Evan B. Howard, Ph.D. is the founder and director of Spirituality Shoppe, a Center for the Study of Christian Spirituality. He is an affiliate associate professor of Christian Spirituality at Fuller Theological Seminary and teaches at other institutions. He is the author of The Brazos Introduction to Christian Spirituality and several other books. He leads workshops and seminars on Christian Spirituality worldwide.
In 2021, YouTube journalist Kirsten Dirksen published a video featuring our home and lifestyle. You can find it here.
Curriculum Vitae
Date of Birth: December 20, 1955
Education
High School: Shadle Park High School; Spokane, Washington (1971-74).
Undergraduate College: Whitworth College; Spokane, Washington (1974-78).
Seminary: Trinity Evangelical Divinity School; Deerfield, Illinois (1980-83).
Graduate Studies: Gonzaga University; Spokane, Washington (1988-89).
Doctorate: Graduate Theological Union/ University of California; Berkeley, CA in the field of Christian Spirituality (1990-99).
Degrees Held
B.A. in “Understanding the Individual and Society” (a philosophy/liberal arts related Area of Concentration), Whitworth College, 1978.
M.Div. in Pastoral Studies, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, 1983.
M.A. in Christian Spirituality, Gonzaga University, 1989.
Ph.D. in Christian Spirituality. GTU, 1999.
Relevant Employment History
Founder/Director of Spirituality Shoppe, Montrose, CO, 1996 to present. As part of my work with Spirituality Shoppe, I have led numerous Schools for Conversion with New Monastic communities, have spoken for and consulted with various missionary orders and similar groups, and have served in large summer gatherings such as PAPA Fest. See About Spirituality Shoppe for more information.
Affiliate Professor of Christian Spirituality: Fuller Theological Seminary; Pasadena, CA. 2014-2022.
Instructor in Spirituality and Spiritual Formation: Tyndale Seminary; Toronto, Canada. 2014-2017.
Lecturer in Early African Monasticism: The Center for Early African Christianity; Heliopolis, Egypt. 2015-2016.
Instructor in Christian Discernment: Center Quest: An Ecumenical Hub for the Study and Practice of Christian Spirituality. 2014-2017.
Lecturer in Philosophy and Religion: Mesa State College; Grand Junction, CO and Montrose, CO. 1996-2002, 2006- present. Intro to Philosophy, World Religions, Philosophy of Religion.
Faculty in History of Christian Spirituality for the Diploma in the Art of Spiritual Direction Program: San Francisco Theological Seminary; San Anselmo, CA. 2001 – 2008; 2014-2016.
Adjunct Faculty: Denver Seminary. Taught a class on Prayer. Summer 2008.
Co-taught a class on Monastic Wisdom at Wheaton College. with Jim Wilhoit, Tom Schwanda, and Lauren Winner. February of 2008.
Adjunct Faculty in Spiritual Formation and Mentorship: Salt Lake Theological Seminary Salt Lake City, Utah. 2003.
Training Center Director and Assistant Pastor: Vineyard Christian Fellowship of San Francisco; San Francisco, CA, 1993-96.
Adjunct Faculty in Philosophy/Religion: Whitworth College; Spokane, WA, 1990.
Academic Societies and Associations
I have been a member of Renovaré since its beginning. Likewise, I am a founding member of the Society for the Study of Christian Spirituality and Spiritual Directors International. I am also a member of the Evangelical Theological Society. I am on the editorial board for the Journal of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care.
Other Interesting Stuff
From 1998 to the present, Cheri (my wife) and I have been exploring semi-eremitical life in a high desert setting.
I have had the privilege to help start a Christian Meditation Center in Goa, India, to lead a set of teachings on St. Francis of Assisi and the Franciscan tradition in Assisi, Italy, to teach on early African monasticism in Cairo, Egypt (spending time in the monasteries there), and to lead a retreat on sustainable spirituality for a missional community in Caracas Venezuela.
I was on staff at San Francisco Vineyard Christian Fellowship and was studying Jonathan Edwards and Christian discernment during the “Toronto Blessing.” They had the chance to interview many people during a unique season of outpouring. 1994-96.
Cheri and I wrote our first monastic rule in Chicago in 1981. We’ve been experimenting with monastic rules ever since.
I spent a season volunteering with LaSalle Street Church doing ministry in urban Chicago from 1979-81.
I have also done urban ministry in Spokane, Washington, and San Francisco. I now consult with groups in inner-city settings.
Migrant farm worker, Washington and Idaho. Summers of 1975 and 1976.
Came into the Christian faith through the Jesus People Movement. 1971.
Personal Information
I was born in Passaic, NJ, and raised in Spokane, WA. I have lived in Passaic, NJ, Spokane, WA, Dayton, WA, Buhl, ID, Grand Rapids, MN, Woodstock, VT, Deerfield, IL, Richmond, CA., and Montrose, CO.
I am married with two daughters and one grandson.
My personal interests include music, gardening, building, leatherwork, and reading aloud to my family.
Select Published Writings
(with links to a few sources; see also Resources on this site, especially my “Old Monastic Wisdom for New Monastic People“)
———, ed. Mission with Prophetic Power: The Journal of John Woolman. Wichita, KS: The Urban Ministry Institute, 2023.
