Geoffrey Wainwright
Encyclopedia
Geoffrey Wainwright is a British
Methodist theologian.
Born in Monk Bretton, Barnsley, Yorkshire, England, in 1939, Geoffrey Wainwright is an ordained minister of the British Methodist Church. He received his university education in Cambridge
, Geneva
and Rome
. He holds the Dr. Théol. degree from Geneva
and the D.D. from Cambridge
. He served as a circuit minister in Liverpool
(1964-66) and then as a missionary teacher and pastor in Cameroon
, West Africa (1967-73). Returning to England, he taught scripture and theology at the Queen’s College, Birmingham
(1973-79). In 1979 he moved to Union Theological Seminary
, New York
, where he became the Roosevelt Professor of Systematic Theology. Since 1983 he has taught at Duke Divinity School
, a part of Duke University
in North Carolina
, where he occupies the Robert Earl Cushman chair of Christian Theology. Wainwright has held visiting professorships at the University of Notre Dame
, the Gregorian
and Angelicum universities in Rome
and the United Faculty of Theology in Melbourne
, Australia
.
From 1976-1991, Wainwright was a member of the Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches
and chaired the final redaction of the Lima text on Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry (1982). Since 1986 he has been co-chairman of the Joint Commission between the World Methodist Council
and the Roman Catholic Church
. In 2004 he gave the opening address on behalf of "the ecclesial communities of the West" at the Roman symposium to mark the 40th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council
’s decree on ecumenism
.
Among Wainwright’s books the most influential remains Doxology
: The Praise of God in Worship, Doctrine and Life. His more recent books include For Our Salvation: Two Approaches to the Work of Christ (1997), Worship with One Accord: Where Liturgy and Ecumenism Embrace (1997), Is the Reformation Over? Catholics and Protestants at the Turn of the Millennia (which was the Père Marquette Lecture for 2000) and an intellectual and spiritual biography of a father of the 20th century ecumenical church, Lesslie Newbigin
: A Theological Life. His Eucharist and Eschatology (1971) and Christian Initiation (1969) were re-issued in 2002 and 2003 respectively. With Karen Westerfield Tucker he edited The Oxford History of Christian Worship (2006). His latest book is Embracing Purpose: Essays on God, the World and the Church (2007).
Wainwright has served as president of the international Societas Liturgica (1983-85) as well as of the American Theological Society (1996-97). He was honoured by the publication of Ecumenical Theology in Worship, Doctrine, and Life: Essays Presented to Geoffrey Wainwright on his Sixtieth Birthday (1999). He was awarded the 2005 Johannes Quasten Medal by the Catholic University of America for "excellence in theological scholarship".
In 2005, Wainwright that he was delighted at the election of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger as bishop of Rome. He called the new Pope a first-rate theologian with a subtle and penetrating mind.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Methodist theologian.
Born in Monk Bretton, Barnsley, Yorkshire, England, in 1939, Geoffrey Wainwright is an ordained minister of the British Methodist Church. He received his university education in Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
, Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
and Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. He holds the Dr. Théol. degree from Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
and the D.D. from Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
. He served as a circuit minister in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
(1964-66) and then as a missionary teacher and pastor in Cameroon
Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
, West Africa (1967-73). Returning to England, he taught scripture and theology at the Queen’s College, Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
(1973-79). In 1979 he moved to Union Theological Seminary
Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York
Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York is a preeminent independent graduate school of theology, located in Manhattan between Claremont Avenue and Broadway, 120th to 122nd Streets. The seminary was founded in 1836 under the Presbyterian Church, and is affiliated with nearby Columbia...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, where he became the Roosevelt Professor of Systematic Theology. Since 1983 he has taught at Duke Divinity School
Duke Divinity School
The Divinity School at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina is one of thirteen seminaries founded and supported by the United Methodist Church. It has 39 full time and 18 part time faculty and over 500 full time students. The current dean of The Divinity School is Richard B. Hays, who replaced...
, a part of Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
in North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, where he occupies the Robert Earl Cushman chair of Christian Theology. Wainwright has held visiting professorships at the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
, the Gregorian
Gregorian
Gregorian might refer to:* The thought or ideology of Pope Gregory I or Pope Gregory VII *Things named for Pope Gregory I:**Gregorian chant** Gregorian mass**Brotherhood of Saint Gregory...
and Angelicum universities in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
and the United Faculty of Theology in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
From 1976-1991, Wainwright was a member of the Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches
World Council of Churches
The World Council of Churches is a worldwide fellowship of 349 global, regional and sub-regional, national and local churches seeking unity, a common witness and Christian service. It is a Christian ecumenical organization that is based in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland...
and chaired the final redaction of the Lima text on Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry (1982). Since 1986 he has been co-chairman of the Joint Commission between the World Methodist Council
World Methodist Council
The World Methodist Council, founded in 1881, is an association of churches in the Methodist tradition which comprises most of the world's Wesleyan denominations.- Extension and organization:...
and the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. In 2004 he gave the opening address on behalf of "the ecclesial communities of the West" at the Roman symposium to mark the 40th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
’s decree on ecumenism
Ecumenism
Ecumenism or oecumenism mainly refers to initiatives aimed at greater Christian unity or cooperation. It is used predominantly by and with reference to Christian denominations and Christian Churches separated by doctrine, history, and practice...
.
Among Wainwright’s books the most influential remains Doxology
Doxology
A doxology is a short hymn of praises to God in various Christian worship services, often added to the end of canticles, psalms, and hymns...
: The Praise of God in Worship, Doctrine and Life. His more recent books include For Our Salvation: Two Approaches to the Work of Christ (1997), Worship with One Accord: Where Liturgy and Ecumenism Embrace (1997), Is the Reformation Over? Catholics and Protestants at the Turn of the Millennia (which was the Père Marquette Lecture for 2000) and an intellectual and spiritual biography of a father of the 20th century ecumenical church, Lesslie Newbigin
Lesslie Newbigin
Bishop James Edward Lesslie Newbigin was a Church of Scotland missionary serving in the former Madras State , India, who became a Christian theologian and bishop involved in missiology, ecumenism, and the Gospel and Our Culture Movement.-Biography:Born in Newcastle upon Tyne, Newbigin's schooling...
: A Theological Life. His Eucharist and Eschatology (1971) and Christian Initiation (1969) were re-issued in 2002 and 2003 respectively. With Karen Westerfield Tucker he edited The Oxford History of Christian Worship (2006). His latest book is Embracing Purpose: Essays on God, the World and the Church (2007).
Wainwright has served as president of the international Societas Liturgica (1983-85) as well as of the American Theological Society (1996-97). He was honoured by the publication of Ecumenical Theology in Worship, Doctrine, and Life: Essays Presented to Geoffrey Wainwright on his Sixtieth Birthday (1999). He was awarded the 2005 Johannes Quasten Medal by the Catholic University of America for "excellence in theological scholarship".
In 2005, Wainwright that he was delighted at the election of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger as bishop of Rome. He called the new Pope a first-rate theologian with a subtle and penetrating mind.