David Stubbs
(616) 392-8555 x124
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David L. Stubbs

Professor of Ethics and Theology

B.S. Stanford University

M.S. Stanford University

M.Div. Princeton Theological Seminary

Ph.D. Duke University

"Christian ethics and theology are about making connections - connections between the patterns of God's activity, the shape of our living, and the patterns of our thinking. What a privilege it is to help students at Western better discern those connections. Students must develop such discernment as they prepare to lead the people of God further into ways reflective of God - and as they learn to protest and strive against ways within our church and society that are not."

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Numbers (Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible) (Brazos, 2009)


"Stubbs'...wide-ranging theological and ecclesial imagination is deeply informed by scripture and the history of its interpretation by both Jews and Christians. Stubbs has opened up the riches of a book that was effectively close to the church, making it accessible and even indispensable for our journey with God." -- Ellen Davis, Duke Divinity School
    • TH113 Systematic Theology 
        This first course of the two course Systematic Theology sequence explores four major Christian doctrines: the doctrines of God, creation, humanity, and Christ. These expansive headings include many other matters of theological importance, including Trinity doctrine, divine attributes, creation, humanity, the image of God, sin, providence, covenant, Israel and the significance of the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ. Readings will range from early church to contemporary sources.
    • TH121 Christian Ethics
        Explores how the theological vision of the Christian community expresses itself in specific intentions, practices, virtues, and actions and how Christian communities can grow in moral discernment. 
    • TH544 20th Century Theology: Major Figures and Theological Currents
        Close readings of some of the “classic” works of 20th century theology by theologians such as Barth, Bonhoeffer, Gutierrez, Lindbeck, Rahner, Russell, Schmemann, and Moltmann. We will highlight the place of these works in larger theological and cultural currents that shaped Christian thought in this tumultuous century.
    • TH546 War, Peace, and Peacemaking
        We will consider Christian views on war, peace, and peacemaking. We will survey some of the key theological and biblical perspectives on war that have shaped the history of the church, look more carefully at various Christian responses to select wars and U.S. policies, and explore the thought and practices of Christian movements of peace and reconciliation.
    • TF552 Karl Barth: Life and Thought
        It is difficult to overestimate the importance of Barth's theology for contemporary Christian thought. Our course will include an overview of Barth's life and the forces that shaped it and his theology, and close readings of selections from his theological works. The student will gain a good overview of Barth's theological vision, his major contributions to theology and typical critiques of his thought.
    • TH589 Theology of the Book of Numbers
        Explores the book of Numbers, specifically the narratives, images, details, meanings, laws, and connections in this Old Testament book. Attention is given to the great impact Numbers has had on both the Jewish and the Christian traditions. Participants will be especially concerned to understand how this important part of scripture has formed and continues to form Christian thought and practice.
    • MT240 Seminar in Theology and Its Contexts
        Explores issues surrounding the cultural embeddedness of theology. Examines how the idea of “context” is related to debates about theological method and considers how to understand the relationships between theology and the Holy Spirit, the “culture” of the church, and the larger cultures in which we find ourselves. Meets during the second half of the first semester. 1.5 credits. Prerequisite: MT230.

     

Background

A central interest of David Stubbs' scholarly work is the impact that different philosophies and cultures have had on the church's theological and ethical imagination. That interest finds particular focus in his continued work on the concept of participation in Christ and sanctification in the modern Reformed tradition and in making links between contemporary theology, our Jewish roots, and the early church in order to better understand both Christ and the life and worship of the Church.

His interest in theology and ethics has not been purely academic, however. David is ordained in the PC(USA), has worked in college ministries and worship leadership for many years, served as a construction manager for Habitat for Humanity, taught English in China, participated in and led several mission service projects in the U.S., Argentina, Mexico, and Guatemala, and works with Holland Restorative Circles to bring processes of restorative justice into the community.

Dr. Stubbs recently published a theological commentary on the book of Numbers with Brazos Press and is working on a project exploring the influence of Israelite worship on the Lord's Supper. He is also co-chair of the steering committee of the Christian Systematic Theology Section of the American Academy of Religion, a contributing editor of Perspectives: A Journal of Reformed Thought, and a member of the Heidelberg Translation Committee of the PC(USA).  Dr. Stubbs has published and presented in areas such as sacraments, ethics, the theological ethics of Karl Barth, Christian views on war, Eastern Orthodoxy, the Jewish roots of Christian worship, and the impact of Anglo-American postmodernism on ethics and theology.

Preferred Areas of Research Supervision for Th.M. and D.Min. Degrees:

  • The Theology of Karl Barth
  • Post-liberalism and Narrative Theology
  • Virtue Theory and Christian Practices
  • Christian Views on War and Peace
  • Restorative Justice and Peacebuilding
  • Theological Interpretation of Scripture
  • Christology

Adult Education Courses

Dr. Stubbs is prepared to lead the following Adult Education courses at your church:
  • John Calvin and the Sacraments: Meeting Jesus at the Font and Table (3 sessions)
  • Karl Barth and his Vision of Jesus Christ (3 sessions)
  • Jewish Roots of Christian Worship (2 sessions)
  • Biblical Decision-Making in a Relativistic World: How to Read the Bible Ethically (3 sessions)
  • Christian Views on Just War and Pacifism (2 sessions)
  • Restorative Justice and Restorative Circles(2 sessions)
  • The Book of Numbers: The People of God, their Calling, and their Temptations (3 sessions)