Tony Chavala-Smith

Office Phone:
email: tchvalasmith@CofChrist.orgEDUCATION

Ph.D. in Religious Studies: Marquette University (1993). Primary Concentration: Scripture (New Testament); Secondary Concentrations: Historical and Systematic Theology.
Advanced Studies: Toronto School of Theology (1985-86). Concentration: New Testament.
M. Div.: Princeton Theological Seminary (1983).
B.A.: Central Michigan University (1978). ACADEMIC DISTINCTIONS AND PROFESSIONAL AWARDS
- F. Henry Edwards Chair in Religion, Graceland University (1998 to present).
- Dissertation Fellowship, Marquette (1992-93).
- Arthur J. Schmitt Fellowship, Marquette (1991-92).
- Teaching Fellowship, Marquette (1990-91).
- Teaching Assistantships, Marquette (1987-90).
- Tuition Scholarships, Marquette (1987-91).
- Benjamin Stanton Prize in Old Testament, Princeton (1981).PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
  - Ordained Minister: Community of Christ (1979 to present).
  - Theologian-in Residence: Community of Christ (1997 to present).
  - Executive Minister: Community of Christ, Temple School (1997 to present).
  - Editor: Power and Light (Adult Christian Education Studies), Community of Christ (2001 to present).
  - Associate Professor of Early Christian Theology: Community of Christ Seminary 2003 to present)
  - Adjunct Faculty in Religion: Graceland University (1997 to present).
  - Adjunct Faculty in Religion: Park University Master of Arts in Religion Program (1997-1999).
  - Temporary Assistant Professor: Department of Religion, Central Michigan University (Spring Semester, 1994).
  - Instructor: Department of Theology, Marquette University (1991 Summer Session II).
  - Teaching Fellow: Department of Theology, Marquette University (1990-91).
  - Teaching Assistant: to Dr. Bradford Hinze, Marquette University (1989-90).
  - Teaching Assistant: to Dr. Julian Hills, Marquette (1987-89).
  - Executive Minister: Community of Christ, Michigan Region (1983-85).
  - Tutor in Classical Greek: Central Michigan University (1978).TEACHING COMPETENCE
    - Graduate or Seminary Level: Introduction to New Testament; New Testament Christology; Pauline Literature and Theology; Biblical Greek; Jewish and Christian Apocalyptic Literature; The Old Testament in the New: Early Christian and Jewish Biblical Exegesis; Methods in the Study of the New Testament; Life and Literature of the Early Church; Second-Century Christian Thought; Christian Theology in the Patristic Period; History of Christian Thought; Introduction to Systematic Theology; Doctrine of God; The Person and Work of Jesus Christ; Nineteenth and Twentieth Century Protestant Theology; Theological Hermeneutics; Community of Christ Theology.
    - Undergraduate Level: Introduction to the Old Testament; Introduction to the New Testament; Biblical Greek; Gospels and Acts; Pauline Literature; Apocalyptic Literature; Jewish Intertestamental Literature; History of Christian Thought; Church History: Ancient, Medieval, Modern; Nineteenth and Twentieth Century Protestant Thought; Introduction to Systematic Theology; Introduction to Christology; Life and Literature of the Early Church; Theology of the Community of Christ; Great Christian Thinkers.TEACHING EXPERIENCE
      - Graceland University:
        
        Graduate: Community of Christ Seminary (Master of Arts in Religion/Master of Arts in Christian Ministry programs):
        
        Community of Christ Theology (Spring 2005)
        History of Christian Thought I (Winter 2005)
        New Testament II (Spring 2004)
        New Testament I (Winter 2004)
        Christian Spiritual Formation (Spring 2004)
        
        Graduate (MAR):
        
        New Testament 1 (Winter 2002)
        New Testament 2 (Spring 2002)
        
        Undergraduate:
        
        Introduction to New Testament (Spring 1997- present)
        Introduction to Old Testament (Fall 1997- present)
        Seminar in Biblical Studies (Fall 1997-99, 2001; Spring 1999-2002; Fall 2003; Spring 2005)
        Community of Christ Theology (Fall 2000, 2002, 2004)
        Christianity East and West (Winter 1998)
      - Park University (MAR Program):
        
        New Testament History and Theology I (Spring 1997, 1999)
        New Testament History and Theology II (Summer 1997, 1999)
        Biblical Greek I (Spring 1998)
        Biblical Greek II (Fall 1998)
        History of Christian Thought I (Winter 1999)
        History of Christian Thought II (Winter 1999)
      - Central Michigan University:
        
        The New Testament and Its Age (Spring 1994)
      - Marquette University:
        
        Theology of Commitment (Summer 1991)
        Introduction to Theology (1990-91) PUBLICATIONS
        Books:
        Anthony Chvala-Smith, Understanding the Way (Independence, MO: Herald House, 2003).
        Andrew Bolton and Anthony Chvala-Smith, with Robert Kyser, Community of Christ: Seekers and Disciples (Independence: Herald, 2001).
        William R. Reader, in collaboration with Anthony J. Chvala-Smith, The Severed Hand and the Upright Corpse: The Declamations of Marcus Antonius Polemo, Texts and Translations 42; Greco-Roman Religion Series 12 (Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1996).
        
