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Department of Religion FacultyThe Department of Religion faculty represent many years of academic and ministerial experience both in the United States and abroad. Our faculty are sought after speakers at conferences and seminars; are published authors; and are editors of globally recognized Journals in the areas of Pentecostalism, missiology, leadership studies and theology of C.S. Lewis.
| Gary J. Tyragtyra@vanguard.edu Chair, Department of Religion
Associate Professor of Biblical and Practical Theology Areas of Specialization: Theology, Spiritual and Ministry Formation. Education: B.A., West Coast Christian College; M.Div. and D.Min., Fuller Theological Seminary. Dr. Tyra teaches theology courses in Vanguard's traditional programs and in the School for Professional Studies—courses which aim to help students experience growth toward spiritual, moral, and ministry maturity. Having spent over three decades providing pastoral leadership for three congregations, he now devotes himself full time to teaching, mentoring future leaders, providing leadership for Vanguard’s Religion department, preaching in various churches, and writing. Gary is married to Patti, and is the proud father of Brandon and Megan, all of whom are Vanguard graduates! Dr. Tyra's abiding passion is to see all Vanguard students, not just religion majors, inspired and equipped to live their lives as fully devoted followers of Christ. Gary’s first book, Defeating Pharisaism: Recovering Jesus’ Disciple-making Method (Paternoster, 2009), deals with the problem of Pharisaism in evangelical churches, offering church leaders a strategy by which they can cultivate a disciple-making experience and environment that mitigates the presence of Pharisaism (legalism, dogmatism, separatism, judgmentalism, hypocrisy, etc.) while steering congregation members toward a more grace-oriented (and gracious) approach to the spiritual life. Gary and his wife Patti are currently under contract with Paternoster Publishing to write a second book entitled Beyond the Bliss: The Keys to a Transformational Marriage that is tentatively scheduled for release in the fall of 2010. Religion Faculty Published Works
Richard Israelrichard.israel@vanguard.edu Director: Graduate Programs in Religion
Professor of Old Testament
Areas of Specialization: Old Testament Prophets, Wisdom Literature, Psalms
Education: B.A., Northwest University; M.Div., Fuller Theological Seminary; M.A., and Ph.D. Claremont Graduate University. Richard Israel joined the Vanguard University faculty in the Fall of 2008. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Northwest University, a Master of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary, and a Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy from Claremont Graduate University in Religion, specializing in Old Testament. Prior to coming to Vanguard, Richard served as faculty member, Associate Dean and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Bethany University for twenty one years. His areas of interest include Old Testament Exegesis and Theology and implications of Pentecostalism for hermeneutics. He is a member of the Society for Pentecostal Studies and the Society for Biblical Literature. Richard is ordained with the Assemblies of God. Richard lives in Irvine with his wife Irene. They have two grown children.
|  | Greg Austringgaustring@vanguard.edu Assistant Professor of Intercultural Studies and Religion Areas of Specialization: Intercultural and Pastoral Studies. Education: B.A. and M.A., Vanguard University of Southern California; Ph.D. (Candidate) School of Intercultural Studies, Biola University. Professor Austring teaches courses in Intercultural Studies in the traditional undergraduate program and Pastoral Studies in the School for Professional Studies. Previously, he served 10 years as a missionary to Guatemala with the Assemblies of God and as a pastor in Canada. He is currently working on his dissertation investigating the relationship between missionary cultural adaptation and adult and experiential learning theories. He has been invited to participate in workshops for the School of Missions held each summer by the Assemblies of God World Missions department. His desire is to help prepare students to respond to the call to intercultural ministry around the world.
|  | Michael Bealsmbeals@vanguard.edu Assistant Professor of Philosophical Theology and Christian Ethics Areas of Specialization: Philosophy and Christian Ethics. Education: B.A. and M.A., Vanguard University of Southern California; M.A., Ph.D., Fuller Theological Seminary. Dr. Beals teaches courses in Christian Ethics, and Philosophy in the undergraduate program. He is also marking 18 years as Senior pastor at Mission Hills Community Church in Rancho Santa Margarita. He is a visiting professor at Crestmont College in Rancho Palos Verdes, University of the Nations in Harpenden, England; Harvest Ministry College in Glasgow, Scotland and a guest lecturer for International Foundation for Literacy in Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Xaimen, China; and Inglesia Pentecostal Las Buenas Nuevas in Havana and Sancti Spiritus, Cuba.
