Biography

Dr Finbar Benjamin has held the title of Assistant Professor in the Department of Religion and Theology at Oakwood University since 2002. He was born in St. George’s, Grenada, and immigrated to London, England, in 1969, where he continued his primary and secondary education, and later his professional training in Mechanical Engineering. He received his initial ministerial training at Oakwood University (1981-1984), during which he also served as a publishing associate in the South Atlantic Conference. He later went on to Newbold College in England, where he graduated with a BA  Theology in 1989, and an MA Pastoral Ministries in 1996 from Andrews University. From 1988-2001, he served as a pastor in the South England Conference, in the British Union, where he was ordained in 1996.

His interest in modern Christian theologies, theological and contextual biblical hermeneutics, pastoral theology and homiletics, have led him to pursue a PGDip in Applied Theology from the University of Oxford, England, and a Doctor of Ministries degree (DMin) in Preaching, focusing on narrative hermeneutics and pastoral care, from the Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, IL. His DMin thesis was entitled, “Transformative Preaching as a Means of Addressing Pastoral Care Needs.” He is currently writing his PhD dissertation in Theology and Contextual Biblical Hermeneutics (University of Birmingham, England), with particular research interest in the constructive intersections of theology, post-colonialism, and the Black Diasporas. Presently, Dr. Benjamin teaches courses in the disciplines of Homiletics, Biblical Hermeneutics, Christian Theology, and Pastoral Theology. He is listed in Who’s Who Among American Teachers & Educators, 2006 – 2007.

Current Research or Professional Activities

Dr. Benjamin has presented academic papers and class lectures at a number of colleges and professional organizations, including, Newbold College, England; Spurgeon College, in London; Westminster College, Cambridge, U.K., and Southern Adventist University, U.S.A. In addition to his article in the International Review of Mission, published by the World Council of Churches (2000), entitled “The Politics of Preaching to Exiles”, as well as abstracts and book reviews, he is currently working on an article for the Biblia Africana Bible Commentary, to be published by Fortress Press. Dr. Benjamin also serves as the Co-Chair for the American Hermeneutics section of the South Eastern Commission for the Study of Religion, where he has also presented a paper entitled; Doing Theological Hermeneutics as a Diasporan.

Dr Benjamin is a clinical chaplain, trained at Emory University Center for Pastoral Services, in Atlanta, Georgia, and serves as a voluntary chaplain in Huntsville Hospital. He is a trained mediator, addressing conflicts and disputes in congregations and in local communities. He has a keen interest in equipping church members for local or contextual church ministries, including preaching and pastoral care, personal evangelism, and discipleship. Dr. Benjamin loves traveling to historical sites, reading, athletics, and music.

He is an adjunct professor in the Andrews University Doctor of Ministry program, serving as a lead professor for the preaching concentration.