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Gifford Rhamie

Senior Lecturer, Ethnicity & Culture in Early Christianity & Contemporary Praxis; Director of Field Education

Gifford Rhamie

BA MA PhD FAETC

Gifford’s focused research interest lies in exploring how cultural studies could aid with interrogating and displacing Eurocentrism and Anti-blackness in biblical and pastoral studies. This involves drawing on postcolonial theory, whiteness theory, diaspora and pilgrimage studies, and critical conviviality to explore ‘racialised’ discourse and interpretation in Second Temple Afroasiatic Judaism, Early Christianity and pastoral ministry in the 21st century.

Gifford also administers the placement education of theology students where, for the duration of their study, they are deployed as student pastors under the supervision of an experienced church pastor. As a consultant, Gifford has a long history working in race and cultural diversity issues.

 

Contact Information

Office hours: Appointments available by arrangement

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +44 (0)1344 407483

Modules

  • Classes I’ve taught

    BA in Biblical and Pastoral Studies

    Biblical Studies:

    • Greek I & II
    • Greek Readings
    • Old Testament Themes
    • New Testament Themes
    • Jesus through the Eyes of the Gospels
    • Greek Texts & Gospels
    • Foundations of Biblical Studies
    • Jesus in His Times and Ours
    • Introduction to Biblical Studies
    • Epistles
    • Acts and General Epistles
    • Jesus in History and Tradition
    • Gospels and Letters of John
    • Biblical Hermeneutics

     

    Pastoral Studies:

    • Church Ministry in a Postmodern World
    • Ministry and Culture (= Ministry and World Religions)
    • Pastoral Ministry in Context (= Foundations in Pastoral Studies)
    • Word & Music in Worship
    • Ministry and Worship
    • Homiletics I & II
    • Spirituality
    • Communication and Media
    • Evangelism and Church Growth
    • Pastoral Ministry
    • Placement

     

    MA Theology

    Biblical Studies:

    • Advanced Greek
    • NT & Christian Origins
    • Race, Identity and Nation

     

    Pastoral Studies:

    • Biblical Theology and Praxis for Ministry and Mission
    • Black Preaching
    • Church Music & Liturgy
    • Evangelism and Community
    • Equipping Ministries
    • Spirituality
    • Theological Methods for Pastoral Studies
    • Church Planting and Growth
    • Equipping Ministries

  • Classes I'll teach

    Autumn 2020

    • Placement (BA)
    • Theological Methods for Pastoral Studies (MA)
    • Biblical Theology and Praxis for Ministry and Mission (MA)
    • Dissertation supervision (MA)

    Spring 2021

    • Acts (BA)
    • Spirituality (BA)
    • Homiletics II (BA)
    • Placement (BA)
    • Race, Identity and Nation (MA)
    • Dissertation supervision (MA)

     

     

  • Seminars I deliver

    • Bible Study to the Unchurched
    • Canonicity and the Bible
    • KJV and other Bible Versions 
    • The Bible and Ethiopia
    • Immigration and the UK
    • BUC, Empire Settlers and Immigration
    • God and Culture
    • Adventism and Fundamentalism
    • Greek and Hebrew Worldviews
    • Perfectionism: Fact of Fiction?
    • Postmodernism and Postcolonialism
    • How to Read EGW
    • The Prophetic Voice
    • Slavery in the Bible
    • Biblical Hermeneutics: Dealing with Difficult Passages
    • Discipleship without Walls
    • Church without Walls
    • Spirituality and Emotions
    • The Discipleship Cycle
    • Leadership
    • Pastoral Development
    • Preaching and the Bible
    • Creative Worship

  • Areas of expertise

    • Ethnicity and Culture in the Bible and Early Christianity
    • Hebrew Israelites, blackness and the Bible
    • Judaism and Ethiopian History
    • Postcolonial theory, whiteness theory, diaspora and pilgrimage studies and critical conviviality
    • Hermeneutics: Eurocentrism and anti-black racism
    • Qualitative studies

  • Research and publications

    Dissertation

    “Whiteness, Conviviality and Agency: The Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:26-40) and Conceptuality in the Imperial Imagination of Biblical Studies.” PhD diss., Canterbury Christ Church University, 2019.
     