|  | Jerry Camery-Hoggattjerrych@vanguard.edu Professor of Narrative Theology and New Testament Areas of Specialization: Early Christian Origins, Narrative Theology and New Testament Studies. Particular interest in method and content in the study of the Gospels. Education: B.A., Southern California College; M.T.S., Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary; Ph.D., Boston University. Dr. Camery-Hoggatt teaches courses in Research Methods, New Testament and Narrative Theology to both our graduate and undergraduate programs. He is the author of a variety of works in a range of genres, including Irony in Mark's Gospel: Text and Subtext (Cambridge University Press), Speaking of God: Reading and Preaching the Word of God (Wipf & Stock), Grapevine: The Spirituality of Gossip (Herald Press) and Reading the Good Book Well: A Guide to Biblical Interpretation (Abingdon). Several of his publications are Christmas stories: When Mother Was Eleven-Foot-Four: A Christmas Memory (Revell), Giver of Gifts: Three Stories of Christmas Grace (Revell), and My Mother's Wish: An American Christmas Carol (WaterBrooke). His first illustrated children's book was published in November of 2007. Vanguard's resident storyteller is never without a tale of twisted plots and valiant heroes, complete with thick Scottish brogue or curt Bostonian banter to capture the imagination. He takes special joy in discovering the ways God complicates our plots in an artful play to turn us into more interesting and Christ-like characters.
|  | David G. Clark
Professor Emeritus
Areas of Specialization: Intertestamental Period, New Testament, Bible Prophecy, New Testament Greek. Particular interest in Classical Mythologies and Theology of C.S. Lewis. Education: Diploma, Apostolic Bible College; B.A., Southern California College; Ph.D., University of Notre Dame. Dr. Clark taught courses in New Testament, the Intertestamental period and apocalyptic literature as well as New Testament Greek and the theology of C.S. Lewis in both our graduate and undergraduate programs. He is the senior editor of The Lamp-Post, The Journal of the Southern California CS Lewis Society, a quarterly publication which showcases C.S. Lewis and those who share a passion for his wide range of books and theology through articles, interviews and book reviews. Dr. Clark has led 2 Lewis workshops at St. Andrews Priory, and co-taught with Terry Lindvall a third workshop there on humor in the writings of C.S. Lewis. At the invitation of Blackwell Publishers (Oxford) he has written C.S. Lewis: A Guide to His Theology, to be released Spring of 2007, as well as another work in progress titled A Reader's Guide to The Great Divorce. Dr. Clark especially enjoys working with graduate students as they develop their theses and directed readings for presentation. Religion Faculty Published Works
|  | Willem H. Dogterombdogterom@vanguard.edu Associate Professor of Pastoral Ministries
Associate Chair, School for Professional Studies in Religion Areas of Specialization: Pastoral Ministry, Spirituality, and Practical Theology. Particular interest in Spiritual Formation for lifetime ministry regardless of vocation. Education: Diploma in Theology, Northwest Bible College; B.A., North American Baptist College; M.Div., Fuller Theological Seminary; D.Min., Fuller Theological Seminary. Dr. Dogterom teaches courses in pastoral ministry, spirituality, and practical theology for the undergraduate program. He brings practical experience from his 25 years of senior pastoral experience to bear in his teaching and direct involvement with students, faculty and staff. Bill is passionate about students, their spiritual formation, preparation for vocational ministry and service as and to the church.
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| Roger D. Heuserrheuser@vanguard.edu Professor of Leadership Studies
Director, Judkins Institute for Leadership Studies
Areas of Specialization: leadership, spirituality,and mission in a global context.
Education: B.A., Trinity College; M.A., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School; Ph.D., New York University.
