Bryan Stone
E. Stanley Jones Professor of Evangelism
B.A. Southern Nazarene University
M.Div. Nazarene Theological Seminary
Ph.D. Southern Methodist University
Dr. Stone’s professional experience is in urban and multi-cultural ministry, faith-based non-profit development, and new church development. His doctoral work was in the field of liberation theology and christology, and his current research interests are in evangelism, urban ministry, theology and film, Wesleyan studies, ecclesiology, and postliberal theologies. Dr. Stone is the author or editor of 6 books: Sabbath and the City: Sustaining Urban Pastoral Excellence, co-authored with Claire E. Wolfteich (Westminster John Knox Press); Evangelism After Christendom (Brazos Press, 2007); Thy Nature and Thy Name is Love: Wesleyan and Process Theologies in Dialogue, co-edited with Thomas J. Oord (Kingswood Press, 2001); Faith and Film: Theological Themes at the Cinema (Chalice Press, 2000); Compassionate Ministry: Theological Foundations (Orbis Books, 1996); and Effective Faith: The Christology of Juan Luis Segundo (University Press of America, 1994).
Dr. Stone is co-director of the Center for Practical Theology and director of the Congregational Research and Development project at the Boston University School of Theology.
Dr. Stone’s Home Page
Dr. Stone’s Theology Page: Fides Quaerens Internetum
Center for Congregational Research and Development
Publications
Books
2008 Sabbath and the City: Sustaining Urban Pastoral Excellence. Co-authored with Claire E. Wolfteich. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press.
2007 Evangelism after Christendom: The Theology and Practice of Christian Witness. Grand Rapids: Brazos Press.
2001 Thy Nature and Thy Name is Love: Wesleyan and Process Theologies in Dialogue, Bryan Stone and Thomas Jay Oord, Editors. Nashville: Kingswood Books.
2000 Faith and Film: Theological Themes at the Cinema. St. Louis: Chalice Press.
1996 Compassionate Ministry: Theological Foundations. Maryknoll: Orbis Books.
1994 Effective Faith: A Critical Study of the Christology of Juan Luis Segundo. Lanham, MD: University Press of America.
Published Articles and Book Chapters
2009 “The Apostles’ Creed in Film,” in Hans-Josef Klauck, et al. The Encyclopedia of the Bible and Its Reception. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter. At press.
2009 “Evil in Film,” in William Blizek, ed. Continuum Companion to Religion and Film. Continuum.
2008 “Modern Protestant Approaches to Film (1960-present),” in John Lyden, ed. Companion Volume on Religion and Film. Routledge Press.
2007 “The Relevance of Popular Culture for Empirical Research in Practical Theology,” in Hans-Günter Heimbrock and Christopher Schultz, eds. Religion: Immediate Experience and the Mediacy of Research. Göttingen: Vandenhoek & Ruprecht.
2005 “New Church Development,” in Stephen Gunter and Elaine Robinson, eds. Considering the Great Commission: Evangelism and Mission in the Wesleyan Spirit. Nashville: Abingdon.
2005 “Evangelization and Spirituality,” in Philip Sheldrake, ed., The New SCM Press Dictionary of Spirituality. London: SCM Press.
2004 “Online Resources in Theology and Religion,” Quarterly Review (Winter).
2004 “New Church Development,” in Stephen Gunter ed. Considering the Great Commission: Toward a Wesleyan Praxis of Mission and Evangelism. Nashville: Abingdon. Forethcoming
2004 “Evangelism and Spirituality,” in Phillip Sheldrake, ed., The New SCM Press Dictionary of Spirituality. London: SCM Press. Forthcoming.
2003 “Divine Presence,” Chapter in Philosophy of Religion: An Introduction to Issues. Thomas J. Oord, ed. Kansas City: Beacon Hill Press.
2002 “Hope and Happy Endings,” Review and Expositor 99:1 (Winter), 37-50.
2002 “Going to the Movies, Finding God,” Zion’s Herald (March/April).
