St. Davids, PA: Eastern University is pleased to welcome Dr. Christopher Hall as the May 5, 2018 commencement speaker. Dr. Hall is the current president of Renovaré, a Christian nonprofit that centers on spiritual formation. He is also Distinguished Professor of Theology Emeritus at Eastern.
As an organization Renovaré models, resources, and advocates the fullness of life with God experienced, by grace, through the spiritual practices of Jesus and the historical Church. Commenting on the installment of Dr. Hall as president of Renovaré in 2015, founder Richard Foster said, “Chris has a wonderful skill set for what we need at this time in our history. More profoundly, his life is a sterling example of the work of spiritual formation into Christlikeness having settled deeply into the very structure of his entire being—body, mind, heart, spirit and soul.”
Previously, Dr. Hall was the Director of Academic Spiritual Formation and Distinguished Professor of Theology at Eastern University. During his 24 years as a faculty member, he served as Chancellor, Provost, Dean of Palmer Seminary and Dean of the Templeton Honors College. His passion for spiritual formation and growth greatly impacted the Eastern community, and still continues to today, with several course offerings remaining in the curriculum that were originally developed by him.
Not only is Dr. Hall an accomplished leader and teacher, but a speaker and writer as well. He is the author of numerous books including Living Wisely with the Church Fathers, The Mystery of God, which he co-wrote with Eastern University professor Dr. Steven D. Boyer, Worshipping with the Church Fathers, Reading Scripture with the Church Fathers, and The Trinity, written with Roger Olsen. He has been honored twice by Christianity Today with their annual book award, and has written and published a multitude of book reviews and academic articles. He has also taken part in many papers, presentations and dialogues, regarding topics of theology, tradition, ethics, wealth and poverty, the trinity, early church fathers and their relevancy and more.
Dr. Hall earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from U.C.L.A., a Master of Arts degree from Fuller Theological Seminary, a Master of Theology degree from Regent College, and a PhD in Theological and Religious Studies from Drew University.
Commencement will be held at 10 a.m. for undergraduate students and 3 p.m. for Esperanza College, Adult Undergraduate and Graduate students on Auxiliary field on the St. Davids campus at 1300 Eagle Road. For more information visit eastern.edu/commencement.
Eastern University is a Philadelphia Christian university of the arts and sciences located in the western suburbs of Philadelphia at 1300 Eagle Road in St. Davids, PA. Eastern enrolls approximately 3,300 students in its undergraduate, graduate, professional, urban, Seminary and international programs. Its core values of faith, reason and justice are woven into all of its educational programs.
