John Drane
Encyclopedia
John William Drane is a theologian who is probably best known for his two best-selling books on the Bible, Introducing the Old Testament and Introducing the New Testament (both published by Lion in the UK and Fortress Press in the US). He studied in the University of Aberdeen where he was a student of I. Howard Marshall
, and he holds a PhD from the University of Manchester
, where his mentor was F. F. Bruce
. His doctoral research focused on Gnosticism
in relation to early Christian thought and practice. This interest in esoteric spirituality later became a bridge between his study of the Bible and his concern for Christian mission, with particular reference to cultural change and the emergence of what he now calls "New Spirituality" (and which some others call "new age").
, Scotland, in partnership with Stewart Sutherland and the late Glyn Richards. At the beginning of this century he was appointed to teach Practical Theology
in the Divinity School at the University of Aberdeen, though by the end of 2004 he had resigned from that post and is currently a self-employed consultant working with churches of many different denominations throughout the United Kingdom as well as internationally. He is also an adjunct professor in New Testament and Practical theology at Fuller Theological Seminary
, California as well as being a Visiting Scholar at Spurgeon's College
in London and a Visiting Fellow of St John's College, Durham
. A course on theology and culture which was originally offered in Aberdeen is now part of the curriculum at International Christian College in Glasgow
, and he also teaches occasional courses at Cranmer Hall, an Anglican theological college in the University of Durham.
in 1988, which attracted a record crowd of more than 48,000 people and for which he received an award from the UK government which is preserved in the archives of Action of Churches Together in Scotland
. For a period in the 1990s he was chairperson of the National Prayer Breakfast for Scotland and he is currently co-chair of the Mission Theology Advisory Group, which is a think tank jointly sponsored by the Church of England
and Churches Together in Britain and Ireland
). His acceptance in so many different parts of the civic and ecclesiastical establishment means that it is difficult to categorize his thinking by reference to any of the conventional theological divisions of conservative, liberal, evangelical, and so on. He has been a guest of HM Queen Elizabeth II at her Scottish home, Balmoral Castle
, while also being regarded as an important theological resource person for the emerging church in the UK (he is a member of the board of mission shaped ministry, which is part of the Fresh Expressions
initiative of the Church of England
).
Drane is married to Olive Fleming Drane
, with whom he has three children. She holds a postgraduate degree in theology and is a Visiting Fellow of St John's College, Durham
, as well as being an adjunct professor at Fuller Theological Seminary
, California. They regularly work together in both church and academic settings.
I. Howard Marshall
Ian Howard Marshall is Professor Emeritus of New Testament Exegesis and honorary research professor at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland, specifically in the department of Divinity and Religious Studies...
, and he holds a PhD from the University of Manchester
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
, where his mentor was F. F. Bruce
F. F. Bruce
Frederick Fyvie Bruce was a Biblical scholar and one of the founders of the modern evangelical understanding of the Bible...
. His doctoral research focused on Gnosticism
Gnosticism
Gnosticism is a scholarly term for a set of religious beliefs and spiritual practices common to early Christianity, Hellenistic Judaism, Greco-Roman mystery religions, Zoroastrianism , and Neoplatonism.A common characteristic of some of these groups was the teaching that the realisation of Gnosis...
in relation to early Christian thought and practice. This interest in esoteric spirituality later became a bridge between his study of the Bible and his concern for Christian mission, with particular reference to cultural change and the emergence of what he now calls "New Spirituality" (and which some others call "new age").
Academic accomplishments
Drane began an academic career as one of the founders of the religious studies program at the University of StirlingUniversity of Stirling
The University of Stirling is a campus university founded by Royal charter in 1967, on the Airthrey Estate in Stirling, Scotland.-History and campus development:...
, Scotland, in partnership with Stewart Sutherland and the late Glyn Richards. At the beginning of this century he was appointed to teach Practical Theology
Practical theology
Practical theology is the practical application of theology to everyday life. Richard Osmer explains that the four key questions and tasks in practical theology are:# What is going on? # Why is this going on?...
in the Divinity School at the University of Aberdeen, though by the end of 2004 he had resigned from that post and is currently a self-employed consultant working with churches of many different denominations throughout the United Kingdom as well as internationally. He is also an adjunct professor in New Testament and Practical theology at Fuller Theological Seminary
Fuller Theological Seminary
Fuller Theological Seminary is an accredited Christian educational institute with its main campus in Pasadena, California and several satellite campuses in the western United States...
