Rate My Professor Andrew Shepherd

Dr Andrew Shepherd is a Senior Lecturer in Theology and Public Issues in the Theology Programme at the University of Otago, based at the Wellington Anglican Centre / Te Whanganui-a-Tara. His working life has alternated between academic teaching roles and leadership responsibilities in Christian and non-profit organisations. He earned a BA in English Literature and History from Victoria University of Wellington, a BD from Melbourne College of Divinity, and a PhD from the University of Otago. His doctoral thesis offered a theological ethic of hospitality in conversation with French philosophers Emmanuel Levinas and Jacques Derrida.

Shepherd's academic interests encompass ecological theology and environmental ethics, the ethics and practice of hospitality, theology and phenomenology, theology and economics, peace theology, and contemporary theologies of social transformation, including social movements and neo-monasticism. He teaches CHTH224/324 Theology and the Environment, CHTH231/331 Christianity, War and Violence, and CHTH320/420 Public Theology and Social Justice. Notable publications include 'A reacquaintance with grief: The Anthropocene and Ecclesial rites of mourning' (International Journal of Public Theology, 2025), 'Centring the edge: Churches, crises and white-hot faith' (Journal of Anglican Studies, 2025), 'Living Faithfully in a Neoliberal Age? From Market Rationality to Neo-Monasticism' (2022), 'Apocalyptic Visions and Anthems of Hope: Climate Change Communication and Future Possibilities' (2021), 'COVID-19 - an invitation to ecological repentance?' (Stimulus, 2020), and 'Being "Rich towards God" in the Capitalocene: An Ecological Reading of Luke 12:13-21' (The Bible Translator, 2019). He has delivered public lectures such as 'Climate change, technology, and attentiveness: Living with hope in an age of anxiety' (2025) and 'Portraying the Invisible God: How early Christian artists depicted Christ' (2024), and contributed opinion pieces to newspapers including The Post and The Press.