Robert S. Heaney
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
15 March 1972
Robert S. Heaney | |
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| Born | Robert Stewart Heaney 15 March 1972 Newry, Northern Ireland |
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| Institutions | Virginia Theological Seminary |
Robert Stewart Heaney (born 15 March 1972) is a theologian and Anglican priest ordained in the Church of Ireland. A faculty member of Virginia Theological Seminary (VTS) since 2013, he is Professor of Theology and Mission.[1] From 2013 to 2020 he served as Director of VTS's Center for Anglican Communion Studies.[2] He is a theologian of culture, Anglicanism, missiology, and postcolonialism.[3]
Heaney was born in Newry, Northern Ireland on March 15, 1972. Educated at Kilkeel High School he obtained a Bachelor of Arts in theology from the London School of Theology and a Master of Theology from the University of Oxford. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in theology from the Milltown Institute of Theology and Philosophy where he worked with James Corkery S.J.[4] and he holds a Doctor of Philosophy (D.Phil.) in theology from the University of Oxford where he worked with Christopher Rowland.[5]
Career and service
Heaney was ordained deacon in the Cathedral Church of St. Patrick, Trim, Dioceses of Meath and Kildare in 2001 and ordained priest in the Cathedral Church of St. Brigid in 2002.[6]
From 2007 to 2010, he was a Tutor in Doctrine, Regent's Park College, University of Oxford and then from 2010 to 2013 Senior Lecturer in the School of Theology and Religious Studies, St. John's University of Tanzania, Director of Postgraduate Studies and Research, St. John's University of Tanzania and a member of the Senior Management Team, St. John's University of Tanzania.[7]
In 2013, he became assistant professor of Christian Mission, Virginia Theological Seminary and was promoted to associate professor in 2015.[8] Since 2020, he has been Professor of Theology and Mission, Virginia Theological Seminary.[9]
In 2016, the Archbishop of Canterbury appointed Heaney to serve on the Design Group for the fifteenth Lambeth Conference (the decennial assembly of Anglican bishops from the Anglican Communion).[10] He facilitated the two most contentious “Lambeth Calls” for the conference, the Call on “Anglican Identity” and the Call on “Human Dignity.”
In 2016, Heaney was awarded the Susan B. Thomas Prize for commitment to excellence in education and the mission of the Episcopal Church and in 2022, he was awarded the Cross of St. Augustine for outstanding service to the Anglican Communion.[11]
Personal life
He is married to theologian, Sharon Elizabeth Heaney and has one son.[12]