Michael Morelli, PhD
Biography
Assistant Professor of Theology, Culture and Ethics
Northwest Seminary
michael.morelli@twu.ca
ABOUT MICHAEL
Michael Morelli holds a PhD in Theological Ethics from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland and is the author of Theology, Ethics, and Technology in the Work of Jacques Ellul and Paul Virilio: A Nascent Theological Tradition (Lexington Books). He publishes and presents on a variety of topics within the fields of theology, morality, culture, politics, and technology. He has also worked in local church ministry and continues to serve the church in a lay capacity.
Michael enjoys spending time with family and friends, surrounding himself with art and media, cooking, and coffee.
How does the Bible inform your life and teaching?
I would like to think that the Bible, which I believe is the revealed Word of God, gets the first and last word in my life and my teaching. An early piece by Karl Barth called "The Strange New World of the Bible" comes to mind here, because every time I read the scriptures, it is like being invited into a world that mixes the new and the old, the strange and the familiar. I love spending time in the world of scripture because there is so much to explore and encounter in it. As far as teaching goes, I try to invite people into this world, help them explore it, and encounter and be transformed by the Word behind the words on the page.
Why do you value a theological education?
If theological education helps us ceaselessly wonder about, worship, and be transformed by the God revealed to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, then I believe theological education is incredibly valuable.
What are some of the diverse voices you incorporate into your teaching?
I'm not sure I can answer this question in a cogent or comprehensive way. A wise person once told me to never stop reading, and I try to put this wisdom into practice. I think there is so much to be learned in and beyond the broad and deep theological tradition spanning from the early church until now, so one can expect engagement with a multiplicity of voices in any class I teach.
What do you hope your students get out of your classes?
I hope students and I come out of any class I teach with a stronger sense of and ability to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, strength, and to love our neighbour as ourselves. Depending on the class, this will work itself out in different ways, but this is my core aim when I teach.
Why are you at ACTS Seminaries?
I love the idea of four different seminaries coming together to work as one collaborative, ecumenical seminary. I also love how ACTS focuses on preparing people for ministry in and outside the church, and consequently emphasizes theory and practice. I'm all about integrative approaches to theology, and I think theology should serve the local church and its work in and for the world, so ACTS is a great place to teach and study if you value this.
Education
PhD in Theological Ethics, University of Aberdeen, School of Divinity, 2019
MTh, Theological Ethics, University of Aberdeen, 2017
MA in Christian Studies, ACTS Seminaries, 2014
BA in English and Communications, Simon Fraser University, 2009
Research
Theology, ethics, and technology in the work of Jacques Ellul and Paul Virilio; theological ethics, meaning the ways God confronts and changes the realities that make up our existence; theology, morality, culture, politics, and technology.