About Jones


I am Professor Emeritus of Theology and Ethics at Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis, Indiana having retired in June 2000.

A native of Oklahoma, I have received degrees from the University of Oklahoma [B.A. (Philosophy) 1958], Yale Divinity School [M.Div. (Theology) 1961], Yale Graduate School [M.A. '63, Ph.D. (Philosophical Theology) 1970].

I have enjoyed a long career in theological education, having taught at three seminaries: Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University [1965-75]; Phillips University Graduate Seminary [1975-88]; and Christian Theological Seminary [1988-2000]. I served Phillips as seminary dean [1975-79] and then as university president [1979-88], and I was dean at CTS for four years [1988-92].

My books and writings arise from these many years of teaching theology, but especially from the time spent at CTS teaching a yearlong course in systematic theology. Notes from that course grew over time until they required two volumes of Xeroxed text, distributed by the CTS Bookstore, to contain them. These two volumes were the basis of the book, A Grammar of Christian Faith: Systematic Explorations in Christian Life and Doctrine, 2 vols., Rowman and Littlefield, 2002. My other book, On Being the Church of Jesus Christ in Tumultuous Times, Wipf & Stock, Cascade Books, 2006, is comprised of many writings since 2000.

I am an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). In October of 2003 Yale Divinity School honored me with the Distinguished Alumni Award for Excellence in Theological Education. For the academic year 2005/06, I was Visiting Professor of Theology at Yale Divinity School.

My wife, Sarah, is a retired Marriage and Family Therapist and is a certified Spiritual Director. My eldest daughter, Serene Jones, formerly Titus Street Professor of Systematic Theology at Yale Divinity School, is now President of Union Theological Seminary in NYC and Roosevelt Professor of Systematic Theology. My middle daughter, Kindy Jones, is an attorney in Oklahoma City. My youngest daughter, Verity Jones, formerly Editor/Publisher of DisciplesWorld, is now doing research in the area of religion and the new media. Serene and Verity are also ordained ministers of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

Sarah and I live in 'retirement' in a cabin on Ft. Gibson Lake in eastern Oklahoma.