Vernon White (theologian)
Encyclopedia
Vernon Philip White is a British
Anglican
priest and theological scholar.
White was born in south-east London
in 1953. After leaving school he spent a year undertaking Voluntary Service Overseas
in Africa
. He was educated at Clare College, Cambridge
(BA
in English and Theology 1975, MA 1979) and Oriel College, Oxford (MLitt
1980). He prepared for ordination at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford
. He was ordained deacon in 1977 and priest in 1978 in the Church of England
. He was a tutor in doctrine and ethics at Wycliffe Hall
from 1977 to 1983 then Chaplain and Lecturer at the University of Exeter
from 1983 to 1987. He then became jointly Director of Ordinands for the Diocese of Guildford
and Rector of Wotton and Holmbury St Mary (1987–93). From 1993 until 2001 he was Canon Chancellor of Lincoln Cathedral
and also a special lecturer at the University of Nottingham
, becoming Principal of the Southern Theological Education and Training Scheme
in 2001 and Canon Theologian of Winchester Cathedral
in 2006. In 2011 he was appointed Canon Theologian at Westminster Abbey
and Visiting Professor in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at King's College London
.
White's book Atonement and Incarnation: an essay in universalism and particularity (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1991) was studied in Eamonn Mulcahy, The Cause of Our Salvation: Soteriological Causality according to some Modern British Theologians, 1988-98 (Tesi Gregoriana Serie Teologia 140, Rome: Editrice Pontificia Università Gregoriana, 2007), alongside Paul Fiddes
, The Creative Suffering of God (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1988), Colin Gunton
, The Actuality of Atonement: a Study of Metaphor, Rationality and the Christian Tradition (Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1988), and John McIntyre
, The Shape of Soteriology: Studies in the Doctrine of the Death of Christ (Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1992).
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...
Anglican
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...
priest and theological scholar.
White was born in south-east London
South London
South London is the southern part of London, England, United Kingdom.According to the 2011 official Boundary Commission for England definition, South London includes the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Greenwich, Kingston, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Southwark, Sutton and...
in 1953. After leaving school he spent a year undertaking Voluntary Service Overseas
Voluntary Service Overseas
Voluntary Service Overseas is an international development charity that works through experienced volunteers living and working as equals alongside local partners. It is the largest independent volunteer-sending organization in the world...
in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. He was educated at Clare College, Cambridge
Clare College, Cambridge
Clare College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1326, making it the second-oldest surviving college of the University after Peterhouse. Clare is famous for its chapel choir and for its gardens on "the Backs"...
(BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in English and Theology 1975, MA 1979) and Oriel College, Oxford (MLitt
Master of Letters
The Master of Letters is a postgraduate degree.- United Kingdom :The MLitt is a postgraduate degree awarded by a select few British and Irish universities, predominantly within the ancient English and Scottish universities.- England :Within the English University system MLitts are not universally...
1980). He prepared for ordination at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford
Wycliffe Hall, Oxford
Wycliffe Hall is a Church of England theological college and a Permanent Private Hall of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. It is located on the Banbury Road in central North Oxford, between Norham Gardens and Norham Road.-Overview:...
. He was ordained deacon in 1977 and priest in 1978 in 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...
. He was a tutor in doctrine and ethics at Wycliffe Hall
Wycliffe Hall, Oxford
Wycliffe Hall is a Church of England theological college and a Permanent Private Hall of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. It is located on the Banbury Road in central North Oxford, between Norham Gardens and Norham Road.-Overview:...
from 1977 to 1983 then Chaplain and Lecturer at the University of Exeter
University of Exeter
The University of Exeter is a public university in South West England. It belongs to the 1994 Group, an association of 19 of the United Kingdom's smaller research-intensive universities....
from 1983 to 1987. He then became jointly Director of Ordinands for the Diocese of Guildford
Diocese of Guildford
The Diocese of Guildford is a Church of England diocese based in Guildford, covering most of Surrey and part of Hampshire. The cathedral is Guildford Cathedral and the bishop is the Bishop of Guildford. It is part of the Province of Canterbury....
and Rector of Wotton and Holmbury St Mary (1987–93). From 1993 until 2001 he was Canon Chancellor of Lincoln Cathedral
Lincoln Cathedral
Lincoln Cathedral is a historic Anglican cathedral in Lincoln in England and seat of the Bishop of Lincoln in the Church of England. It was reputedly the tallest building in the world for 249 years . The central spire collapsed in 1549 and was not rebuilt...
and also a special lecturer at the University of Nottingham
University of Nottingham
The University of Nottingham is a public research university based in Nottingham, United Kingdom, with further campuses in Ningbo, China and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia...
, becoming Principal of the Southern Theological Education and Training Scheme
STETS
STETS delivers initial ministerial training and some lay training for the Church of England, Methodist Church and the Baptist Church in the southern region of the England...
in 2001 and Canon Theologian of Winchester Cathedral
Winchester Cathedral
Winchester Cathedral at Winchester in Hampshire is one of the largest cathedrals in England, with the longest nave and overall length of any Gothic cathedral in Europe...
in 2006. In 2011 he was appointed Canon Theologian at Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
and Visiting Professor in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at King's College London
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
.
White's book Atonement and Incarnation: an essay in universalism and particularity (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1991) was studied in Eamonn Mulcahy, The Cause of Our Salvation: Soteriological Causality according to some Modern British Theologians, 1988-98 (Tesi Gregoriana Serie Teologia 140, Rome: Editrice Pontificia Università Gregoriana, 2007), alongside Paul Fiddes
Paul Fiddes
Paul Stuart Fiddes is a British Baptist theologian. He is Professor of Systematic Theology in the University of Oxford and was formerly Principal of Regent's Park College and Chairman of the Theology Faculty...
, The Creative Suffering of God (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1988), Colin Gunton
Colin Gunton
Colin Ewart Gunton was a British systematic theologian. As a theologian he made contributions to the doctrine of Creation and the doctrine of the trinity. He was Professor of Christian Doctrine at King's College London from 1984 and co-founder with Christoph Schwoebel of the Research Institute for...
, The Actuality of Atonement: a Study of Metaphor, Rationality and the Christian Tradition (Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1988), and John McIntyre
John McIntyre (theologian)
John McIntyre CVO was a Scottish minister and theologian.-Biography:McIntyre was born in Glasgow on 20 May 1916 into a working-class family; he was the son of a carpenter...
, The Shape of Soteriology: Studies in the Doctrine of the Death of Christ (Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1992).
Publications
As author- 1981: Honest to Goodness: moral experience and the existence of God (Grove booklet on ethics 40). Bramcote: Grove Books
- 1985: The Fall of a Ssparrow: a concept of special divine action. Exeter: Paternoster Press
- 1991: Atonement and Incarnation: an essay in universalism and particularity. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
- 1996: Paying Attention to People: an essay on individualism and Christian belief. London: SPCK
- 2000: Re-enchanting the World: a fresh look at the God of mystical theology. Theology
- 2002: Identity (Society and Church.) London: SCM
- 2005: Counterpoints: believing Christian faith in a difficult world. Salisbury: Sarum College Press
- 2006: Life Beyond Death: threads of hope in faith, life and theology (Sarum Theological Lectures.) London: Darton, Longman and Todd
- 2010: Providence, Irony and Belief. Theology
Sources
- Crockford's Clerical Directory, s.v. 'White, Vernon Philip'
- Oxford University library catalogue
- Homepage at STETS