A New Venture with Global Scholars Canada

Posted on March 3, 2026 by J Richard Middleton

I have had a wonderful and fulfilling full-time teaching career, which began some thirty years ago at Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School and continued through my move to Roberts Wesleyan University and Northeastern Seminary.

I formally retired from the Seminary in 2024 and have since focused on writing (though as Emeritus Professor I will still teach from time to time).

I am currently working on two books (both are partially complete). One is on the ethics of power in 1 Samuel 1–15 (contracted with Eerdmans). The other is on the liberating worldview of the Scriptures (for Baker Academic); this is a complete rewrite of The Transforming Vision, the book I coauthored with Brian Walsh when we were both graduate students.

Discernment Process

When I retired, I had a clear sense that writing was going to be my major focus (I have three other book contracts beyond the two mentioned above). But I have also been in a period of discernment for new ventures that God might be calling me to.

Here is a somewhat humorous poem I wrote the year before I retired, while on a retreat at the Gell Center in the Finger Lakes (a beautiful rural area south of Rochester, NY where I live). I broke up some of my sentences to mimic my breathing as I climbed uphill.

Uphill All the Way

J. Richard Middleton

Panting and huffing, he lugged 
his sixty-eight-year-old frame 
over rotting logs, snagging 
his foot on a broken limb, stumbled, yet doggedly 
kept ascending the steep climb. No 
horizon in sight. Just trees, trees as far as vision. Yet 
far easier to make out than his future 
after retirement. After 
twenty-seven years of pouring
his heart out 
to indifferent students, 
grading mediocre papers (and the odd 
brilliant piece), correcting 
bad grammar. It was time. Something 
new beckoned. If only 
he could see what it was.

October 2023
Gell Center, Finger Lakes

Contrary to the poem (which is only partly autobiographical), I’ve had excellent students throughout the years, who have gone on to do wonderful things for God’s kingdom. I’ve had the joy and privilege of keeping in touch with many of them.

Post-Retirement Opportunities

Since retirement, I have kept getting invitations to speak on topics close to my heart for various organizations, and I certainly could just take up such opportunities as they arise. But I have been wondering if there is a more strategic way to use my gifts and academic experience.

Being originally from the Caribbean, I have been especially interested in theological education for the global church. I’ve kept in touch with Jamaica Theological Seminary (where I earned my BTh) and the Caribbean Graduate School of Theology (where I taught while on sabbatical some years back). Both schools have recently contacted me about being involved in a variety of ways, including teaching, faculty development, and integrating a Christian worldview into the curriculum.

I am also a Canadian, having lived fifteen years in Ontario, where I worked as a campus minister and completed two graduate degrees, prior to my teaching career in the USA.

My period of discernment led me to join Global Scholars Canada (GSC), an organization that links Canadian scholars in a variety of fields with opportunities for teaching and mentoring in the Majority World.

Peter Schuurman, the director of Global Scholars Canada (GSC), wrote a short piece introducing me to the GSC community.

My Vision and Mission

I am hoping to leverage my Canadian and Jamaican experience and my expertise in biblical studies and the Christian worldview to help other scholars, whether in Canada or other countries, bring their faith to bear on their academic vocation in a way that witnesses to God’s kingdom purposes for the redemption of all of life.

I see my mission as raising the level of biblical literacy among Christian academics, but also among pastors and laypeople, by immersing them in serious, yet inspiring and practical, study of Scripture.

My fuller vision and mission statement can be found on my Global Scholars Canada webpage.

I am coming on board Global Scholars Canada as a part-time global scholar. Full-time scholars typically get placed in teaching positions overseas, negotiated between GSC and the hiring institution, with GSC helping to raise funds to supplement what the hiring institution is unable to cover.

Given that I have been ministering “overseas” since I left Jamaica as a young adult, and that I am part-time, my situation is somewhat different. I will be involved in specific short-term assignments that Global Scholars Canada will set up, such as speaking at conferences or mentoring young academics.

Two Specific Assignments

Global Scholars Canada is a partner with the Society of Christian Scholars, an international community of Christian academics that developed from a consultation (some sixteen years ago) of eleven scholars from six countries. The Society has numerous individual and organizational partners and affiliates throughout the world.

One of the affiliates is the Caribbean Network of Christian Scholars.

My very first assignment as a global scholar was an invitation that came through a member of the Caribbean Network, who is the librarian for the Society of Christian Scholars. I will be doing an online presentation for the Society’s Library Reading Group meeting in June 2026. I’ve been asked to introduce the article I wrote for the book of Caribbean theology that I coedited with Garnett Roper some years ago (the article explores a creation theology for the Caribbean).

My next assignment will be to give a paper at the first international conference sponsored by the Society of Christian Scholars, which will be held at the Pan-African Christian University in Nairobi, Kenya, in early August 2026. My paper is entitled “The Vocation of the Christian Scholar: A Caribbean Biblical Studies Perspective.”

At the urging of Global Scholars Canada, I will be taking along a younger scholar, Chris Landon (who is currently working on his PhD at McMaster Divinity College), as a mentee. He may also be presenting a paper at the conference.

Although the conference is only a few days, it will be quite an undertaking, given the travel (and recovery) time and the cost of airfare and conference registration (which includes lodging and food).

Fundraising—Something I don’t Usually Do

Global Scholars Canada is committed to covering 90% of the cost of any mentees attending the conference (so they will cover this for Chris). They don’t cover quite as much for their scholars. But I am extremely grateful that their contribution will reimburse about half my expenses. I will need to raise the other half (which comes to about USD 1,100 = CAD 1,500).