Professor Heuser has taught a variety of religion courses in graduate and undergraduate programs at Vanguard University with previous experience in academic administration. Roger has served as an adjunct professor at Fuller Theological Seminary, the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary, and other programs in Europe, Asia, and Latin America. He also serves as a consultant for judicatory agencies, seminaries, mission agencies, and local congregations. Before teaching at the University, Roger pastored for twelve years in the Chicago area.
Roger co-authored Leading the Congregation and Managing the Congregation, both with Norman Shawchuck and published by Abingdon Press. Other publications include Leadership and Team Building and Caregiving Leadership, both published by CMR Resources. He is also a consultant editor of the peer-reviewed journal, Transformation: An International Dialogue on Mission and Ethics.
Faculty Home Page
Religion Faculty Published Works
Judkins Institute for Leadership Studies
|  | Frank Macchiafmacchia@vanguard.edu Professor of Theology
Editor, PNEUMA: The Journal of the Society for Pentecostal Studies. Areas of Specialization: Systematic Theology, Ecumenical Theology and Pentecostal Theology. Education: B.A., Southern California College; M.A., Wheaton College Graduate School; M.Div., Union Theological Seminary (New York); D. Theol., University of Basel, Switzerland. Dr. Macchia teaches courses in Theology and Church History in both the graduate and undergraduate programs. He is past president of the Society for Pentecostal Studies and is the Editor of PNEUMA: The Journal of the Society for Pentecostal Studies. He is a prolific writer having published a much anticipated book for Zondervan titled "Baptized in the Spirit: A Global Pentecostal Theology." His most recent book is entitled, Justified in the Spirit: Towards a Trinitarian Soteriology (Eerdmans Pub., 2009). His recent publishing also includes a number of essays, most notably: “Pentecostal Eschatology,” in the Oxford Handbook of Eschatology, Jerry Walls, ed. (Oxford University Press, 2007); “The Spirit of God and the Spirit of Life: An Evangelical Response to Karl Barth's Pneumatology,” in Karl Barth and Evangelical Theology: Convergences and Divergences," Sung Wook Chung, ed. (Baker Academic, 2006); “The Kingdom and the Power: Spirit Baptism in Pentecostal and Ecumenical Perspective.” in The Work of the Spirit: Pneumatology and Pentecostalism" Michael Welker, ed. (Wm B. Eerdmans, 2006); and "Babel and the Tongues of Pentecost: Reversal or Fulfillment? A Theological Perspective", in Speaking in Tongues: Multidisciplinary Perspectives, Mark Cartledge, ed. (Pater Noster, 2006). He is also a frequent lecturer having traveled recently as a guest speaker to a wide spectrum of venues, including McCormick Theological Seminary, University of Southern California, MacMaster University, and Martin Luther University (Wittenberg, Germany).
Religion Faculty Published Works
|  | Jesse Miranda
Adjunct Professor
Director, Center for Urban Studies & Hispanic Leadership
Education: B.A., Vanguard University; M.A., Talbot Seminary; M.S., California State University; D. Min., Fuller Theological Seminary. Dr. Miranda teaches courses in Theology, Practical Ministry and Leadership in the graduate MA in Leadership Studies (MALS) Program. He is the founder and director of the Jesse Miranda Center for Hispanic Leadership at Vanguard. He is also Co-Director of the Hispanic Churches in American Public Life research project as well as Founding and Current President of the Alianza de Ministerios Evangélicos Nacionales (AMEN), a multi-denominational association of Hispanic Protestant lay and clergy leaders in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada and Mexico. AMEN fosters unity among religious leaders, churches and organizations, and promotes a central voice for Hispanic Protestants across the continent. He is the CEO of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference representing 18,000 Hispanic churches in the U.S. His knowledge and expertise regarding Hispanic culture have been shared in two books, The Christian Church in Ministry (Internat. Correspondence Institute), which has been translated into ten languages) and Liderazgo y Amistad i.e. Leadership and Friendship (VIDA Publishers). At present he serves as an Executive Presbyter with the General Council of the Assemblies of God, being the first Latino to serve on the national board, as well as the first Latino to be keynote speaker at the 1985 General Council held in San Antonio, Texas. Religion Faculty Published Works
Center for Urban Studies & Hispanic Leadership
|  | Douglas Petersendpetersen@vanguard.edu Margaret S. Smith Distinguished Professor of World Missions and Intercultural Studies
Areas of Specialization: Ethics, World Missions, and Intercultural Studies.
