James M. Houston

• Hertford College, Oxford
• Regent College

James M. Houston
Houston in 2005
Born	James Macintosh Houston (1922-11-21) November 21, 1922 (age 102) Edinburgh, Scotland
Title	Principal of Regent College (1970–1978)
Spouse	Rita Houston ​ ​ (m. 1953;died 2014)​ [1]
Children	4
Academic background
Alma mater	University of Oxford
Thesis	The Social Geography of the Huerta of Valencia (1950)
Influences	Jacques Ellul [2] C. S. Lewis [3] [4] Michael Polanyi [5]
Main interests	Christian mind Trinity prayer spiritual formation

James Macintosh Houston (born November 21, 1922) is a British-born Canadian Protestant theologian and academic who was Professor of Spiritual Theology and the first Principal of Regent College in Vancouver.

Biography

Born on 21 November 1922, ^[6] in Edinburgh, Scotland, ^[8] Houston moved to Oxford in 1945 for doctoral studies in geography at the University of Oxford. ^[9] He received his doctorate in c. 1950. ^[10] His thesis was titled The Social Geography of the Huerta of Valencia. ^[10] Houston was a fellow of Hertford College, Oxford, where he served as a geography lecturer. ^[11]

Houston emigrated with his wife and four children to North America in 1970, and became one of the founders of Regent College, a graduate school of Christian studies. From 1970 to 1978, he was Principal of the college, ^[a] and in 1991 he was appointed to the chair. His major areas of interest include the Christian mind, the Trinity, prayer, and spiritual formation. He has published numerous articles in books and scholarly journals. ^[13] His autobiography, Memoirs of a Joyous Exile and a Worldly Christian, was published in 2020. ^[14]

Houston currently resides in Vancouver. In addition to his continuation of writing, Houston spends a great deal of time mentoring students. Houston has four children, nine grandchildren, and fifteen great-grandchildren. Houston was the primary caretaker for his wife, Rita, who had dementia in her older years and died on 8 October 2014, at the age of 90. ^{[15] [16]} Houston turned 100 in November 2022. ^[17]

Works

Books

• Houston, James M (2022). An Introduction to Child Theology. Cascade Books. ISBN   978-1-7252-8562-0.
• Houston, James M (5 April 2020). Memoirs of a Joyous Exile and a Worldly Christian. Cascade Books. ISBN   978-1-5326-8007-6..
• Houston, James M; Parker, Michael (2012). A Vision for the Aging Church; Renewing Ministry for and by Seniors..
• ———; Reese, Randy D; Loane, Robert (25 September 2012). "Foreword". Deep Mentoring: Guiding Others on Their Leadership Journey. IVP. ISBN   978-0-8308-3789-2..
• ———; Myers, Glenn E (2011). Seeking Spiritual Intimacy: Journeying Deeper with Medieval Women of Faith..
• ———; Willard, Dallas (2011). The Mentored Life: From Individualism to Personhood. NavPress. ISBN   978-1-57683-318-6.
• ———; Willard, Dallas (2010). The Transforming Friendship: A Guide to Prayer..
• ———; Waltke, Bruce K (2010). The Psalms as Christian Worship: An Historical Commentary..
• ——— (November 2007). The Disciple: Following the True Mentor. Soul's Longing. David C Cook. ISBN   978-0-7814-4428-6..
• ——— (November 2007). The Creator: Living Well in God's World. Soul's Longing. David C Cook. ISBN   978-0-7814-4427-9..
• ——— (July 2007). The Prayer. Soul's Longing. David C Cook. ISBN   978-0-7814-4426-2.
• ——— (April 2007). The Fulfillment. Soul's Longing. Vol. 2: Pursuing True Happiness. David C Cook. ISBN   978-0-7814-4425-5.
• ——— (April 2007) [2005]. The Desire. Soul's Longing. Vol. 1: Satisfying The Heart. David C Cook. ISBN   978-0-7814-4424-8..
• ——— (October 2006). Letters of Faith Through the Seasons: A Treasury of Great Christians' Correspondence. Vol. 1. Dec–May. David C Cook. ISBN   978-1-56292-749-3..
• ——— (October 2006). Joyful Exiles: Life in Christ on the Dangerous Edge of Things. Intervarsity Press. ISBN   978-0-8308-3324-5..
• ———; of Avila, Teresa (2005). Life of Prayer. Victor Classics..
• ———; Pascal, Blaise; Guinness, Os (2003) [1997]. The Mind on Fire: A Faith for the Skeptical and Indifferent..
• ——— (15 June 2002). The Mentored Life. NavPress. ISBN   978-1-57683-318-6..
• ———; Anderson, Keith R; Reese, Randy D (1999). "Foreword". Spiritual Mentoring: A Guide for Seeking and Giving Direction. IVP. ISBN   978-0-8308-2210-2..
• ——— (1998). The Transforming Power of Prayer: Deepening Your Friendship with God. NavPress Publishing. ISBN   1-57683-118-3..
• ———; Green, Michael (1995). I Believe in the Creator. Regent College Publishing. ISBN   1-57383-046-1..
• ———; Bockmuehl, Klaus; Yanni, Kathryn (1991). Listening to the God Who Speaks: Reflections on God's Guidance from Scripture and the Lives of God's People..
• ——— (April 2001). The Heart's Desire: Satisfying the Hunger of the Soul. Regent College Publishing. ISBN   1-57383-209-X..
• ——— (January 2001) [1996]. In Pursuit of Happiness: Finding Genuine Fulfillment in Life. Regent College Publishing. ISBN   1-57383-210-3.. 1st ed. by Navpress, ISBN   978-0-89109-936-9.