Anyone interested in contributing towards these expenses (as charitable giving in the US or Canada), can check out the relevant links below. It will be much appreciated.

The Global Scholars Canada website has a list of different ways to give (online or by cheque) in support of their scholars. The first four ways are for Canadian donations (you just designate the scholar you are supporting).

The fifth way takes you to the website of the Society of Christian Scholars, where you can make a USD donation online or by a mailed check (with the scholar designated).

I will soon be starting a quarterly newsletter, reporting on some of my activities for Global Scholars Canada; if you are interested in receiving this, you can sign up on my GSC webpage (scroll down to the end for the sign-up form).

You’re invited to join me in this new adventure!

Podcast Interview on the Image of God and the “Cultural Mandate”—Everyday Christianity

Posted on August 20, 2021 by J Richard Middleton

I was recently interviewed by Jason Estopinal, who runs a website called “The Laymen’s Lounge.” The website hosts podcasts and other resources dedicated to addressing issues of faith, theology, and biblical interpretation that have a direct bearing on the everyday lives of Christians. This is theology for ordinary laypeople, not for pastors, professional theologians, or scholars (but that doesn’t mean anything is dumbed down).

Here is Jason’s description of what the website is all about:

The Laymen’s Lounge is a resource for everyday Christians (those who make up the majority of the Church) to learn how to do everyday life with other everyday theologians. Theology is for laymen too: all people of faith need to seek understanding of how work and play, at home, the office, the garden, or anywhere else, relates to the God of the gospel and the gospel of God.

Theology is about paying attention to God’s presence and activity in all areas of life. Here in the Lounge you will find help in answering key questions, such as “What is the gospel?” and “what is God like?” We will bring scholars, professors, pastors, and missionaries into the lounge to help us wrestle with questions and issues that are part and parcel of daily living.

This site is for anyone who wants to think harder about the Christian faith and how to live as Christians.

Please feel free to stay as long as you like, and encourage others – friends, family, and even grandma (if she knows how to log on to the internet) – to visit. If they do, they’ll find everyday theology for everyday Christians living everyday life.

Jason had been trying to get me to do an interview from before the pandemic, but lots of things got in the way. I was finally interviewed for the Laymen’s Lounge on the topic of being made in the image of God (with a focus on the “cultural mandate” or how our faith affects everyday life).

Here is Jason’s introduction to the interview (taken from the website):

Listen in as we sit down with Dr. J. Richard Middleton to discuss the forest and the trees of being image-bearers, God’s purpose for the world, God’s generosity, the great change that took place the moment God resolved to create humanity and good Jamaican and world reggae for your listening pleasure.

Jason lives in Hawaii, so it was great having him welcome me at the start of the podcast with Aloha!

He is also a music fan and knows quite a bit about reggae. He posted links to three reggae songs (two from Jamaica, one from South Africa) on his website right below the interview.

Explore the Bible, Theology, and Spiritual Formation: Take a Course at Northeastern Seminary!

Posted on March 2, 2018 by J Richard Middleton

I’ve blogged before about Northeastern Seminary, in Rochester, NY, where I teach biblical worldview and exegesis.

In that blog I called Northeastern Seminary “a hidden gem,” because of its amazing grounding in Scripture, combined with its focus on the ecumenical traditions of the church and its openness to addressing the complex issues of our times.

Changes in the Curriculum at Northeastern Seminary

Since I wrote that blog post, the Seminary has embarked on a pretty significant revision of its curriculum, which will allow more flexibility for students to take courses full-time or part-time, either onsite or online, in whatever order makes sense to them.

In the Fall of 2018 I will be teaching one online course (an introduction to biblical exegesis) and two onsite courses (one on the biblical worldview and an exegesis course on 1 Samuel).

How do we approach theological education at Northeastern Seminary? Here are three faculty perspectives on biblical interpretation and spiritual formation.

Dr. Esau McCaulley—Being in the Word

Dr. Esau McCaulley is Assistant Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity at Northeastern Seminary. He teaches an introduction to biblical study in the new curriculum called “Being in the Word,” as well as exegesis courses on particular New Testament books (such as Romans, Galatians, Ephesians, and Revelation).

In this short video clip (two and a half minutes) Dr. McCaulley shares his passion to help students read biblical texts carefully, beyond their untested assumptions, such that they might encounter the living God, who is the author of Scripture.

Dr. Rebecca Letterman—Being Human

Dr. Rebecca Letterman is Associate Professor of Spiritual Formation at Northeastern Seminary. She teaches a foundational course on formative spirituality in the new curriculum called “Being Human,” as well as other courses in pastoral and spiritual formation.

You can watch a two minute video here of Dr. Letterman speaking to the importance of personal and spiritual faith development for Christian authenticity.

Dr. J. Richard Middleton—Being in the Story

As Professor of Biblical Worldview and Exegesis at Northeastern Seminary, I teach a course on the biblical worldview in the new curriculum called “Being in the Story,” plus an introduction to biblical exegesis for teaching and preaching, and exegesis courses on selected parts of the Old Testament (such as Genesis, 1 Samuel, Job, and the Psalms).

You can click here for a short (minute and a half) video of my discussion of why it is important to study Scripture holistically, for its worldview, with a focus on our response to God’s claim on our lives.

Visiting Students Can Sample a Graduate Course: What Are the Options?

Northeastern Seminary is currently offering a good deal to anyone who wants to explore theological education by taking a course, either onsite or online.

You can find out more here, including the low cost for visiting students to sample a course (for either credit or audit); and you can explore which courses are offered when, to see what might fit your schedule.