Mark Labberton

Mark Labberton
Nationality American
Occupation Pastor, preacher, theology professor, seminary president
Known for Preaching, hermeneutics, holistic Christian formation, leadership, worship, social justice
Movement Evangelicalism, American Presbyterianism
Denomination Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Family
  • Married to Janet Morrison Labberton
  • Two sons: Sam and Peter Labberton

Mark Labberton is the President at Fuller Theological Seminary.[1]

Education and career

Labberton grew up in Washington State and received a Bachelor of Arts in English literature from Whitman College. About the time he entered college, he left the anti-religion atmosphere of his home and professed belief in Jesus Christ. That decision led him to earn a Master of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary and to serve served as study assistant to the Rev. John R. W. Stott (1980–1981).

He was ordained to the ministry of word and sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (USA) in 1982, beginning three decades of pastoral ministry. His pastorates include Associate Pastor for College and University Ministries, First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley (California, 1981–1987); Interim Pastor, Carmel Presbyterian Church (California, 1990–1991); Pastor, Wayne Presbyterian Church, Wayne, Pennsylvania (1991–1993); and Senior Pastor, First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley[2] (1993–2009).

Interspersed with his first decade of ministry, Labberton earned a PhD in Theology at Jesus College, Cambridge University (1990), with his dissertation titled “Ordinary Bible Reading: Reader-Response Criticism and the Reformed Tradition”.

While pastoring, Labberton’s denominational service included participation in the Presbytery of San Francisco Personnel Committee, Theological Forum Group, and Evangelism Committee, as well as service with the Office of Theology and Worship of the Presbyterian Church (USA), giving presentations and sermons at a number of events and Pastor-Theologian Seminars. He also served in various capacities with the Westminster House Campus Ministry at UC Berkeley. Since moving to an academic setting, his continuing service with the PCUSA can be seen, for instance, in his work on the Special Committee on the Belhar Confession (2013)[3] and his preaching at the 221st General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA), June 18, 2014.[4]

Labberton came to Fuller Seminary in 2009 to teach in the position of Lloyd John Ogilvie Associate Professor of Preaching and to direct the Lloyd John Ogilvie Institute of Preaching.[5] Upon the retirement of Richard J. Mouw, he stepped into the presidency of Fuller Theological Seminary, inaugurated on November 6, 2013.[6] Since accepting the presidency of Fuller, Labberton relinquished the Ogilvie Chair, which is currently occupied by Michael Pasquarello, III.[7]

Views, organizations, advocacy

Labberton has spoken before a broad range of audiences, including numerous conferences and events for the Presbyterian Church (USA), InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, the National Pastors Convention, and the International Justice Mission. He has also taught courses at New College Berkeley for Advanced Christian Studies.

Education and Resources for Christian Leaders Worldwide

In 1982 Labberton co-founded the Christian International Scholarship Foundation (CISF)[8]—an organization funding the advanced theological education of Christian leaders from the Majority World, including executives of relief organizations, college and seminary faculty, and denominational presidents—and served on the board of CISF for 17 years.

Labberton has also served on the board of Langham Partnership International (1993–2000; 2010–2013),[9] which provides books, scholarships, and seminars for Majority World pastors, and served as chair of John Stott Ministries (the US member of Langham Partners) from 2001 to 2004 and co-chair of the John Stott Ministries Global Initiative Fund from 2004 to 2007.

International Social Justice

Labberton is a senior fellow of the International Justice Mission’s Institute for Biblical Justice,[10] “an ‘action-oriented’ leadership think tank” working to advance ways to overcome injustice and to provide resources for the global church. In 1999 he founded Save-A-Life: Campaign for Mother-to-Child AIDS transmission. Labberton also serves on the advisory council for Network 9:35, a resourcing and networking ministry assisting churches and faith-based organizations, affiliated with Evangelicals for Social Action.

Racial Justice

Martin E. Marty, in a September 1, 2014, editorial published online in Sightings about the events in Ferguson, “noted that one of the most eloquent statements of confession of guilt and resolve to change came from Mark Labberton.”[11]

Immigration reform

In a November 2013 call for comprehensive immigration reform, Labberton and four others carried the banner leading the group of well over 100 Fuller students, staff, and faculty in a march to Pasadena City Hall.[12]

Writings

Books

Chapters

Articles

Academic Journals

Leadership Journal

Other Publications

Curriculum

References

  1. ↑ "Fuller Theological Seminary: President Mark Labberton".
  2. ↑ http://www.fpcberkeley.org/vision.asp
  3. ↑ http://www.pcusa.org/site_media/media/uploads/oga/pdf/thebibleandbelhar.pdf
  4. ↑ http://www.pcusa.org/news/2014/6/18/convergence-voice-and-action-key-christian-leaders/
  5. ↑ http://www.ogilvieinstitute.com
  6. ↑ http://www.fuller.edu/About/News-and-Events/Articles/2013/This-is-a-Moment--The-Inauguration-of-President-Mark-Labberton/
  7. ↑ http://fuller.edu/academics/faculty/2015-new-faculty/michael-pasquarello-iii/
  8. ↑ http://www.scholarleaders.org/about.html
  9. ↑ http://us.langham.org/
  10. ↑ https://www.ijm.org/ijm-institute-biblical-justice
  11. ↑ http://divinity.uchicago.edu/sightings/ferguson-%E2%80%94-martin-e-marty; Labberton, Mark. “Fuller’s President Reflects on Events in Ferguson.” Fuller Theological Seminary Presidential Communications, August 25, 2014. http://www.fuller.edu/offices/president/from-the-president/2014-posts/fuller-s-president-reflects-on-events-in-ferguson/
  12. ↑ http://www.pasadenanow.com/main/fuller-seminary-holds-prayer-walk-for-immigration-reform; http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/social-affairs/20131118/fuller-seminary-students-staff-march-on-pasadena-city-hall-for-immigration-reform

External links

President’s page on the Fuller Theological Seminary website: http://www.fuller.edu/president

Huffington Post article, “What the Church Has to Offer,” July 21, 2012: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-labberton-phd/what-the-church-has-to-offer_b_1681111.html

Interview by Korea Daily Los Angeles, November 19, 2013, “The immorality of today’s churches makes a mockery of the gospel”: http://www.koreadaily.com/news/read.asp?art_id=2132868 (in Korean)

Articles by Dr. Labberton in Fuller magazine: http://fullermag.com/contributor/mark-labberton/

Amazon.com author site: http://www.amazon.com/Mark-Labberton/e/B001JSC4U6

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Thursday, February 25, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.