Edited work

• de Valdés, Juan; Benedetto, Don (1 April 2003). ——— (ed.). The Benefit of Christ: Living Justified Because of Christ's Death. Regent College. ISBN   978-1-57383-251-9..
• de Sales, Francis; John of the Cross; Lewis, Clive Staples; O'Connor, Flannery; Luther, Martin; Kierkgård, Søren (February 2007). ——— (ed.). Letters of Faith Through the Seasons: A Treasury of Great Christians' Correspondence. Vol. 2. David C. Cook Publishing. ISBN   978-1-56292-834-6..
• Baxter, Richard (January 2005). ——— (ed.). Watch Your Walk: A Pattern For Personal Growth and Ministry. Victor Classics. Victor Books. ISBN   978-0-7814-4179-7..
• Edwards, Jonathan (8 December 2004). ——— (ed.). Faith Beyond Feelings: discerning the heart of true spirituality. Victor Classics. David C Cook. ISBN   978-0-7814-4171-1..
• Edwards, Jonathan (2003). ———; Colson, Charles (eds.). Religious Affections: A Christian's Character Before God..
• Owen, John (December 2004). ——— (ed.). Triumph Over Temptation: The Challenge To Personal Godliness: Pursuing A Life of Purity. Victor Classics. David C Cook. ISBN   978-0-7814-4172-8..
• Simeon, Charles; Stott, John RW (2003). ——— (ed.). Evangelical Preaching: An Anthology of Sermons..
• Wilberforce, William (28 March 2003). ——— (ed.). Real Christianity: Discerning True and False Faith. Hatfield, Mark O, intr. Regent College. ISBN   978-1-57383-246-5..
• Pascal, Blaise (1997). ———; Guinness, Os (eds.). Mind on Fire: A Christian's Character Before God. Classics of Faith and Devotion..
• Edwards, Jonathan (2003) [1996]. ——— (ed.). Religious Affections: A Christian's Character Before God. ISBN   978-1-57383-240-3..
• Owen, John; Packer, JI (1983). ——— (ed.). Sin & Temptation: The Challenge to Personal Godliness..

Notes

1. However, Houston did not formally resign from the University of Oxford until 1971. ^[12]

References

Footnotes

1. "Rita Houston Dies Peacefully at the Age of 90". Vancouver, BC: Regent College. 8 October 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
2. Cotherman 2017, p. 218.
3. Cotherman 2017, pp. 119–121.
4. Haroutunian, Aram (Fall 1996). "No One Closer: A Conversation with James Houston". Mars Hill Review. No. 6. pp. 51–66. Retrieved 23 January 2021– via LeaderU.com.
5. Houston 2020, pp. 22, 64.
6. McGrath 1997, p. 226.
7. McGrath 1997, pp. 226–227.
8. "About Jim". James M. Houston. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
9. Cotherman 2017, p. 117.
10. Houston 1950.
11. Cotherman 2017, p. 106; McGrath 1997, p. 226.
12. Cotherman 2020, p. 53.
13. "James M. Houston". Religion and Culture. Archived from the original on 1 July 2017. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
14. Houston 2020.
15. Padilla, Kristen; Waller, Sarah (2 May 2018). "World-Renowned Scholar James M. Houston Speaks on Faith, Dementia at Samford University". Birmingham, Alabama: Samford University. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
16. "Rita Houston Dies Peacefully at the Age of 90". Vancouver, BC: Regent College. 8 October 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
17. "Jim's 101st birthday video". Jim Houston. 19 March 2024. Retrieved 7 May 2024.

Works cited

• Cotherman, Charles E. (2017). Awakening the Lay Evangelical Mind: Francis Schaeffer, James Houston, and the Christian Study Center Movement in North America (PhD thesis). Charlottesville, Virginia: University of Virginia. doi: 10.18130/V3406T .
•  ———  (2020). To Think Christianly: A History of L'Abri, Regent College, and the Christian Study Center Movement. Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press. ISBN   978-0-8308-3924-7.
• Houston, James M. (1950). The Social Geography of the Huerta of Valencia (DPhil thesis). Oxford: University of Oxford. OCLC   890146669.
•  ———  (2020). Memoirs of a Joyous Exile and a Worldly Christian. Eugene, Oregon: Cascade Books. ISBN   978-1-5326-8007-6.
• McGrath, Alister (1997). J.I. Packer: A Biography . Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Books. ISBN   978-0-8010-1157-3.

Further reading

• Thomas, Arthur Dicken Jr. (September 1993). "James M. Houston, Pioneering Spiritual Director to Evangelicals. Part One: Geographer of the Soul and Friend of C.S. Lewis". Crux. Vol. 29, no. 3. pp. 2–10. ISSN   0011-2186.
•  ———  (December 1993). "James M. Houston, Pioneering Spiritual Director to Evangelicals. Part Two: Professor of Spiritual Theology at Regent College". Crux. Vol. 29, no. 4. pp. 17–27. ISSN   0011-2186.

External links

• About Jim, Religion & Culture, archived from the original on 19 July 2010, retrieved 10 March 2010.
• James Houston online (official website).
• James Houston's Personal Website.