    Presentations

    ‘Searching for a Hermeneutic to Examine the Politics of Jewish and Graeco-Gentile Identities of the Ethiopian Eunuch’, PGRA Conference, Canterbury Christ Church University (22 May 2019)

    ‘Jews of Colour: Race and the Ethiopian Eunuch’, Pears Institute for the Study of Antisemitism, Birkbeck, University of London (26 June 2018)

    ‘The “Narrative Turn” from Jew to Gentile in the Purpose of Acts’, African Diaspora Religions and Cultures (Postgraduate Research Seminars), Birkbeck College, University of London, (25 January 2018).

    ‘The Purpose of Acts: Lagging behind Systemic Borders’, African Diaspora Religions and Cultures (Postgraduate Research Seminars), Birkbeck College, University of London, (26 October 2017).

    ‘Luke: A Hellenised Diasporic Jew’, African Diaspora Religions and Cultures (Postgraduate Research Seminars), Birkbeck College, University of London, (26 January 2017).

    ‘The Whitening of the Ethiopian Eunuch: The Politics of Jewish and Graeco-Gentile Identities within the Patristic Corpus’, Faith, Philosophy and Social Justice Conference, Christ College London, Woolwich (27 May 2016)

    ‘Whiteness and Conviviality at the Behest of Postcolonial Theory’, African Diaspora Religions and Cultures (Postgraduate Research Seminars), Birkbeck College, University of London, (28 January 2016).

    ‘Convivialising Acts, Its Author and Jewish Identity’, Transatlantic Roundtable on Religion and Race, Birkbeck, University of London (2 July 2015)

    ‘The Hermeneutic of “Critical Conviviality”’, Theology and Social Justice in Urban Cultures, Euston, London (June 2015).

    ‘Finding a Hermeneutic: An Agonistic Postcolonial Impulse’ Theology and Social Justice in Urban Cultures (Postgraduate Research Seminar), Birkbeck College, University of London, (29 May 2014).

    ‘Whiteness: The Impetus of Postcolonial Theory’, African Diaspora Religions and Cultures (Postgraduate Research Seminars), Birkbeck College, University of London, (12 December 2013).
     

    Book Chapters

    ‘Covenant Celebration’ in Experiencing the Joy. Eds. Miroslav Pujic & Sarah K Asaftei (Grantham: Stanborough Park Press, 2010), pp. 317-318.

    ‘The Rituals of Spirituality’ in Experiencing the Joy. Eds. Miroslav Pujic & Sarah K Asaftei (Grantham: Stanborough Park Press, 2010), pp. 326-330.

     

    Articles

    ‘The Discipled a Discipler: Defining Evangelism and Witnessing’ Spectrum (Spring 2012)

    ‘Truth: Jesus’ Lived Reality’ Spectrum (Winter 2010)

    ‘Baptism: An Enduring Symbol’ Adventist World (10 October 2009), pp. 20–21. Republished on official Adventist Church website, 2014–present.

    ‘Truth: God’s Lived Reality’ Spectrum (Summer 2009)

    ‘Power in the Spoken Word’ Spectrum (Spring 2007), 35:2

    ‘Ephesians: Themes in Relationships’ Spectrum (Fall 2005), 33:3

    ‘Conversations among the Exiles: A Commentary on the Sabbath School Lesson for September 13-19, 2003, on Hebrews 12:1–13:19

  • Other professional qualifications

    Committee Member
    2011–present
    BUC Ministerial Training Advisory Committee

    Committee Member
    2015–present
    SEC Ministerial Evaluation Committee

    Lead Subject Coordinator (BA Biblical Studies)
    Canterbury Christ Church University (Woolwich Campus),
    2014–2019

    Consultant & Community Trainer
    Thames Valley Police in Race & Community Relations
    1995–2005

    Lead Programme Coordinator
    Newbold in the City Campus (London)
    2007–2012

    Lead Internal Review Panel
    2008–2014

    Member of Academic Board; ACQUAP; ACUAC
    2008–2014

  • Memberships and Awards

    Membership of Professional Bodies

    • Society of Biblical Literature
    • American Academy of Religion
    • Adventist Society of Religious Studies
    • Association of Theological Field Education
    • Postcolonial Studies Association
    • Transatlantic Roundtable on Religion and Race
    • Tyndale Fellowship
    • British New Testament Society

     

    Teaching Award

    Teaching Excellence Award
    Canterbury Christ Church University (2017)