, California as well as being a Visiting Scholar at Spurgeon's College
Spurgeon's College
Spurgeon's College is a theological institute of higher learning located in South Norwood Hill, London. It was founded by Charles Haddon Spurgeon, known as 'the Prince of Preachers' and in his time minister of the largest church in the world, the Metropolitan Tabernacle at Elephant and Castle...
in London and a Visiting Fellow of St John's College, Durham
St John's College, Durham
St John's College is a college of the University of Durham, United Kingdom. It is one of only two 'Recognised Colleges' of the University, the other being St Chad's. This means that it is financially and constitutionally independent of the University and has a greater degree of administrative...
. A course on theology and culture which was originally offered in Aberdeen is now part of the curriculum at International Christian College in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, and he also teaches occasional courses at Cranmer Hall, an Anglican theological college in the University of Durham.
Christian ministry
Drane's interests have never been merely intellectual and academic. He is an ordained minister and has an established track record as a Christian leader, serving on many key national bodies in the United Kingdom. From 1984 to 1990 he was convener of the Mission Committee of the Scottish Churches Council, which at the time was the official ecumenical body of all the Scottish churches. It was in that context that some of his most distinctive missional thinking was first conceived, and one of the highlights of that period was an event celebrating the Christian festival of Pentecost at Glasgow Garden FestivalGlasgow Garden Festival
The Glasgow Garden Festival was the third of the United Kingdom's five National Garden Festivals, and the only one to take place in Scotland.It was held in Glasgow between 26 April and 26 September 1988...
in 1988, which attracted a record crowd of more than 48,000 people and for which he received an award from the UK government which is preserved in the archives of Action of Churches Together in Scotland
Action of Churches Together in Scotland
Action of Churches Together in Scotland is a national ecumenical organisation of churches in Scotland, founded in 1990. It is the successor to the former Scottish Council of Churches...
. For a period in the 1990s he was chairperson of the National Prayer Breakfast for Scotland and he is currently co-chair of the Mission Theology Advisory Group, which is a think tank jointly sponsored by the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
and Churches Together in Britain and Ireland
Churches Together in Britain and Ireland
Churches Together in Britain and Ireland is an ecumenical organisation. The members include most of the major churches in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. It was formerly known as the Council of Churches of Britain and Ireland...
). His acceptance in so many different parts of the civic and ecclesiastical establishment means that it is difficult to categorize his thinking by reference to any of the conventional theological divisions of conservative, liberal, evangelical, and so on. He has been a guest of HM Queen Elizabeth II at her Scottish home, Balmoral Castle
Balmoral Castle
Balmoral Castle is a large estate house in Royal Deeside, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It is located near the village of Crathie, west of Ballater and east of Braemar. Balmoral has been one of the residences of the British Royal Family since 1852, when it was purchased by Queen Victoria and her...
, while also being regarded as an important theological resource person for the emerging church in the UK (he is a member of the board of mission shaped ministry, which is part of the Fresh Expressions
Fresh expressions
Fresh expressions are any of a number of new church groups that have developed within the Church of England since 1990. These believe that 21st century British society is very different from the society when most British churches were formed and that traditional expressions of church have become...
initiative of the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
).
Drane is married to Olive Fleming Drane
Olive Fleming Drane
Olive Fleming Drane is a Scottish theologian and Christian minister who is widely known for her use of clowning in the pulpit. As her clown characters Valentine and Barni she has traveled the world, and been featured in radio and TV programs in many countries. Born in Glasgow, Scotland, she was...
, with whom he has three children. She holds a postgraduate degree in theology and is a Visiting Fellow of St John's College, Durham
St John's College, Durham
St John's College is a college of the University of Durham, United Kingdom. It is one of only two 'Recognised Colleges' of the University, the other being St Chad's. This means that it is financially and constitutionally independent of the University and has a greater degree of administrative...