Deep and Wide: Reflections on Socio-Political Engagement, Monasticism(s) and the Christian Life (Eugene, OR: Cascade Press, 2023).
“Desert daughters, Desert sons: rethinking the Christian desert tradition, book review. Journal for the Study of Spirituality, 12:2 (2022), 183-185, DOI: 10.1080/20440243.2022.2126133.
“Book Review: Thomas à Kempis: His Life and Spiritual Theology. Journal of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care, 15(2) (2022), 297-298. https://doi.org/10.1177/19397909221134702.
“ Book Review: Resilient Faith: How the Early Christian “Third Way” Changed the World. Journal of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care, 14(1) (2021), 115-118. https://doi.org/10.1177/1939790921998096
“The Wisdom of Christian Spiritual Formation,” (with James C. Wilhoit) in The Journal of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care 13/1 (February 2020). See https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1939790920903841.
“The Beguine Option: A Persistent Past and a Promising Future of Christian Monasticism,” invited to the Special Issue “Exploring the Future of Christian Monasticism” in Religions vol. 10, Issue 9 (August 2019). See https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/10/9/491.
“Spiritual Formation in Seminary: How Is This to Be Done?” , in Catalyst: Contemporary Evangelical Perspectives for United Methodist Seminarians (Fall 2018). See http://www.catalystresources.org/spiritual-formation-in-seminary-how-is-this-to-be-done/
A Guide to Christian Spiritual Formation: How Scripture, Spirit, Community, and Mission Shape Our Souls (Baker Academic, 2018).
“Contributions to Evangelical Spirituality,” in The Journal for Spiritual Formation and Soul Care 10/2 (Fall 2017): 237-47.
“The Story of Monasticism: Retrieving an Ancient Tradition for Contemporary Spirituality by Greg Peters” (review) Spiritus: A Journal of Christian Spirituality 17/2 (Fall, 2017): 273-75.
“The Schools of Spirituality” in Reading the Spiritual Classics: A Guide for Evangelicals, edited by James Goggin and Kyle Strobel and (Downers Grove, Ilinois: InterVarsity Press, 2013), 63-78.
Contributing author in “Evangelical Spirituality” to Four Views of Christian Spirituality
(Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2012).
“Lectio Divina in the Evangelical Tradition” in The Journal of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care (2012).
Discovering Lectio Divina: Bring Scripture into Ordinary Life,co-authored with James Wilhoit (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2012).
“Formed into the Beauty of God: Reflections on Aesthetics and Christian Spirituality” in the Ogbomosho Journal of Theology XVI (2011). Sponsored by the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary in Ogbomosho, Nigeria.
Essays on “Experience” and “Mysticism”; Articles on “Dominic,” “Dominican Spirituality,” “Petition,” “Nicholas of Cusa,” “Devotio Moderna,” and a co-authored article on “Church” in the Zondervan Dictionary of Christian Spirituality (Grand Rapids, Zondervan: 2011).
“Listening to the Land,” Conspire, 2/1 (Spring 2010), 38-40.
Articles on “Spiritual Gifts,” Abortion” in the Dictionary of Everyday Theology and Culture (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2010).
“Christian Spirituality and the Meaning of Life” Common Ground Journal 7/1(Fall 2009) published at commongroundjournal.org.
“Review” of Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, New Monasticism: What It Has to Say to Today’s Church for Journal of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care, 1/2 (Fall, 2008), 267-270.
“Advancing the Discussion: Reflections on the Study of Christian Spiritual Life,” Journal of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care, 1/1 (Spring, 2008), 8-26.
The Brazos Introduction to Christian Spirituality (Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos Press, 2008). For reviews of this work, see, for example, Spiritus: A Journal of Christian Spirituality, 9/2 (Fall 2009): 248-250; The Journal of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care 2/1 (Spring 2009): 133-137.
“Poverty and Prayer,” InnerVOICE: A Publication of the InnerCHANGE Community (Spring 2005 v. 1.3), 7-8.
Introduction and Notes for “Philippians” The Renovaré Spiritual Formation Study Bible (San Francisco: Harper Collins, 2005).
“Review” of Stan Grenz, The Social God and the Relational Self for Pneuma: The Journal of the Society of Pentecostal Studies 25/1 (Spring, 2003).
“Three Temptations of Spiritual Formation”, Christianity Today, 46/13 (December 9, 2002), 46-49.
“Discerning Experience and Experiencing Discernment,” Epiphany International, 7/2 (Autumn, 2001), 45-55.
“Resources for Evangelical Spirituality”, Radix 27/2 (Spring, 2000).
Affirming the Touch of God: A Psychological and Philosophical Exploration of Christian Discernment (Lanham, NJ: University Press of America, 2000). [Publication of my doctoral thesis]
Praying the Scriptures: A Field Guide for your Spiritual Journey (InterVarsity Press, 1999).
“The Five Best Books in Christian Spirituality”, Catalyst 24/2 (February 1998).
Articles on “Sin,” “Healing,” “Tongues,” “Persecution,” and “Meditation” in the Everyday Study Bible (Waco: Word, 1996).
Feeling, Knowing, and Spirituality: The Influence of Approach to Affectivity within Cognitional Theory upon Theoretical Spirituality as Observed in the Thought of Bernard Lonergan M.A. Thesis, Gonzaga University, 1989.