2001 “The Sanctification of Fear: Images of the Religious in Horror Films,” Journal of Religion and Film 5:2 (October).
2001 “AI: Blurring the Line Between Human and Machine,” Research News and Opportunities in Science and Theology (August), 20.
2001 “The Spirit and the Holy Life,” Quarterly Review (Summer).
2001 “Process and Sanctification,” in Thy Nature and Thy Name is Love: Wesleyan and Process Theologies in Dialogue, Bryan Stone and Thomas J. Oord, editors. Nashville: Kingswood Books.
2000 “Holiness and Hollywood,” The Circuit Rider (May/June), 24-25.
2000 “Theology and Film in Postmodern Culture: A Dialogue with Forrest Gump and Pulp Fiction.” Wesleyan Theological Journal 35:1, 149-164.
1999 “Embodying Reconciliation.” Boston Theological Institute Newsletter 24:12 (December 1), 3.
1999 “Religion and Violence in Popular Film.” Journal of Religion and Film 3:1.
1998 “Reclaiming the ‘E’ Word.” Focus (Winter/Spring).
1998 “Science and Religious Faith in Contact.” Journal of Religion and Film 2:2.
1995 “Wesleyan Theology, Scriptural Authority, and Homosexuality.” Wesleyan Theological Journal 30:2, 108-138.
1995 “A Prolegomenon to a Contemporary Theology of Urban Ministry.” Connection (7), 5-8.
1994 “How Israel Treated Raped Women.” Illustrated Bible Life (March-April-May), 35-36.
1994 “The Faith Community.” Young Adult Teacher (Word Action Publications, March-April-May), 83-110.
1991 “Did Paul Command Blind Obedience to Corrupt Leaders? If So, Let’s Hear It for Hitler.” Illustrated Bible Life (June/July/August), 2-3.
1988 “Christianity, Presidents, and Politics.” Herald of Holiness (June 1), 12-13.
1987 “Compassion Fatigue.” Bread (November), 24-26.
1987 “What Money Can Do To Us: A Camel Ride Through a Needle’s Eye.” Emphasis Magazine and Bible Commentary (11:2), 22-23.
1986 “In the World But Not Of It.” Herald of Holiness (August 1), 8-9.
1985 Chapters 7, 8, and 9 in Discovering Acts. Kansas City: Beacon Hill Press, 58-61, 68-73, 79-82.
1984 “Christian Realism.” Herald of Holiness (November 1), 6-7.
Reviews
2009 Review of The Hope of Liberation in World Religions by Miguel A. De La Torre, Ed., in Journal of Church and State. (July 20)
2006 Review of Representing Religion in World Cinema: Filmmaking, Mythmaking, Culture Making, by S. Brent Plate, Ed. PNEUMA: The Journal of the Society for Pentecostal Studies.
2003 Review of Truthful Action: Explorations in Practical Theology, by Duncan B. Forrester. Religious Studies Review (forthcoming).
2001 Review of Reel Spirituality: Theology and Film in Dialogue, by Robert K. Johnston. Religious Studies Review 27, 385.
2000 Review of Baring Our Souls: TV Talk Shows and the Religion of Recovery, by Kathleen S. Lowney. Religious Studies Review.
2000 Review of Urban Theology: A Reader. Ed. Michael Northcott. Missiology. (28:3), 371-72.
1995 Review of The Liberation of Dogma: Faith, Revelation and Dogmatic Teaching Authority, Juan Luis Segundo. New Theology Review 8:2.
Unpublished Papers and Presentations
2009 “Interfaith Encounters in Popular Culture,” paper delivered at the International Association of Practical Theology meeting, Chicago, IL (August 1).
2008 “Teaching in the Urban Context,” paper delivered at the Association of Practical Theology meeting at the American Academy of Religion, Chicago, IL (1 November).
2008 “Evangelism and Eucharist” and “Evangelism and Empire,” Keynote Addresses at Troy Annual Conference, Saratoga, NY (June 5-6).
