Christophe D. Ringer
Curriculum Vitae Permanent Address: 2703 Waterford Circle Nashville, TN 37221 615.430.4383 [email protected] Education: 1. Higher Education:Vanderbilt Graduate Department of Religion Degree: Doctor of Philosophy candidate Advisor: Victor Anderson
Dissertation: “A Political-Theological Critique of the U.S. Culture of Incarceration” (Fall 2012)
Dissertation Committee:
Victor Anderson, Professor of Ethics and Society Volney Gay, Professor of Religious Studies
Stacey Floyd-Thomas, Associate Professor of Ethics and Society
Ellen Armour, E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Chair in Feminist Theology Lewis Baldwin, Professor of Religious Studies
Qualifying/Comprehensive Examinations (passed in October 2008): Philosophical Ethics: The Social Phenomenology of Alfred Schutz Theological Ethics: Howard Thurman as Theologian
Psychology, Religion & Culture: Post-Freudian Theory and Social Analysis Social Theory & Public Policy: Seyla Benhabib, Critical Theory & Immigration in America
Dissertation Area Examination: African American Religion & Culture, Black Masculinities, Social Theory & Social Phenomenology
Vanderbilt Divinity School
University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana Degree: Bachelor of Arts in Economics, 1995 University of Illinois at Chicago
Graduate Certificate in Urban Development, 2001 2. Academic Interests:
I. Religious Ethics: Public Theology, Political Theology, Liberation Theology, Empirical Theology, African American Religion and Politics, and Philosophy of Religion
II. Philosophical Ethics: Political Ethics, Critical Social Theory, Social Ethics, Social Phenomenology, Philosophical Theology, African American Philosophy, and Theories of Community, Critical Prison Studies
III. Religion, Science & Culture: Religion and Social Sciences, Theology and Social Theory, Psychology of Religion & Culture, and Culture Studies Vanderbilt Divinity School
Degree: Master of Divinity, Spring 2005 University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana Degree: Bachelor of Arts in Economics, 1995 University of Illinois at Chicago
Graduate Certificate in Urban Development, 2001 2. Scholarships:
The Fund for Theological Education (FTE) North American Doctoral Fellowship Recipient, 2009-2010.
The Fund for Theological Education Doctoral Fellow Scholarship, 2005-2007. J. R. Hyde Foundation Scholarship, 2003-2005, Vanderbilt Divinity School. 3. Awards
Benjamin E. Mays Fellow Recipient, The Fund for Theological Education (FTE), 2009-2010
4. Teaching Experience: Adjunct Instructor Fall 2009 – Spring 2011 American Baptist College Courses taught:
Christology
Howard Thurman, Mohandas Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. Teaching Assistant, Ethics is Theological Perspective, Spring 2012 Victor Anderson, Vanderbilt Divinity School
Teaching Assistant, History of Christian Formation, Fall 2011 Alexander Hwang, Vanderbilt Divinity School
Teaching Assistant, History of Christian Traditions Spring 2010 Lewis Baldwin, Vanderbilt Divinity School
Teaching Assistant, Ethics in Theological Perspective Fall, 2006 Melissa Snarr, Vanderbilt Divinity School
Teaching Assistant, Religion & War, Spring 2008 Melissa Snarr, Vanderbilt Divinity School
4. Other Teaching:
Course Facilitator, Pastoral Care and the Parables of Jesus. Theology Among the People (TAP). Southeast Conference, United Church of Christ.
Course Facilitator, Christian Ethics and a Life of Meaning. Theology Among the People (TAP). Southeast Conference, United Church of Christ.
5. Chapters, Articles and Reviews:
“Inception’s Faith in Everyday Life” (chapter: Inception and Philosophy, Open Court Press, November 2011), pp. 259-268.
“Mark 12:13-34 Theological Perspective,” Feasting on the Gospel (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox), forthcoming 2013
The Color of Christ: The Son of God & the Saga of Race in America by Edward J. Blum & Paul Harvey, reviewed by Christophe Ringer
The Perkins Perspective, Fall 2012, Seattle Pacific University
Peculiar Institution: America’s Death Penalty in an Age of Abolition by David Garland, reviewed by Christophe Ringer
The Perkins Perspective, Spring 2011, Seattle Pacific University
The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander, reviewed by Christophe Ringer,
6. Citations:
The Voice of Conscience: The Church in the Mind of Martin Luther King, Jr. by Lewis V. Baldwin (New York: Oxford University Press, 2010), cit. p. 285.
7. Public Lectures & Presentations:
“Precious Lord: the Politics of Redemption in the Black Public Sphere,” a paper delivered for the Race, Religion & Representation Symposium, Institute for Justice, Education & Transformation, University of Wisconsin-Madison, March 15-16, 2012, Madison, WI.
“Race, Obama & the Unveiling of Hope,” a paper delivered for the
Southeast Commission for the Study of Religion (SECSOR), March 4, 2012, Atlanta, GA.
“Rene Girard & African American Public Theology.” Paper presentation for Political Theology Agenda Symposium, Ecumenical Institute of the World Council of Churches, Sussex Centre for the Individual & Society and University of Geneva, Geneva Switzerland, July 12, 2011.
“Houston Baker, Critical Memory and the Black Public Sphere.” Lecture for Black Religion and Culture Studies, Victor Anderson, Instructor. Vanderbilt University Spring 2011
“Apocalyptic Moments and Natural Disasters: What they Reveal about Who We Are” Served as Theologian of the Conference, ALA-TN Association, Southeast Conference, United Church of Christ. November 6, 2010.
