Matthew Emile Vaughan

Religion and Education
Practical Theology Consortium

Contact

99 Claremont Avenue
New York, NY 10027

mv2452@columbia.edu

Education

M.Ed. (Curriculum and Instruction), Freed-Hardeman University, 2009

M.Div., Abilene Christian University, 2008

B.A., Bible and Spanish, Freed-Hardeman University, 2005

Coursework: Harding School of Theology, The Jewish Theological Seminary of America, and Columbia University Teachers College

Work Experience

Teaching/Administrative Fellow, Union Theological Seminary, 2012-Present

Instructor of Spanish, Lexington High School, 2008-2011

Graduate/Teaching Assistant, Abilene Christian University, 2006

Instructor of Spanish (Adjunct), Freed-Hardeman University, 2005-2006

Biography

Matthew works at the intersection of theological and educational aims. His research and writing bridge unnecessary disciplinary gaps—encouraging theological reflection among educators and educational reflection among theologians. He is also deeply interested in the following areas: interreligious dialogue and religious pluralism; theologies of religion; the theology of Thomas Merton; teaching the Bible; theories of teaching and learning; and, as a former public high school teacher, the future of public education in the United States. His writing has appeared in several journals, including Restoration Quarterly, The Journal of Faith and the Academy, and The Merton Annual. He and his wife Bethany are members of the Church of Christ (a cappella), and they worship with the Manhattan Church of Christ in New York City.

Advisor: Mary C. Boys

Publications

“Resources for a Restoration Theology of Non-Christian Religions.” Restoration Quarterly. FORTHCOMING (2013)

“Thomas Merton’s Allegory of Adam: Its Theology and Implications.” Journal of Faith and the Academy 3.1 (Summer 2010): 31-39.

Numerous book reviews in various journals.

Presentations

“Thomas Merton and the Practice of Scriptural Reasoning,” at the Thirteenth General Conference of the International Thomas Merton Society. Fairfield, CT. FORTHCOMING (13 June 2013).

“On Constructing the Theological Syllabus,” a public lecture at Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York. FORTHCOMING (8 November 2012).

“Reconciling with The Religious Other: Resources for a Restoration Theology of World Religions,” at the Christian Scholars’ Conference. Nashville, TN. 7 June 2012.

“Evangelical Missiologies and Theologies of Religions,” a guest lecture/presentation for Paul Knitter’s ST 323: Dealing with Diversity: Evangelical/Pentecostal and Mainline Perspectives on Religious Pluralism; Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York. 20 October 2011.

“In Pretense or Truth: A Teacher's Response to the AAR's 2010 Publication, ‘Guidelines for Teaching about Religion in K-12 Public Schools in the United States’” at the Conference for the Journal of Faith and the Academy. Montgomery, AL. 11 February 2011.

“The First Adam: Genesis 2-3 in Merton’s Thought and Theology” at the Conference for the Journal of Faith and the Academy. Montgomery, AL. 19 February 2010.

Undergraduate Courses Taught

Elementary Spanish Grammar 1 & 2 (FOL 131 & 132)

Spanish Conversation (FOL 336)

The Gospel of Matthew (intensive studies at various churches)

Teaching Fellow

At Abilene Christian University

Christianity and Culture (BIBL 212), with Jerry Taylor

The Life and Teachings of Jesus (BIBL 101), with Jerry Taylor

At Union Theological Seminary

Teaching Theology and Religion (Fall 2012), with Mary C. Boys

Academic Administration: a fellowship with administrative, rather than educative, responsibilities (2012-), with Daisy Machado