        Articles:
        “Resurrection” (co-authored with Charmaine Chvala-Smith), in Herald 152 (March 2005): 22- 23.
        “Jesus Saves: Finding Salvation in a Violent Age,” in Herald 152 (January 2005): 20-23.
        “Rooted in the Sacred Story: the Future of Scripture in the Community of Christ,” in Theology, Vol. 10, ed. by Don H. Compier and Shandra Newcom-Wolsey: Theologies of Scriptures (Independence, MO: Herald, 2002), 22-42.
        "Process Theology: Some Critical Observations," in Theology, Vol. 9: Process Theology and Religious Pluralism, ed. by C. Robert Mesle and Joni Wilson (Independence: Herald, 2002), 40-48.
        “To Share the Word of Life: Some Reflections on Mission,” Herald 148 (July 2001): 14-16.
        Anthony and Charmaine Chvala-Smith, “Wondering on the Way: A Becoming Faith,” regular column in Herald, 1998 to 2002.
        “Let Us Walk in the Light: Living the Restoration Vision in the New Millennium,” in Theology, Vol. 8: Entering a new Millennium, ed. by Richard A. Brown (Independence: Herald, 2001), 37-52.
        “A Trinitarian Approach to World Religions,” in Restoration Studies VIII, ed. by Joni Wilson (Independence: Herald, 2000), 128-132.
        “Lex Orandi Lex Credendi, or, Why Theology without Prayer is Noisy Gong and Clanging Symbol,” in Theology, Vol. 7: Spiritual Landscapes (Independence: Herald, 1999), 111-123.
        “’He Is Our Peace’: Toward a Theology of Peace,” in Transformation 2000 and Your Congregation, ed. by Leonard M. Young (Independence: Herald, 1999), 29-55.
        “The Spirit, the Book, and the City: Retrieving the Distinctive Voice of the Restoration,” The John Whitmer Historical Association Journal 19 (1999): 16-28.
        “Prayer in the Book of Mormon,” in The Transforming Power of Prayer, by Velma Ruch (Independence: Herald, 1999), Vol. 1: 81-94.
        
        Issues in Scripture (Independence: Temple School, 1998).
        “Knowing God, or the Hard Task of Living with Answers,” in The Knowledge of God (Independence: Temple School, 1998).
        “The Way Ahead: Issues Related to Developing an RLDS Peace Theology,” Saints’ Herald 145 (January 1998): 5-8.
        “Response to Stephen Patterson,” in Theology, Vol. 5: The Jesus Seminar, ed. by C. Robert Mesle (Independence: Graceland/Park Press, 1998), 27-35.
        “Understanding Neo-orthodoxy” in Survey of Contemporary Theology (Independence: Temple School Center, 1997), 53-76.
        “A Perspective of the Centrality of Christ,” in Shepherds Abiding in the Field: the Challenge of Pastoral Leadership, ed. by Leonard M. Young (Independence: Herald, 1997), 59-69.
        "Old Wine in New Skins: RLDS Baptismal Theology in Historical Perspective," in Theology, Vol. 2: Authority, Membership, and Baptism, ed. Richard A. Brown, (Independence: Graceland/Park Press, 1994).
        
        Core Values of the RLDS Church (Independence: Herald House, 1994).
        "The Harnack/Loisy Debate and Normativity in RLDS Theology," in Restoration Studies V, ed. Darlene Caswell, (Independence: Herald Publishing House, 1993), 51-60.
        "Faith Seeking Understanding: A Postliberal Perspective on Theology in the RLDS Tradition," in Theology: from Tradition to Task, ed. Richard A. Brown, (Independence: Graceland/ Park Press, 1993), 29-42.
        "The Politics of Reconciliation in 2 Corinthians 5," in Proceedings: Eastern Great Lakes and Midwest Biblical Societies 11 (1991): 210-221.
        
        Column: co-author a regular column (three times a year) in the Herald with Charmaine Chvala-Smith (since 1998)PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP
        
        Society of Biblical Literature
        Karl Barth Society of North AmericaSPECIAL INTERESTS
        
        Augustine’s Hermeneutics and Its Relevance for Contemporary Theology
        The Use of the Bible in Spiritual Formation
        Pauline Literature and Theology
        North African Christianity from Cyprian to Augustine
        Contemporary Use and Value of Barth’s Theology
        Review of Recent Introductions to the New Testament
        Christian Spirituality in the Writings of François Fénelon
        Theology of Scripture in the Community of Christ
        Archbishop William Temple’s Theology and Praxis.
        Evelyn Underhill as Spiritual Guide

Tony Chvala-Smith's Vita

Tony Chavala-Smith