About Me

About Me

ABOUT AUTHER

Dr. Bradford L. McCall

I consider myself a Christian and practicing catholic (with a lower case “c” meaning the church ecumenical), deeply rooted in my faith while embracing insights from science (particularly evolutionary biology) and philosophy (particularly process philosophy and Thomism). My understanding of God is enriched by the concept of “process” within an evolutionary context, but this does not define my theology. Influenced by thinkers like C. S. Peirce and A. N. Whitehead, I see their ideas as tools rather than doctrines, with my own views aligning closer to process theology than Thomism, but without rigid adherence to any single framework.

View my CV: Bradford L McCall


I possess a B.S. in Biology from Georgia Southwestern St. University (2000); a Master of Divinity in Biblical Studies from Asbury Theological Seminary (2005); an MA in Church History and Doctrine from Regent University (2012); an MA in Systematic Philosophy from Holy Apostles College & Seminary (2017); an MA in Religious Studies from Claremont School of Theology (2020); and a PhD in Comparative Theology from Claremont School of Theology (2022). I have pursued a multidisciplinary path to deepen my understanding of various fields of inquiry. I am the author of 9 books to date, including 2 as an editor, which have all been published by Wipf & Stock or one of its imprints, with 7 more under contract at Wipf & Stock, and with another 8 in gestation currently. I am grateful for these opportunities to contribute to scholarship widely defined. Notably, my education displays a circuitous route toward ecumenicity.


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Education

Publications

  1. McCall, Bradford. “Pentecostalism and Science.” In St. Andrews Encyclopaedia of Theology (2026): By Invitation of St. Andrews Faculty (www.saet.ac.uk). 
  2. McCall, Bradford. “Derrida & Non-Human Animals: An Exploration of Shared Animality.” Philosophy and Theology 35, no. 1 (2025): forthcoming.
  3. McCall, Bradford. “Amipotence Versus Amorepotence, Oord Versus McCall.” In Responses to The Death of Omnipotence and Birth of Amipotence, edited by Thomas Jay Oord. (Grasmere, ID: SacraSage Press, 2024): 119–25.
  4. McCall, Bradford. “Augustine’s Theolog(ies) of Creation.” Studia Elckie 24 (2023): 137–58.
  5. McCall, Bradford. “Charles Sanders Peirce’s Evolutionary Developmental Teleology.” Studia Elckie 23, no. 3 (2021): 413–28. DOI: 10.32090/SE.230322.
  6. McCall, Bradford. “Pan(en)theism and Paul Tillich: Mystical Immanence & Divine Involvement in an Evolutionary World.” In Why Tillich, Why Now?, ed. Thomas G. Bandy (Macon, GA: Mercer University Press, 2021): 127–41.
  7. McCall, Bradford. “Nygren & Oord on Love: A Critique.” Journal of Process Studies 49, no. 2 (2020): 275–91.
  8. McCall, Bradford. “Necessary, Kenotically-donated, & Self-giving Love.” Studia Elckie 21, no. 2 (2019): DOI: 10.32090/SE.210210.
  9. McCall, Bradford. “Whitehead, Creativity, and the Immanently Creative Spirit.” Zygon: Journal of Science and Religion 54, no. 2 (2019): 337–50.
  10. McCall, Bradford. “The God of Chance and Purpose.” Theology and Science 17, no. 1 (2019): 133–42. DOI:10.1080/14746700.2017.1413815.
  11. Bradnick, David and Bradford McCall. “Making Sense of Emergence: A Critical Engagement with Leidenhag, Leidenhag, and Yong.” Zygon: Journal of Science and Religion 53, no. 1 (2018): 24057.
  12. McCall, Bradford. “A Critical Analysis and Response to Hume from a Pneumatological Perspective.” Journal of Pentecostal Theology 26, no. 2 (2017): 233–51.
  13. McCall, Bradford. “Causation, Vitalism, and Hume.” Philosophy and Theology 29, no. 2 (2017): 341–51.
  14. McCall, Bradford. “Evolution, Emergence, and Final Causality: A Proposed Pneumatico–Theological Synthesis.” Wesleyan Theological Journal 52, no. 2 (2017): 148–64.
  15. McCall, Bradford. “The God of Chance.” In Uncontrolling Love: Essays Exploring the Love of God, with Introductions by Thomas Jay Oord, eds. Chris Baker, Gloria Coffin, Craig Drurey, Graden Kirksey, Lisa Michaels, and Donna Ward (Nampa, ID: SacraSage Press, 2017): 221–24.
  16. McCall, Bradford. “Thomistic Personalism in Dialogue with Kenosis.” Studia Elckie 19, no. 1 (2017): 21–32.
  17. McCall, Bradford. “A Modern Relation of Theology and Science.” Wesleyan Theological Journal 51, no. 2 (2016): 156–73.
  18. McCall, Bradford. “Aquinas, Teleology, and the Modern Evolutionary Synthesis.” Man In Culture 26 (2016): 375–95.
  19. McCall, Bradford. “Moravian Brethren.” In The Encyclopedia of Christian Civilization, ed. George Kurian (Malden, MA: Wiley–Blackwell, 2013): 1572–76.
  20. McCall, Bradford. “Emergence and Kenosis: A Wesleyan Perspective.” In The Continuing Relevance of Wesleyan Theology: Essays in Honor of Laurence Wood, ed. Nathan Crawford (Eugene, OR: Pickwick, 2011): 155–70.
  21. McCall, Bradford. “A Contemporary Reappropriation of Baconian Common-Sense Realism in Renewal Hermeneutics.” Pneuma: The Journal of the Society for Pentecostal Studies 32 (2010): 223–40.
  22. McCall, Bradford. “Emergence and Kenosis: A Theological Synthesis.” Zygon: Journal of Science and Religion 45, no. 1 (2010): 149–64.
  23. McCall, Bradford. “Emergence Theory and Theology: A Wesleyan–Relational Perspective.” Wesleyan Theological Journal 44, no. 2 (2009): 189–207.
  24. McCall, Bradford. “The Pentecostal Reappropriation of Common–Sense Realism.” Journal of Pentecostal Theology 19, no. 1 (2009): 58–74.
  25. McCall, Bradford. “Kenosis of the Spirit into Creation.” Crucible: Theology & Ministry 1, no. 1 (May 2008).

