Dr. Flett has been teaching in the Department of Theology at Eastern since 2004. A Seattle native, he taught at Seattle Pacific University for two years before coming to Eastern. His interests in the intersection of theology and culture arise out of a commitment to Trinitarian theology and interdisciplinary work, and from cross-cultural experiences in Germany, Canada, India, Tunisia, England, Brazil, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago.
His book, Persons, Powers, and Pluralities: Toward a Trinitarian Theology of Culture (Pickwick, 2011), is the result of doctoral work conducted at the University of London. His interests in interdisciplinary theological reflection, contextual theology, and Caribbean theology can be found in articles such as "Engaging the Religiously-Committed Other: Anthropologists and Theologians in Dialogue (Current Anthropology, 2014), "Dingolayin': Theological Notes for a Caribbean Contextual Theology" (In A Kairos Moment for Caribbean Theology, Pickwick, 2013), "Trinity: Conceptual Tools for an Interdisciplinary Theology of Culture" (In On Knowing Humanity: Insights from Theology for Anthropology, Routledge, 2017), and "'Him Little But Him Tallawah': Dirt, Disgust, and the Hospitality of the Spirit in Acts 10" (Canadian-American Theological Review, 2018).
He delivered the Zenas Gerig Memorial Lecture at Jamaica Theological Seminary (2015), and recently published “A Christological Gambiarra: Jesus and Social Engagement in Brazil" in Brazilian Evangelicalism in the Twenty-First Century (Palgrave, 2019) based upon a travel seminar to Brazil with the Nagel Institute for the Study of World Christianity.
Dr. Flett has taught in the M.A. in Theological and Cultural Anthropology program at Eastern, a program that emerged out of an inter-disciplinary research project called On Knowing Humanity funded by The John Templeton Foundation. He also teaches a course called Theology of Poverty to student cohorts in Eastern's MBA in Economic Development and MA in International Development.
He serves on Eastern’s Diversity, Equity, and Belonging Executive Team.
Education
M.A. Fuller Theological Seminary
Ph.D. King's College, University of London
At Eastern Since 2004
Courses Taught
Faith and the Big Questions (THEO 140), Introduction to Christian Theology (THEO 240), Exploring Biblical Literature (BIBL 200), Belief and Belonging: World Religions (THEO 215), Theology of Culture (THEO 337), On Being Human (THEO 340), The Son and Salvation (THEO 350), The Holy Spirit and Human Flourishing (THEO 360), Senior Seminar: Global Christianity (THEO 440).
Why I Teach at Eastern
Eastern’s values are my own: a commitment to a broad and inclusive understanding of the Christian story, to the developing human person, and to God’s project of creation as mediated through cultural activity that promotes justice and flourishing. Eastern allows me a role in this project as I encounter the creativity, energy, and questions of my students, and am allowed a small role in shaping their engagement with God and God’s world.
Research Interests
Theology of culture, contextual theologies, interdisciplinary theology, Ernest Becker and Terror Management Theory
Books
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Persons, Powers, and Pluralities: Toward a Trinitarian Theology of Culture. Princeton Theological Monographs Series. Eugene, OR: Pickwick Publications, 2011.
Selected Articles
- “Engaging the Religiously-Committed Other: Anthropologists and Theologians in Dialog.” Article co-written with E. Meneses, L. Backues, D. Bronkema, and B. Hartley. Current Anthropology (Spring 2014).
- “Dingolayin’: Theological Notes for a Contextual Caribbean Theology.” Book chapter in A Kairos Moment for Caribbean Theology: Ecumenical Voices in Dialogue, edited by J. Richard Middleton and Garnett Roper. Pickwick Publications, 2013.
- “Exploring an Interdisciplinary Theology of Culture.” Cultural Encounters 8:2 (2013), 47-58.
- “Culture as a Social Coefficient: Toward a Trinitarian Theology of Culture.” Cultural Encounters 5:1 (2009), 53-74.
- “Priests of Creation, Mediators of Order: The Human Person as a Cultural Being in Thomas F. Torrance’s Theological Anthropology.” Scottish Journal of Theology 58:2 (2005), 1-23.