Tyndale University is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Patrick Franklin to the Alister E. McGrath Chair of Christian Thought and Spirituality.
“Dr. Franklin is a fantastic professor and an engaging teacher and speaker well loved by students. He is sought after as a presenter at conferences and academic forums,” says Dr. Michael Krause, VP Academic: Dean of Seminary and Graduate Studies (Interim), R.J. Bernardo Family Chair of Leadership, and Associate Professor of Leadership and Ministry. “As President of the Canadian Scientific and Christian Affiliation (CSCA), as well as a Fellow of the ASA (American Scientific Affiliation) and CATA (Canadian-American Theological Association), Dr. Franklin’s work as a theologian explores terrain similar to that of Dr. McGrath... He speaks and writes on pressing contemporary issues and debates.”
Tyndale’s Chair of Christian Thought and Spirituality honours Alister E. McGrath, a visionary and prolific theologian and scholar whose work bridges faith and science. It is a prestigious professorship, promoting expert theological scholarship and a “centre for public theology and witness at Tyndale which can engage and instruct a broad network of stakeholders (students, alumni, churches, and academic institutions),” explains Dr. Krause.
Dr. Franklin’s appointment commenced on August 1, 2025, with external funding as part of the chair. An extended study leave took place between August and December 2025, allowing him to start his time as the chair by conducting scholarly research. Dr. Franklin is well suited for every task ahead, which includes teaching, research and writing, and service bridging the academy and the church.
Three things you should know about Dr. Franklin:
Alister E. McGrath has influenced Dr. Franklin’s spiritual and ideological formation, particularly in the matter of science and the Christian faith. “McGrath exemplifies humility and openness to new developments in scientific knowledge while remaining faithfully committed to the historic Christian faith and the centrality of Scripture. One of several areas he has influenced me is in his nuanced approach to ‘natural theology.’ Does creation reveal God to us? If so, to what degree and in what manner? McGrath offers a confident, yet humble, framework,” Dr. Franklin explains.
Dr. Franklin looks forward to focusing more of his time and energy on research, writing, and making theology more accessible to the public. “Like McGrath, I am passionate about theology, but not simply as an abstract discipline. I am deeply passionate about enriching theological thinking to serve and equip the church and to communicate the timeless message of the gospel within our contexts and in relation to contemporary questions and challenges.”
He has been described as a leader and bridge-builder who engages the church, the academy, and the public sphere. “While rooted particularly and unabashedly in the historic Christian tradition stemming from the Bible (the apostles and the prophets), the early church patristic tradition, the Reformation, and the rise of global evangelical movement and networks, I seek to enter into interdisciplinary and cross-cultural conversations with and amongst others who hold different views. We must seek first to understand if we are to communicate Christian beliefs, perspectives, and convictions in a winsome and contextual manner. Just as Jesus became human and took on flesh to extend a bridge to fallen humanity and embody on earth his message about the kingdom of heaven, so Christians are called to form bridges, listen to and receive from others, and then bear witness to Christ relationally within those spaces,” he explains.
“I like to tell my students that theology is a verb before it is a noun. What I mean by this is that it is not first a body of knowledge; rather, it is an activity, a practice, a spiritual discipline of seeking to enrich, grow, expand, and unite head and heart, as we seek to understand and live out our faith... In my role as McGrath Chair, I want to help students, pastors, the church, and Christians in the academy learn to practice this spiritual discipline well and so bear fruit in their own vocations.”
“We are fortunate to have Dr. Franklin here at Tyndale,” says Dr. Krause. “We will need to rely on him as we navigate ethics, spirituality, and politics in the midst of an increasingly polarized world. He brings so much to the role of the Chair.”
Dr. Franklin takes up this new role with immense joy and readiness. “It is a great honour to take up the Chair and so follow in the footsteps (and perhaps walk in the shadow) of not only the great Dr. Alister McGrath, but also of my long-time mentor and encourager in scholarship and teaching, Dr. Dennis Ngien, the first occupant of the Chair. I am both humbled and encouraged by this appointment, and I approach it with both excitement and a sense of grateful responsibility,” says Dr. Franklin.
Please join us in congratulating and praying for Dr. Franklin during this transition.