Areas of Specialization

Areas of Teaching Competence

4 Comprehensive Exam Areas @ Claremont School of Theology–Passed 8/2020

  1. Secular Evolutionary Biology:
    • Orienting Question:
      • “Provide the most detailed, organized, and insightful reconstruction that you can give of the ‘worldview’ of secular evolutionary biology, as presented in Michael Ruse and Elliot Sober. Include major topics that are important to them, major theses and sub-theses, and the important reasons that they give in defense of the positions that they advance.”
      • Administer: Philip Clayton, Claremont School of Theology
  2. Faith, Belief, and Religion:
    • Orienting Question:
      • “Outline the differences and similarities, and discuss some of the problems in the area of ‘Faith, Belief and Religion’ in the writings of Wilfred Cantwell Smith and Paul Tillich.”
      • Administer: Ingolf Dalferth, Claremont Graduate University
  3. Comparative Theology:
    • Orienting Question:
      • “Discuss the methodological approaches of at least four major comparative religious theorists (i.e., Roland Faber, David Ray Griffin, Paul Knitter, & Robert C. Neville), including their perceived strengths, limitations and any possible interconnections between them.”
      • Administer: Roland Faber, Claremont School of Theology
  4. Comparative Religious Studies:
    • Orienting Questions:
      • “What are some of the major hermeneutical ways of interpreting the Qur’an & how are they relevant for debates about Muslim identity today?”
      • “What is the relationship & function of impermanence, emptiness & suchness (or: the Buddha-nature) in Buddhist traditions?”
      • “Compare & contrast the central tenets of five of the most significant thinkers from classical Islamic thought.”
      • “What are some of the major options of defining the center of Judaism today?”
      • “What is the relationship between salvation in two Abrahamic traditions, & enlightenment in Buddhist traditions?”
      • Administer: Philip Clayton, Claremont School of Theology

5 Comprehensive Exam Areas @ Regent University: Passed 7/2009

  1. Biblical Interpretation Exam Area:
    • Kenneth J. Archer & Renewal Hermeneutics Question
    • Rudolf Karl Bultmann and his interpretation of the New Testament Question
    • Canonical Hermeneutics & Criticism Question
    • Evangelical Theologies of Scripture Question
    • Postmodern Hermeneutics Question
  2. Patristic and Reformation History and Thought Exam Area:
    • Aristotelian Theories of Causality Question
    • Augustine’s Trinitarian Theology Question
    • Development of Holy Spirit Doctrine Question
    • Doctrine of Revelation Question
    • Medieval & Reformational Renewal Movements
    • Neo-Platonism & Theology Question
  3. Early Modern Church History and Thought Exam Area:
    • Common Sense Philosophy Question
    • Darwinism & Theology Question
    • David Hume & Epistemology Question
    • John Wesley & Epistemology in the Wesleyan Tradition Question
    • Natural Theology In & After Paley Question
    • Scheleirmacher & 19th Century Liberal Theology Question
  4. 20th Century Theology Exam Area:
    • Sergius Bulgakov & Russian Sophiology Question
    • Philip Clayton & Emergence Question
    • Jürgen Moltmann & Trinitarian Theology Question
    • Process Theology Epistmology Question
    • Theodicy Question
    • Theology & Science Relationship Question
  5. Renewal History and Thought Exam Area:
    • Don Dayton & Implications for Renewal Theology Question
    • Global Pentecostalism Question
    • Holiness-Pentecostal Tradition Question
    • Pentecostalism & Ecumenism Question
    • Renewal Theology of Amos Yong Question

