Rev Professor René Erwich

BIO:

Dr René Erwich was appointed Principal of Whitley College in 2017 after working as a research professor in Practical Theology in the Netherlands for a number of years. His focus in teaching and research is always on the intersection of faith, religious practices and society. The driving motivation behind his work in preaching, teaching and writing is around creating connections and integration of the realities of today’s world with the realities of the Gospel of the Kingdom. He is highly interested in new forms of church, theology and media, human sexuality and theology and supervised learning. Dr Erwich is an ordained Baptist minister and a registered pastoral supervisor. He is married to Christa Eijer and together they have four children.

Qualifications:

• PhD, Utrecht University (ecclesiology and congregational studies, an empirical project on the impact of ethnography in Baptist churches)
• MTh, Utrecht University (pastoral psychological study on the impact of open heart-surgery on faith and spirituality)
• Pastoral supervisor (registered as general supervisor and CPE-supervisor)

Recent publications:

• R. Erwich (2018), Studying theology: between exploration and commitment. Researching spiritual development of higher education students of theology. In: Journal of Christianity and Education. 18:1.
• R. Erwich & J. van der Stoep (2017), Longing for a better world. Hope in professional practices. In: International Journal of Christianity and Education. 16:1-2. 107—115.
• R. Erwich (2016), Looking for Discernment: Dreams, Images and Prophecy in a Local Baptist Congregation. In: M. Klaver, S. Paas, E. van Staalduine-Sulman (eds), Evangelicals and Sources of Authority. AmSTaR, volume 6. Amsterdam: VU University Press. 44—58.
• R. Erwich en J.M. Praamsma (2016), Grensgangers. Pendelen tussen geloof en cultuur. Utrecht: Kok. [Crossing Boundaries, traveling between faith and culture). Utrecht: Kok. (Monograph).
• R. Erwich (2014), Theologie als Beroep. Verhalen van Hoop. Utrecht, Kok. [Theology as Profession. Stories of Hope]. (Monograph).
• R. Erwich (2013), Gemeente in Beeld. Vragen naar Vitaliteit. Utrecht: Kok. [Imaging the Church. Questioning Vitality]. (Monograph, resulting from research based on the Australian NCLS-model).

Units currently teaching:

• Homiletics
• Worship 3.0 (2019)

Research Areas:

• Ecclesiology with a focus on lived religion
• Film and theology
• Sexuality and theology
• Narrative (the relationship between theology and lifestories)