Education: Diploma, Northwest Bible College; B.A., Southern California College; M.A., Pepperdine University; Ph.D., Oxford Centre for Mission Studies in Oxford, England. Dr. Petersen teaches courses in the graduate program in inter-cultural studies on subjects relating to world missions, having lived and served on the mission field for many years. He is also the founding director of CINCEL, VUSC's Costa Rica Study Center that prepares students for work on a variety of levels within Latin America by intense language study, cultural immersion and significant issues related to the mission field. Dr. Petersen has also co-authored a number of books with fellow VU faculty including The Globalization of Pentecostalism: A Religion made to Travel (World Council of Churches); Called and Empowered: Global Mission in Pentecostal Perspective (Hendrickson) both co-authored with Murray W. Dempster and Byron D. Klaus. He is also the editor of Transformation An international Dialogue on Mission and Ethic, a magazine with worldwide distribution, published by The Oxford Center for Mission Studies. Faculty Home Page
Religion Faculty Published Works
|  | Edmund J. Rybarczykerybarczyk@vanguard.edu
Associate Professor of Systematic Theology Areas of Specialization: Eastern Orthodox Theology and Pentecostal-Charismatic History. Education: B.A., Southern California College; M.A. and Ph.D., Fuller Theological Seminary. Dr. Rybarczyk teaches courses in Theology and Church History in the undergraduate program here at Vanguard. His areas of special expertise are Eastern Orthodox theology and Pentecostal Charismatic history, but he loves discussing the history and theology of the whole church. Dr. Rybarczyk is also the author of Beyond Salvation: Eastern Orthodoxy and classical Pentecostalism On Becoming Like Christ (Authentic), a book that won the annual Pneuma Award in 2005. Together with Dr. Eric Patterson, Dr. Rybarczyk has co-edited a book, The Future of the Pentecostal Movement in the United States (Lexington Books, 2007). He is also the author of numerous journal articles. Religion Faculty Published Works
Lewis Wilson Institute for Pentecostal Studies
|  | April Westbrookawestbrook@vanguard.edu Associate Professor of Old Testament Area of Specialization: Old Testament Studies. Education: B.A., Life Pacific College; M.A. Vanguard University of Southern California; Ph.D. candidate, Claremont Graduate University. Professor Westbrook enjoys sharing with students her great love for the biblical text. Each academic year, she introduces students to the formal study of scripture, teaching several foundational courses in the Religion core curriculum. Her current focus in the field of Old Testament studies is given to narrative interpretation, with specific attention on female characters that occur in the historical books and the Pentateuch, and the ethics of power as represented in these books. As an ordained minister for over twenty years, Professor Westbrook also has great interest in issues concerning women in leadership and ministry roles. She regularly teaches related courses, as well as speaking at conferences, retreats and chapel services. Center for Women's Studies
Women's Studies Minor
|  | William C. Williamswwilliams@vanguard.edu Adjunct Professor of Old Testament
Areas of Specialization: Hebrew, West Semitic Languages and Old Testament Studies.
Education: Diploma, Northeast Bible Institute; B.A., Central Bible College; M.A., Central Bible College; M.A., New York University; Ph.D., New York University; Post-doctoral Study, Hebrew University, Jerusalem; the American Institute of Holy land Studies, Jerusalem. Dr. Williams teaches Old Testament, Hebrew and Semitic languages in both the Graduate and undergraduate programs. Dr. Williams has been an editor and consultant on a number of Bible translations including The New American Standard Bible, and The New Living Translation. He has contributed to reference works such as The New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology and Exegesis, (Zondervan); The Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology (Baker), and The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (Wm B. Eerdmans). His most recent work is They Spoke From God: A Survey of the Old Testament (Logion) and notes forThe NLT Study Bible Tyndale, (2008). He has been a visiting professor at numerous colleges and universities in the United States and abroad. His personal interests include photography and bicycliing. Religion Faculty Published Works
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