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Brian McLaren

Brian D. McLaren (born 1956) is an author, speaker, activist, public theologian and was a leading figure in the emerging church movement. McLaren is often associated with postmodern Christianity.[1]

Education and career

Raised in Rockville, Maryland in the conservative Open Brethren, part of the Plymouth Brethren, McLaren became attracted to the countercultural Jesus Movement in the 1970s.[2] He is a faculty member and Dean of Faculty for the Centre for Action and Contemplation.[3]

McLaren attended the University of Maryland where he received both a B.A. (1978) and M.A. (1981) [4][5] He holds an honorary Doctor of Divinity from Carey Theological Seminary, Vancouver. In 2010 he was awarded an honorary doctorate from Virginia Theological Seminary (Episcopal).

From 1978-1986 McLaren taught college English. He helped form Cedar Ridge Community Church, a non-denominational church in Spencerville, Maryland, in 1982.[6] He was founding pastor and served in that capacity until 2006. The church eventually grew to include 500 members.[7]

In 2011, McLaren defended Rob Bell's controversial book Love Wins against critiques from figures such as Albert Mohler, who argued that Bell advocated universalism.[8]

In 2013, McLaren stated that he did not believe homosexual conduct to be sinful.[9]

In 2015, McLaren was recognized by Time magazine as one of the 25 Most Influential Evangelicals in America.[10]

Personal life

McLaren is married and has four children and five grandchildren.[5][11] In September 2012, McLaren led a commitment ceremony for his son Trevor and partner Owen Ryan at the Audubon Naturalist Society in Chevy Chase, Maryland.[12]

Publications

Children's Books

Sole-authored Books

Co-authored books

Books part of a Series

Co-edited volumes

See also

References

  1. ^ "Brian McLaren: Postmodern Christianity Understood as Story". Christianpost.com. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  2. ^ Murphy, Caryle (September 10, 2006). "Evangelical Author Puts Progressive Spin On Traditional Faith". Washington Post. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  3. ^ "Building on Richard Rohr's Founding Vision". cac.org. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  4. ^ "Author Brian McLaren to speak at summer worship series". Asheville Citizen. Asheville, NC. August 12, 2010.
  5. ^ a b Tucker, Abigail (April 27, 2005). "Fire without brimstone: Brian McLaren preaches tolerance and environmentalism, making him one of the country's more unusual yet influential evangelicals". Baltimore Sun.
  6. ^ "Cedar Ridge Community Church". crcc.org/. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  7. ^ Garrison, Greg (August 2, 2014). "'The Bible is a book about immigration': Emerging Church leader McLaren returning to Birmingham". al.
  8. ^ "Brian McLaren Defends Rob Bell against Mohler's Critique". Christianpost.com. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  9. ^ Theoblogy (8 October 2012). "Brian McLaren's View on Homosexuality".
  10. ^ "Brian McLaren - Paradigm Shifter". Time. 2005-02-07. Archived from the original on June 11, 2010.
  11. ^ "About Brian McLaren". Retrieved April 19, 2022.
  12. ^ "Trevor McLaren, Owen Ryan - Weddings". The New York Times. 2012-09-23. Retrieved 15 October 2012.

Critical references

External links

Interviews