“Sacrificing the Least Advantaged for Political Gain.” Ministry to Families in Crisis, American Baptist College, July 26, 2010.
“Preaching Blues: The Legacy of the Blues in African American Worship.” Ray of Hope Community Church Village Conference, American Baptist College, June 21, 2010.
“Sanctified Soul: the Legacy of Gospel in African American Popular Music.” Ray of Hope Community Church Village Conference, American Baptist College, June 22, 2010.
“I Told You about Playing Those Away Games: The Structure of Hope
and Inequality in The Wire.” Paper presentation for The Wire as Social Science Fiction? Conference held at Centre for Research on Social-Cultural Change, University of Manchester, UK. November 27, 2009.
“What Matters Most in Life: Memory, Meaning and Religion.” Lecture for Oak Valley Family Life Retreat held at the Lewis Scruggs Center for Pastoral Leadership. June 26, 2009.
Lecture Series: “A Righteousness Apart from the Law,” a three-part lecture series presented for First Presbyterian Church, Nashville TN:
“Religion, Justice and Vengeance,” January 16, 2005.
“Mass Incarceration: the Case for Public Policy as Vengeance,” January 23, 2005. “Biblical and Theological Responses: the Case for Social Inclusion,” January 30, 2005
8. Works in Progress:
“Between God and Analyst: Healing of the Self in Howard Thurman and Heinz Kohut” (journal article, anticipated completion Winter 2013)
“Hope and Inequality: The Wire and the African American Religious Situation” “Inception’s Faith in Everyday Life” (journal article, anticipated completion Spring 2013)
“Precious Lord: The Religious, Psychological and Political Economy of Push” (journal article, anticipated completion Spring 2013)
5. Grants:
“The Heart of the Matter: Joining Sociology & Social Ethics,” Robert Penn Warren Center for the Humanities Interdisciplinary Graduate Seminar Grant, Co-director, Nakia Collins. $2,500. Awarded July 2011. Duration: August 2011 – August 2012.
6. Community Services:
Board Member, Urban Epicenter, 2012 – present Convener, Speaking with One Voice, 2010 – present
Board Member, 18th Family Enrichment Center, 2008 - present Board Member, Homeless Power Project, 2008 - present
Advisory Council Member, McGruder Family Resource Center, 2008 - present Field Education Supervisor, Vanderbilt Divinity School 2008-2011
Vice President, Black Seminarians 2003-2004
Member, Student Government Association 2004-2005 Member, Vanderbilt Divinity School Honor Council 7. Professional Associations
American Academy of Religion (membership active) Society of Christian Ethics (membership active)
Society for the Study of Social Problems (membership active) 8. Training Programs:
Cal Turner Program in Moral Leadership
One of four Divinity students selected to attend the Second Annual Cal Turner Program Retreat (2003); a three-day event designed to engage ethical and moral concerns in the professions with students and faculty from Vanderbilt
University’s Owen School of Management, Law School, Medical School and School of Nursing.
Ella Baker Child Policy Training Institute, Alex Haley Farm, Clinton, TN July 8-15, 2003. Attended national training teachers employed at the Freedom School, a division of the Black Community Crusade for Children sponsored by the
Children’s Defense Fund.
National Community Capital Association (NCCA) is a association of more than 160 private-sector community development financial institutions (CDFIs) that provide financing, training, consulting, and advocacy for CDFIs to create small businesses, quality affordable housing, and vital community services that benefit economically disadvantaged people and communities.
“Reexamining Poverty in the New Economy,” National Community Capital Association, November 1-4, 2000 Philadelphia, PA. Sessions attended: Organizing Money and Politics through Religious Congregations, Financing Supportive Housing and Lending to Childcare Providers.
“Building Inclusive Prosperity in a Diverse Society,” National Community Capital Association, October 25-27, 2001 Memphis, TN. Sessions attended: Using Lending to Stimulate Workforce Development, Partnering with the Government: Making it work for all Parties and Quantifying the Economic Cost of Predatory Lending.
Professional Experience: 1. Ministry:
Pastor: Howard Congregational (UCC), Nashville, TN
Responsible for preaching, teaching, ministry development, administration, and pastoral care for church membership. 2005- present
Associate Minister: Howard Congregational (UCC), Rev. Wilson Q. Welch, Pastor Emeritus. Responsible for preaching, teaching and community relations. 2004-2005.
Associate Minister: Pilgrim Baptist Church, Chicago, IL, Rev. Dr. Hycel B.Taylor, Senior Pastor. Responsible for assisting Senior Pastor in
implementation of various ministries to serve the spiritual and material concerns of the congregation. 2001 -2002.
2. Community Development
Chicago Community Loan Fund (CCLF), Executive Director, Calvin L. Holmes. Loan Officer: Assisted Senior Loan Officer in underwriting over $2 million in loans to community based organizations in low- and moderate-income
neighborhoods throughout metropolitan Chicago. Responsibilities included: researching CCLF’s social impact by political wards in Chicago to support public policy efforts to garner state funding of community development financial
institutions, maintaining working relationships with borrowers, financial institutions, state and federal agencies, Board of Directors, and other
public/private sector institutional peers in the field of community development. 2000-2002.
References:
Victor Anderson, Vanderbilt University The Divinity School, Nashville, TN 37240 (615) 343-3973
Ellen Armour, Vanderbilt University
Graduate Department of Religion, Nashville, TN 37240 (615) 343-5536
Volney P. Gay, Vanderbilt University
Graduate Department of Religion, Nashville, TN 37240 (615) 322-6341
Lewis V. Baldwin, Vanderbilt University
Graduate Department of Religion, Nashville, TN 37240 (615) 322-6358