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Andrew Shepherd 2020 imageSenior Lecturer – Theology and Public Issues
BA(VUW), BD(Melbourne College of Divinity), PhD(Otago)

Wellington Anglican Centre / Te Whanganui-a-Tara
Mob +64 27 602 3500
Email andrew.shepherd@otago.ac.nz
Website https://www.drandrewshepherd.com

Dr Andrew Shepherd is a Senior Lecturer in Theology and Public Issues. His working life has alternated between academic teaching roles and leadership responsibilities in Christian and non-profit organisations. After his initial degree in English Literature and History he completed postgraduate studies in theology. His doctoral thesis offered a theological ethic of hospitality in conversation with French philosophers, Emmanuel Levinas and Jacques Derrida.

Teaching

  • CHTH224 Theology and the Environment
  • CHTH324 Theology and the Environment (Advanced)
  • CHTH231 Christianity, War and Violence
  • CHTH331 Christianity, War and Violence (Advanced)
  • CHTH320 Public Theology and Social Justice
  • CHTH420 Public Theology and Social Justice (Advanced)
  • CHTH338 – Theology, Money and Markets
  • CHTH424 - Theology, Money and Markets (Advanced)

Preferred areas of supervision

I am available to supervise in any of the areas listed under Main research interests below and open to considering supervising or co-supervising any research project around the broad areas of Christian social ethics, ecological theology, and/or political theology.

Main research interests

  • Ecological theology and environmental ethics
  • The ethics and practice of hospitality
  • Theology and phenomenology
  • Theology and economics
  • Human conflict and peace theology and practices
  • Historical and contemporary theologies of social transformation

Current postgraduate students

  • Gray Baldwin (PhD), Faith motivation in farmers for environmental care in Southland and Otago

Recent postgraduate students

  • Bruce Billington (MTheol), A critique of Martyn's commentary on Galatians with an emphasis on the kingdom of God
  • Emma Gray (PhD), Formation and deformation: Pierre Bourdieu and Alexander Schmemann in dialogue on the Eucharist as practice (Division of Humanities Exceptional PhD thesis)

Publications

Shepherd, A. (2025). A reacquaintance with grief: The Anthropocene and Ecclesial rites of mourning. International Journal of Public Theology, 19(3), 433-456. doi: 10.1163/15697320-20250012 Journal - Research Article

Shepherd, A. (2025). Centring the edge: Churches, crises and white-hot faith: A review essay on Duckworth and Jamieson, In-tensional: A way forward for the Church [Book Review Essay]. Journal of Anglican Studies. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1017/S1740355325000063 Journal - Research Article

Shepherd, A. (2025). In the face of such anxiety, we need to open ourselves to hope. The Post, (30 December). Retrieved from https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/360922942/face-such-anxiety-we-need-open-ourselves-hope Journal - Professional & Other Non-Research Articles

Shepherd, A. (2025). Defence spending boost puts peacemaker role in doubt. The Press, (9 October). Retrieved from https://www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/360847349/defence-spending-boost-puts-peacemaker-role-doubt Journal - Professional & Other Non-Research Articles

Beck, J., Te Moni, W., & Shepherd, A. (2025, August). Haerenga Tuawhā: Part 1: Fossils, faith, and the future of our planet. Ngā Here: The Many Connections, Season 4 (episode 1). Retrieved from https://www.buzzsprout.com/2021350 Other Research Output

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