The Reverend

David Fergusson

OBE FRSE FBA
Born
David Alexander Syme Fergusson

(1956-08-03) 3 August 1956 (age 67)
Glasgow, Scotland
TitlePrincipal of New College, Edinburgh (2008–2018)
Ecclesiastical career
ReligionChristianity (Presbyterian)
ChurchChurch of Scotland
Academic background
Alma mater
ThesisRealism and Idealism in Christian Interpretation with Special Reference to Bultmann (1984)
Academic work
DisciplineTheology
Sub-disciplineSystematic theology
Institutions
Doctoral students
Notable studentsOliver D. Crisp[3]

David Alexander Syme Fergusson OBE FRSE FBA (born 3 August 1956) is a Scottish theologian and Presbyterian minister. Since 2021, he has been Regius Professor of Divinity at the University of Cambridge.[4][5]

Early life and education

Fergusson was born on 3 August 1956 in Glasgow, Scotland. He studied philosophy at the University of Glasgow, graduating with an undergraduate Master of Arts (MA Hons) degree in 1977. He then studied theology at the University of Edinburgh, graduating with a Bachelor of Divinity (BD) degree in 1980.[6] He then undertook a Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) degree in Christian philosophy at the University of Oxford; his DPhil was awarded in 1984 for a doctoral thesis titled Realism and Idealism in Christian Interpretation with Special Reference to Bultmann.[7]

Career

Fergusson was Assistant Minister at St Nicholas Parish Church, Lanark, from 1983 to 1984 and Associate Minister at St Mungo's Parish Church, Cumbernauld, from 1984 to 1986.

In 1985, he was appointed a lecturer at the University of Edinburgh. In 1990, he was appointed Professor of Systematic Theology at the University of Aberdeen, before moving to Edinburgh to take up the position of the Chair of Divinity in 2000. He has held this post at New College in the University of Edinburgh until 2021.[8] In April 2021, he was appointed Regius Professor of Divinity, one of the oldest professorships of the University of Cambridge.[5]

Fergusson is a Fellow of the British Academy (elected 2013), a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and was an associate director of the Centre for Theology and Public Issues. He delivered the Cunningham Lectures in Edinburgh in 1996, the Bampton Lectures in Oxford in 2001, the Gifford Lectures at the University of Glasgow in 2008, and the Warfield Lectures at Princeton Theological Seminary in 2009. He was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity by the University of Aberdeen (2014).

He was installed as a personal chaplain to the Queen in November 2015[9] and was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2016 Birthday Honours for services to education, the arts, and the Church of Scotland.[10] From 2008 to 2018, he served as Principal of New College. In July 2019 the Queen appointed him as Dean of the Chapel Royal in Scotland and Dean of the Order of the Thistle.[11] He took part in the Royal procession at the 2023 Coronation.[12]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Forthcoming Dissertations and Theses | the T. F. Torrance Theological Fellowship".
  2. ^ "Being in Action - Center for Barth Studies". 14 August 2020.
  3. ^ "Oliver D. Crisp CV" (PDF). fuller.edu. March 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  4. ^ Fergusson, David (24 March 2021). "Professor David Fergusson". divinity.cam.ac.uk. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  5. ^ a b Goode, D. J. (7 July 2016). "History of Faculty Professorships and Readerships". www.divinity.cam.ac.uk. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  6. ^ "Fergusson, Rev. Prof. David Alexander Syme, (born 3 Aug. 1956), Regius Professor of Divinity, University of Cambridge, since 2021; a Chaplain to the Queen in Scotland, since 2015; Dean, Chapel Royal in Scotland and Dean, Order of the Thistle, since 2019". Who's Who 2022. 1 December 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  7. ^ Fergusson, D. A. S. (1984). Realism and Idealism in Christian Interpretation with Special Reference to Bultmann. E-Thesis Online Service (Ph.D). The British Library Board. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  8. ^ Faculty of Divinity, University of Cambridge. "Regius Professorship of Divinity – Faculty of Divinity". Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  9. ^ "University principal appointed chaplain to the Queen". 19 June 2017. Archived from the original on 19 June 2017. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  10. ^ "Page B12 | Supplement 61608, 11 June 2016 | London Gazette | The Gazette". thegazette.co.uk. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  11. ^ "By royal appointment: theologian takes up new roles". The Church of Scotland. 3 July 2019. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  12. ^ "Coronation order of service in full". BBC News. 5 May 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023.

External links

Religious titles Preceded byIain Torrance Dean of the Chapel Royal 2019–present Incumbent Dean of the Thistle 2019–present Academic offices Preceded by Gifford Lecturer at the University of Glasgow 2007–2008 Succeeded byCharles Taylor Preceded byA. Graeme Auld Principal of New College, Edinburgh 2008–2018 Succeeded bySusan Hardman Moore Preceded byIan A. McFarland Regius Professor of Divinityat the University of Cambridge 2021–present Incumbent Professional and academic associations Preceded byAnthony Thiselton President of the Society for the Study of Theology 2001–2002 Succeeded byPeter Selby
Regius Professors of Divinity
New College, Edinburgh
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