Michael Clawson
Curriculum Vitae
Baylor University, Department of Religion
One Bear Place #97284, Waco, TX 76798-7284
~ 512-917-1501
Education
Ph.D., Religion, Baylor University, Waco TX, Anticipated graduation May 2015.
Major Concentration: History of Christianity with a focus on American Religion.
Minor Concentration: Contemporary Theology; Outside Minor: American History.
Dissertation: “Emerging from What?: The Historical Roots of the Emerging
Church Movement”
Advisor: Bill Pitts, Ph.D.
Readers: Barry Hankins, Ph.D.; C. Douglas Weaver, Ph.D.
M.A., Theological Studies, Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Austin, TX, 2010.
Thesis: “Loyal Radicals: The Intersection of Mainline Churches and Emerging
Christianity”
Thesis Advisors: Michael Jinkins, Ph.D.; Allan H. Cole Jr., Ph.D.
M.A., Missions & Intercultural Studies, Wheaton Graduate School, Wheaton IL, 2001.
Certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language
B.A., Christian Ed. & Ministry; B.A., Philosophy, Wheaton College, Wheaton IL, 2000.
Graduated with Honors.
Publications
“Churches of God, General Conferences.” Encyclopedia of Christianity in the United States. (Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2015).
“International Churches of Christ (Boston Movement).” Encyclopedia of Christianity in the United States. (Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2015).
“Missional Church Movement.” Encyclopedia of Christianity in the United States. (Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2015).
“Neo-Reformed Movement.” Encyclopedia of Christianity in the United States. (Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2015).
“Progressive Christianity.” Encyclopedia of Christianity in the United States. (Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2015).
“The Civil Rights Legacy and the New Monastics: Shifting Identities among American Evangelicals in the Post-Civil Rights Era.” Journal of Religion, Identity, & Politics (August, 2012).
“Misión Integral and Progressive Evangelicalism: The Latin American Influence on the North American Emerging Church.” Religions 3, no. 3 (August, 2012).
“House Churches. Modern American Christianity." Encyclopedia of the Bible and Its Reception, 30 vols. (Boston: De Gruyter, 2008--).
Presentations
“A New Evangelicalism?: The Politics of Christianity Today: 1989-2012.” Association for the Scientific Study of Religion, Irving, TX – March 8, 2014.
“Cussing Pastors and Postmodern Heretics: Southern Baptist Responses to Emerging Christianity.” National Association of Baptist Professors of Religion Annual Conference, Waco, TX – May 21, 2013.
“Mavericks & Virgins: Religious Pluralism in San Antonio, 1821-1860.” Southwest Commission on Religious Studies. Irving, TX – March 9, 2013.
“What is Emerging?: Toward a Useful Taxonomy of the Emerging Church Movement.” Central Texas Colloquium on Religion. Austin, TX – February 23, 2013.
“Hippies of the Religious Right and Postmodern Prophets: The Impact of the Jesus People Movement on Emerging Christianity.” Southwest/Texas Popular Cultural Association/American Culture Association Conference. Albuquerque, NM – February 15, 2013.
“Misión Integral and Prophetic Evangelicalism: The Latin American Influence on Progressive Evangelicals in the United States.” Southwest Commission on Religious Studies. Irving, TX – March 11, 2012.
“Young, Restless, and Fundamentalist: Neo-Fundamentalism among American Evangelicals.” American Historical Association/American Society of Church History Annual Meeting. Chicago, IL – January 8, 2012.
“Leveller Piety: Spiritual Practices and Democratic Movements in the English Civil War.” Sixteenth Century Society Conference. Fort Worth, TX – October 28, 2011.
“New Monasticism and the Uses of Francis.” Texas Medieval Association Conference. Waco, TX – September 29, 2011.
“Atheists as Outsiders: America’s Most Despised Religious Minority.” Central Texas Colloquium on Religion. Austin, TX – February 19, 2011.
Academic Teaching Experience
Teaching Fellow, Baylor University, Waco TX, Fall 2014.
REL 1310: The Christian Scriptures
Adjunct Faculty, Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Austin TX. Spring 2014.
CM 230: Theology and Practice of Mission and Evangelism.
Adjunct Faculty, Seminary of the Southwest, Austin TX. Fall 2013.
H1320: Formative Traditions in American Christianity.
Guest Lecturer, Baylor University, Waco, TX
REL 1350 – Christian Heritage, “Putting the Fun in Fundamentalism” (April 27, 2011).
REL 1350 – Christian Heritage, “Holiness, Pentecostal, and Charismatic Movements” (Nov.
15, 2013).
REL 1350 – Christian Heritage, “20th Century Theologies,” (Nov. 25, 2013).
REL 3330 – Intro to Church History, “Neo-Monasticism” (Sept. 30, 2011).
REL 3330 – Intro to Church History, “Fundamentalism” (Nov. 22, 2010; April 18, 2011).
Graduate Teaching & Research Assistant, Baylor University, Dept. of Religion, Waco TX.
