Dean of Faculty

Lecturer in Systematic Theology at Carey Baptist College

Education

Ph.D. University of St Andrews, St Mary’s College, 2018                   St Andrews, UK

Analytic and Exegetical Theology: Need Without Lack:
A Constructive Proposal for a Pneumatologically-Christocentric Anthropology

Th.M. Talbot School of Theology, 2015                                                       La Mirada, CA

Systematic Theology: Divine Intent: Human Embodiment and God’s Image

Master of Arts, Talbot School of Theology, 2013                                      La Mirada, CA

Bible Exposition

Bachelor of Arts, University of Georgia, 2006                                            Athens, GA

Philosophy & Women’s Studies

Honor’s Thesis Title: Dismantling Domination Through Transcendent Identity

Selected Research Publications

  • “Reckoning with Sin and the Misuse of Power: Responding to Essays on Biocultural Evolution,” The Heythrop Journal, Vol 66, Issue 2 (2025): 183-186. 

  • Christa L. McKirland & Eugene Fuimaono, “Engaging with Joanna Leidenhag’s Minding Creation: Theological Panpsychism and the Doctrine of Creation,” Religious Studies, Vol 60, Issue 3 (2024): 472-477.

  • “Jesus, Agency, and the Life Led Well,” Studies in Christian Ethics, Vol 36, Issue 4 (2023): 762-782.

  • Tanya Lameta, Christa L. McKirland, Phil Halstead, “Learning from Ifoga,” Pacific Journal of Theological Research Vol. 17, No. 2 (Nov 2022): 1-10.

  • “Autonomy and Flourishing: The Interplay of Divine and Human Freedom.” Pacific Journal of Theological Research Vol. 17, No. 1 (May 2022): 23-30.

  • God’s Provision, Humanity’s Need: The Gift of our Dependence. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic Press, 2022.

  • “Imago Dei and Divine Presence: A Critique of Gender Essentialism,” in Discovering Biblical Equality. Revised and Expanded edition, edited by Ronald Pierce, Cynthia Westfall, and Christa L. McKirland. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2021.

  • “Did Jesus Need the Spirit? An Appeal for Pneumatic Christology to Inform Christological Anthropology,” Perichoresis 19.2 (2021): 43-61.

  • “Era of Kings: Huldah: Malfunction with the Wardrobe-Keeper’s Wife,” in Vindicating the Vixens: Men and Women Revisiting Gendered Bible Stories, edited by Sandra Glahn. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 2017.

  • Christa McKirland and Matthew McKirland. “Who’s in Charge? Questioning our Common Assumptions about Spiritual Authority.” Priscilla Papers, Vol. 27, Issue 1 (Winter, 2013): 15-25.

Selected Presentations

  • “Authority and Power Structures in the Church Which Undermine Individual Agency,” ISCAST and NZCIS Conversations, May 2025

  • “Power and Authority in UK and NZ Baptist Worlds,” Project Violet, 2025.

  • Christa L. McKirland and Caleb Te Kahu, “ReWeaving Theological Education: An Example,” ed. Jione Havea, Talanoa Conference, 2024.

  • “Power, Authority, and Human Vocation,” ANZATS 2024.

  • “Thinking with the Psalms about Human Power and Authority,” Carey Psalms Conference, 2024.

  • “If an Augustinian Account of Sin is Negotiable, What Isn’t?,” NZCIS 2023.

  • “Can a Psychological Idea Speak into Theology?” ISCAST edition of The Melbourne Anglican, 2022.

  • “Explorations in Freedom and Fundamental Needs,” NZCIS Conference on Freedom in Science, 2021.

  • “Analytic Theology as Persuasion,” Evangelical Women of Australia Conference, 2021.

  • “Needing God and Christian Flourishing,” NZCIS-ISCAST Conversations in Science and Christian Faith Network, 2021.

  • “Beautiful Need: The Function of Creaturely Dependence in Kathryn Tanner’s Christ the Key,” Christ Among the Disciplines Christology Conference, 2020.