Polycarp Fellows

Perkins School of Theology

Polycarp Fellows are chosen from those enrolled in Ph.D. programs in the fields of evangelism and missions. Senior Fellows are those who already are doctoral graduates, while Junior Fellows are candidates working on their doctoral thesis. In this program students follow the British doctoral tradition and write a full-scale Ph.D. thesis under supervision with a final external, independent examination.

Senior Fellows who are graduates include the following:

  • Vaughn Baker, D.Th., University of South Africa, 2011
  • Kim Reisman, Ph.D., University of Durham, 2012
  • Michael Gehring, Ph.D., University of Manchester, 2014
  • John Wilson, D.Th., University of South Africa, 2015
  • Karin Wende, PhD, University of Manchester, 2018

Junior Fellows who are doctoral candidates include:

  • Glyssie Berberian, University of South Africa
  • Kwesi Kamau, University of South Africa
  • Elizabeth Moreau, University of South Africa
  • Jason Nelson, University of South Africa
  • Ray Zirkel, University of South Africa
  • Steve Tungate, University of South Africa
  • Andy Kinsey, PhD, University of Durham

The Polycarp Fellows will meet once a year for an intensive one-week experience. The work will proceed along three tracks. One track will concentrate on the review of crucial literature in the field of missiology and evangelism and on conversation with scholars in missiology and evangelism. A second track will involve the presentation of lectures by Visiting Fellows. The third track will focus on presentation of material related to the specific topic to be covered by each Fellow. Relevant reading will be specified in advance and suitable responsibilities will be worked out for oral presentation and group leadership.

The Intellectual Aims for Polycarp Fellows:

  • To initiate the Fellows thoroughly and comprehensively into the field of evangelism
  • To equip the Fellows to be independent scholars and researchers in evangelism
  • To enable the Fellows to make an original contribution to scholarship in evangelism
  • To prepare and equip the Fellows to make a substantial contribution both to evangelistic practice and to the renewal of evangelism in the contemporary church
  • To equip the Fellows to be teachers of evangelism at the university and seminary levels