Dr. Bill Pitts, 2012-Present
BIC 1324: World Cultures; REL 1350: Christian Heritage; REL 5334: English Reformation; REL 5334 Puritanism; REL 5336: American Christianity
Dr. Rosalie Beck, 2010-2012
REL 1350: Christian Heritage; REL 3330: Intro to Christian History; REL 3338: Women in Christian History; REL 4340: Christian Missions
Ministry Experience
Emergent Cohorts Coordinator, Emergent Village, 2006 – Present
Coordinated and multiplied regional discussion groups (cohorts) for Emergent
Village, a global network of emergent Christians.
Emergent Village Representative. Seminary Consortium for Urban Pastoral Education,
Congress on Urban Ministry Planning Meeting, Chicago, IL, Nov. 2006.
Coordinating Team. Brian McLaren’s Everything Must Change Tour, Feb.-May 2008.
Official Historian. Emergence Christianity National Gathering, Memphis TN, Jan. 2013.
CANA Initiator. Washington D.C., Nov. 2013.
Presentations:
“Starting and Multiplying Emergent Cohorts,” Emergent Village Gathering, Glorieta, NM, November 2007; Wild Goose Festival, Shakori Hills, NC, June 2011 & June 2012.
“What is the Emerging Church?” Emerging Women Midwest Gathering, Oregon, IL,
March 2007.
“Doing Emergent Ministry,” First Call Theological Education, Metro Chicago Synod-
ELCA, Chicago, IL, April 2008.
“Emergent Cohorts as an Agent for Change,” Everything Must Change Tour, Chicago,
IL, April 2008.
“The Future of Emergent Village,” TransFORM National Gathering, San Diego, CA,
March 2014.
Emergent Cohort Leader, Emergent Village, 2003-2010, Chicago IL & Austin TX
Co-founded and led up/rooted, the Chicagoland Emergent Cohort, growing to over 450
members organized into seven geographically-based satellite groups throughout the Chicago area and nearby regions.
Initiator, Lead Organizer, & Host. Midwest Emergent Gathering, Chicago, IL, July 2007.
Founder. APTS Emergent Cohort, Austin, TX. 2009-2010.
Founding Mission Partner, New Life for Haiti, Plainfield, IL, 2006-Present
Partnered with several churches to begin an economic/community development mission in Haiti, training and leading several short term mission teams on fact-finding and work trips.
Founding Pastor, Via Christus Community Church, Yorkville, IL, 2005-2008
Planted an innovative emerging/missional church in the far west suburbs of Chicago with the
Churches of God, General Conference.
Organizer & Moderator. Faith & Politics Immigration Forum, Aurora, IL, October 2006.
Founding Member. Kendall County Environmental Coalition. 2006-2008.
Organizer & Moderator. Faith & Our Environment Forum, Yorkville, IL, March 2007.
Clergy Television Panelist. Ask God, 4 episodes. Total Living Network, Aurora, IL.
September 2007.
Youth Pastor, Evangel Baptist Church, Wheaton, IL, 2002 – 2005. Volunteer Youth Leader from 1997-2002.
Led a growing, experimental, and relationally-based suburban youth ministry.
Organized numerous service projects, community outreach events, and mission trips.
Missions Youth Leader, Royal Servants International, Europe, Summer 1998.
Served as a small group leader for teens on a summer evangelism mission to Europe.
Personally coordinated nightly youth outreach events in Milnsbridge, England.
Camp Ministries Year-Round Staff, Center Lake Bible Camp, Tustin, MI, 1990-1996
Roles included program assistant, horse wrangler, camp counselor, and guest services.
Honors and Awards
Michael K. Schoenecke Award for American Culture – Southwest Texas Popular Culture and
American Culture Association (2012)
Theta Alpha Kappa – National Honor Society for Religious Studies and Theology (2012)
Graduate Fellowship – Baylor University, Department of Religion, 2010-2015.
Hendrick-Smith Award for Evangelism & Missions – Austin Presbyterian Theological
Seminary (2010)
James G. Jameson Essay Award, 1st Place, for “Reconciling Free Will & God’s Sovereignty”
– Wheaton College (1997)
President’s Award – Wheaton College (1996)
Languages
German (reading)
French (reading)
Spanish (reading, limited speaking)
Haitian Creole (limited speaking)
Professional Affiliations
American Academy of Religion
American Historical Association
American Society of Church History
National Association of Baptist Professors of Religion
Popular Culture Association/American Culture Association
Society for the Scientific Study of Religion
References
Dr. William L. Pitts
Professor of Church History
Baylor University
Waco, TX 76798
254-710-6321
Dr. C. Douglas Weaver
Professor of Church History
Baylor University
Waco, TX 76798
254-710-7283
Dr. Ellen Babinsky
Professor Emeritus
Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary
Austin, TX 78705
512-476-5198
Dr. Arun W. Jones
Dan & Lillian Hankey Associate
Professor of World Evangelism
Candler School of Theology
Emory University
Atlanta, GA 30322
404-727-1089
Dr. Rosalie Beck
Associate Professor of Church History
Baylor University
Waco, TX 76798
254-710-3747
Dr. Tony Jones
Emergent Village Founder
Professor of Christian Spirituality at Fuller Seminary
Theologian-in-Residence at
Solomon’s Porch
Minneapolis, MN 55419
612-597-0441