVP, 2011) addresses the problems of cynicism and idealism in the contemporary Western church. A new book project on media and theology is in the works.
Miranda and I have been married for fourteen years. Along the way, our home has expanded to include a joyful bounty of four small children. They are our constant little companions in adventure here in England.
Selected Publications
Articles: magazine
- Byers, Andrew (2011). "Embracing 'Hopeful Realism': Why Cynicism is a Dead End and Idealism a Farce". The Gospel Coalition
- (2011). "Hope for Center-Stage Cynics". The Gospel Coalition
- Byers, Andrew (2011). "How to Be a Realist Without Losing Your Soul". RelevantMagazine.com
- Byers, Andrew (2011). "How You Can Imitate Ezra the Scribe". ChurchLeaders.com
- (2011). "Is Christianity Anti-Intellectual?".
- (2011). "We Need Boring Christians". RelevantMagazine.com
Books: authored
- Byers, Andrew (2011). Faith Without Illusions: Following Jesus as a Cynic-Saint. IVP.
Conference papers
- Byers, Andrew (2011), "'TheoMedia': The Pastor-Theologian, the Gospel, and the Media of the World", Society for the Study of Theology Postgraduate Conference: 'Theologians and the Church'. New College, Edinburgh.