, as well as being an adjunct professor at Fuller Theological Seminary
Fuller Theological Seminary
Fuller Theological Seminary is an accredited Christian educational institute with its main campus in Pasadena, California and several satellite campuses in the western United States...
, California. They regularly work together in both church and academic settings.
Selected bibliography
- Introducing the Bible, 2nd edition (Minneapolis: Fortress Press 2011). ISBN 978-0-8006-9840-9
- Introducing the Old Testament, 3rd edition (Oxford: Lion / Minneapolis: Fortress Press 2011). ISBN 978-0-7459-5503-2
- ‘Resisting McDonaldization: will Fresh Expressions of church inevitably go stale?’, in Viggo Mortensen & Andreas Osterlund Nielsen (eds), Walk Humbly with the Lord: Church and Mission engaging Plurality (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans 2011), pp. 150-166.
- Introducing the New Testament, 3rd edition (Oxford: Lion / Minneapolis: Fortress Press 2010). ISBN 978-0-7459-5504-9 ISBN 978-0-8006-9750-1
- The World of the Bible, Oxford: Lion, 2009. ISBN 978-0-8254-7913-7 ISBN 978-0-7459-5250-5
- After McDonaldization: Mission, Ministry and Christian Discipleship in an Age of Uncertainty, London: Darton, Longman & Todd, 2008. ISBN 0-232-52654-0 ISBN 978-0-232-52654-7
- "What does maturity in the emerging church look like?", in Steven Croft (ed), Mission-shaped Questions: defining issues for today’s church (London: Church House Publishing 2008), pp. 90–101.
- co-authored with O M Fleming Drane, "Worship and Preaching", in Janet Wootton (ed), This is our Story: Free Church Women’s Ministry (Peterborough: Epworth Press 2007), pp. 50–67.
- "Alpha and Evangelism in Modern and Post-Modern Settings," in The Alpha Phenomenon, Andrew Brookes ed., London: CTBI, 2007, pp. 370–384. ISBN 978 0 85169 331 6
- Celebrity Culture, Edinburgh: Rutherford House, 2006. ISBN 1 904429 08 4
- "From Creeds to Burgers: religious control, spiritual search, and the future of the world", in James R Beckford & John Walliss, Theorising Religion (London: Ashgate 2006), pp. 120–131. Also in abbreviated form in George Ritzer, McDonaldization: the Reader 2nd edition (Thousand Oaks: Pine Forge Press, 2006), pp. 197–202.
- "Post-modernity, Truth, and the rise of the Documentary", in Theology Notes and News 52/2 (2005), pp. 16–21.
- Do Christians Know How to be Spiritual? The Rise of New Spirituality and the Mission of the Church, London: Darton, Longman & Todd, 2005. ISBN 0 232 52632 X
- Introducing the Bible: with CD-ROM, Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2005. ISBN 0800636724
- co-authored with O M Fleming Drane, Family Fortunes: Faith-full Caring for Today’s Families (London: Darton Longman and Todd 2004).
- "Contemporary culture and the reinvention of sacramental spirituality", in Geoffrey Rowell & Christine Hall (eds), The Gestures of God: explorations in sacramentality (London: Continuum 2004), pp. 37–55.
- "Community, mystery, and the future of the church", in Simon Holt & Gordon Preece (eds), The Bible and the Business of Life: essays in honour of Robert J Banks’s 65th birthday (Adelaide: ATF Press 2004), pp. 87–100.
- co-authored with Ross Clifford & Philip S. Johnson, Beyond Prediction: The Tarot and Your Spirituality, Oxford: Lion Publishing, 2001. ISBN 0 7459 5035 3
- Introducing the New Testament, rev. ed., Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2001. ISBN 0800632729
- Introducing the Old Testament, rev. ed., Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2001. ISBN 0800634322
- Cultural Change and Biblical Faith: The Future of the Church. Biblical and Missiological Essays for the New Century. Carlise: Paternoster Press, 2000. ISBN 0-85364-979-0.
- The McDonaldization of the Church: Spirituality, Creativity, and the Future of the Church, London: Darton, Longman & Todd, 2000, ISBN 0-232-52259-6
- What is the New Age Still Saying to the Church?, London: HarperCollins, 1999, ISBN 0 551 03194 8