Teaching & Professional Experience

Select Presentations, Lectures, & Podcasts

Professional Affiliations

Graduate & Post-Graduate Courses Taken

  1. Select Post-Graduate Level Courses Taken @ Claremont School of Theology/Claremont Graduate University:
    • Classical Theories of Religion and the History of Religious Studies
    • Evolution and Creation: A Case Study in Science and Religion in the Contemporary World
    • Levinas & Derrida: Their Philosophical Systems of Thought
    • Mysticisms East & West: Parallels & Distinguishing Factors
    • Neuroscience & Spiritual Contemplative Practices
    • Paul & the Pauline School: A Study of the Letters Attributed to Paul the Apostle
    • Religions in America: From First Peoples to the Present
    • Readings in Twentieth Century Theology & Philosophy of Religion
    • Scriptures and Classic Texts from the World’s Religions
    • The Idea of Love: From the Platonic Tradition to Eberhard Jüngel
    • Theology of Augustine: From Manicheanism to the Trinity
    • Trinity Revisited: Models, Alterations, Alternatives
    • Whitehead & Postmodern Thought: Being and Becoming
  2. Select Post-Graduate Level Courses Taken @ Regent University:
    • Church History from a Pneumatological Perspective, Pre-Reformation
    • Church History from a Pneumatological Perspective, Post-Reformation
    • Contemporary Theologies
    • Systematic Theology from a Pneumatological Perspective
    • Theology in World Context
    • Pneumatology: Doctrine of the Holy Spirit
    • Interpreting Scripture
    • Science and Renewal Theology Seminar (funded by Templeton Foundation)
    • Theological German
    • Renewal Theological Method
    • Renewal Biblical Hermeneutics
    • Hermeneutical Philosophy & Its Implications for Renewal Theology
    • Research-based Pedagogy
    • Advanced Research Methodologies
    • Guided Readings: Early Modern & Humeaen Causality Models
    • Guided Readings: Trinity & Pneumatology in the 20th & 21st Centuries
  3. Select Graduate Level Courses Taken @ Holy Apostles College & Seminary:
    • Ancient & Medieval Philosophy
    • Modern & Contemporary Philosophy
    • Logic & Epistemology
    • Ethics
    • Theology & Science: One Source in Theology and Philosophy
    • Philosophy of Science
    • Philosophical Anthropology
    • Natural Theology
    • Philosophy of Nature & Metaphysics
    • Reason in the Theology of St. Thomas
    • Thomistic Personalism: Knowledge & Love
    • Philosophy Thesis
  4. Select Graduate Level Courses Taken @ Regent University:
    • Teaching, Thinking, & Learning
    • Character Development & Classroom Management
    • Curriculum & Development
    • Child & Adolescent Development
  5. Select Graduate Level Courses Taken @ Asbury Theological Seminary:
    • OT Exegesis: 1–2 Samuel
    • NT Exegesis: Matthew
    • NT Exegesis: Romans
    • NT Exegesis: 1st Corinthians
    • NT Exegesis: Ephesians
    • NT Exegesis: 1st John
    • Inductive Bible Study: Matthew
    • Inductive Bible Study: Romans
    • History of Methodism
    • Unity Methodist Polity
    • United Methodist Theology
    • John Wesley’s Theology for Today
    • New Testament Introduction
    • Old Testament Introduction
    • History of Christianity, Pre-Reformation
    • History of Christianity, Post-Reformation
    • Introduction to Biblical Hermeneutics
    • Encountering the Biblical World
    • Systematic Theology I
    • Systematic Theology II
    • Soteriology
    • Method & Praxis in Theology
    • Hispanic History, Theology, & Ministry
    • Philosophy of Christian Religion
    • Christian Ethics & Society
    • Death & Dying
    • Theology & Practice of Preaching
    • Interpersonal Relationship Skills
    • Pastoral Ministry
    • Kingdom, Church, & World
    • Christian Formation
    • Church Evangelism
    • Christian Leadership & Communication
    • Servant Leadership
    • Basic Church & Educational Administration
    • Greek Grammar
    • Concise Greek
    • Survey of Biblical Hebrew

Skills

References

Contact & Personal Information