Rodger Nishioka is an American preacher, Seminary professor, and Christian educator. [1] He currently serves as director of Adult Educational Ministries at Village Church in Prairie Village, Kansas. [2] He was previously the Benton Family Associate Professor of Christian Education at Columbia Theological Seminary. [3] Nishioka is noted for his work with young people and his reputation as a popular "keynoter" at inter-denominational Christian youth conferences. [3]
Nishioka received a B.A. from Seattle Pacific University in 1983, a M.A.T.S. degree from McCormick Theological Seminary (1998), and a Ph.D. in Social and Cultural Foundations of Education (2008) from Georgia State University. The son of a retired Presbyterian minister, Nishioka was ordained an elder in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in 1978. He taught English and Social Sciences at Curtis Junior High School in Tacoma, WA (1978-1986) before becoming the National Coordinator for Youth and Young Adult Ministries for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) from 1986 to 1999. [3] Beginning in 2000, he served as the associate professor of Christian Education at Columbia Theological Seminary (2000-2008). Nishioka was a Benton Family Associate Professor of Christian Education at Columbia Theological Seminary before transitioning to Village Presbyterian Church. [4]
Nishioka focuses on equipping pastors to be teachers and leaders in the church's educational ministry, specializing in particular on youth and young adult ministry. He is a strong proponent of diversity in education, and states, “Good things happen when we gather in all of our diversity to work together on theological imagination and resilient leaders because imagination and resiliency are hindered by homogeneity (sameness), and enhanced by heterogeneity (differences).” [5] He has published a number of books, and articles and has contributed many chapters to books.
His most recent research focuses on young adults, 20–30 years old, asking them “Why are so few of you sticking with us, especially, especially since we baptized and nurtured many of you?” [5] He discovered a trend of wanting “to see how God is at work in our world—and they want us to show them how to live a more faithful life in response to God’s overwhelming grace in Jesus Christ.” [5]
 | This section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources .(October 2023) |
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John Haddon Leith was a Presbyterian theologian and ordained minister who was the Pemberton Professor of Theology at Union Theological Seminary in Virginia from 1959 to 1990. He authored at least 18 books and countless essays on Christianity, over the years moving from a moderate to a strongly critical, conservative perspective on the Presbyterian Church (USA).
Westminster John Knox Press is an American publisher of Christian books located in Louisville, Kentucky and is part of Presbyterian Publishing Corporation, the publishing arm of the Louisville, Kentucky-based Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Their publishing focus is on books in "theology, biblical studies, preaching, worship, ethics, religion and culture, and other related fields for four main markets: scholars and students in colleges, universities, seminaries, and divinity schools; preachers, educators, and counselors working in churches; members of mainline Protestant congregations; and general readers. Geneva Press publishes books specifically related to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)."
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Catherine Gunsalus González is an American historian, theologian, and ordained Presbyterian minister who is professor emerita of church history at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia.
William P. Brown is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church USA, author, biblical theologian, and the William Marcellus McPheeters Professor of Old Testament at Columbia Theological Seminary.
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Shirley C. Guthrie Jr. was a minister of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and J.B. Green Professor of Systematic Theology at Columbia Theological Seminary for nearly 40 years. He was well known for his book, Christian Doctrine, which was originally written for an Adult Sunday School Book in the old PCUS Covenant life curriculum.
George W. Stroup is J.B. Green Professor Emeritus of Theology at Columbia Theological Seminary. He is a minister in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). He is married to Dr. Donna Fox Stroup, a mathematical statistician.
Ben Campbell Johnson was an American ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and a professor emeritus of evangelism and spiritual direction at Columbia Theological Seminary. He is known for his work in church renewal movements and on interfaith relations between a variety of faith traditions.
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Kathy L Dawson is a certified Christian educator and ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Her work is focused primarily on the development of educational resources and the accessibility of resources for all educators. In 2015, she was recognized as the Educator of the Year by the Association of Presbyterian Church Educators. She is currently the Benton Family Associate Professor of Christian Education at Columbia Theological Seminary.
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Elizabeth Rice Achtemeier was an American ordained Presbyterian minister, Bible professor, and author.