2008 “The Ethics of Evangelism,” Lectures given at Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary, Evanston, IL (March 26-27).
2008 “The Ethics of Evangelism,” Pope Lecture Series given at Nichols Hills United Methodist Church, Oklahoma City, OK (February 17-18). Lecture 1: “Evangelism, Empire, and the Ethics of Martyria”; Lecture 2: “Evangelism, Market, and the Ethics of Eucharist”; Lecture 3: “Evangelism, Violence, and the Ethics of Pacifism”
2007 “Sustaining Urban Pastoral Excellence,” Plenary address for the Concluding Conference of the Sustaining Urban Pastoral Excellence Program, Boston University School of Theology (October 10).
2007 “The Emerging Church and the Ecclesiality of Salvation.” Plenary address to the Academy for Evangelism in Theological Education, Ashland Theological Seminary, Ashland, OH (October 5).
2007 “Toward a Wesleyan Theology of the Congregation.” Paper delivered at the Oxford Institute for Methodist Theological Studies, Oxford, England (August 12-21)
2007 “Living Evangelistically,” Wesley Ministry Network Video series on Evangelism (taped on August 18).
2006 “A Wesleyan Approach to Evangelism.” Presentation given to New England Annual Conference Probationary Review and Continuing Education Day, Rolling Ridge Retreat Center, North Andover, MA (April 7).
2005 “Practice and Context Across the Theological Disciplines.” Response paper delivered at the Association for Practical Theology, American Academy of Religion 2005 Meeting, Philadelphia, PA (November 19).
2005 “The Congregational Habitus of Theology.” Paper delivered at the Conversation on Theology and Congregational Life, Hartford Seminary’s Institute for Religion Research, Hartford, CT (October 11-12).
2005 “The Relevance of Popular Culture for Empirical Research in Practical Theology.” Paper delivered at Symposium on Phenomenon and Experience, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany (October 27-29).
2004 “Compassion and the Ecclesial Imagination.” Paper delivered at the Nazarene Compassionate Ministries Theology Conference, Kansas City, MO (December 3).
2004 “Story-Telling and the Christian Social Imagination.” Keynote lecture delivered at the Southwest Regional Conference on Christianity and Literature, Southern Nazarene University, Bethany, Oklahoma (September 30-October 1).
2004 “Jesus on Film” and “Moses on Film.” Presentations delivered to the Council of Churches of Greater Springfield and the Interfaith Council of Greater Springfield, Elms College, Springfield, Massachusetts (February 4)
2003 “The Politics of Discipleship and Multicultural Congregations.” Papers delivered at the General Board of Discipleship, United Methodist Church (March 13-14)
2003 “The Politics of Ecclesia and the Call to Ministry,” Paper for The Fund for Theological Education Forum on “The Call to Pastoral Ministry,” Indianapolis, Indiana (January 8-9)
2002 “Evangelism as Ecclesial Holiness,” Paper delivered at the Oxford Institute for Methodist Theological Studies, Oxford, England (August 13-22)
2001 “Evangelism and Ecumenism: The Changing Face of Evangelicals in North America,” Lecture given at Beyond Boundaries Conference, Claremont School of Theology, Claremont, California (March 20-21)
1999 “Subversive Holiness” and “Eccentric Holiness.” Papers delivered at “Subversive Holiness: Expanding Our Vision of Holiness and Christian Community: A Conference on Community and Action,” Center for Christian Social Holiness and Kingdom House Communities, San Diego, California (November 5-7).
1999 “Holiness and Hollywood.” Papers delivered at the J. Glenn Gould Holiness Lecture Series, Eastern Nazarene College, Wollaston, Massachusetts (November 3-4).
1997 “‘Reaching’ in the Urban Context: Resurrection and Liberation.” Paper delivered at the Contextualized Urban Theological Education Enablement Program (CUTEEP) Conference, Minneapolis, Minnesota.