Faculty Profile

Christina Hitchcock, Ph.D.

Professor, Theology

Christina Hitchcock is professor of theology at the University of Sioux Falls in South Dakota. She is a Christian theologian who speaks on critical issues such as singleness, sexual ethics, slavery in America, Islam and women in fiction. Her most recent publication, “The Significance of Singleness” (2018), was chosen one of the best theological books of the year by the Englewood Review of Books. She obtained her Ph.D. from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland, studying under Iain Torrance and Ian McFarland. She also holds degrees from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and Geneva College.

Education

  • B.A., Political Science and Biblical Studies, Geneva College, 1995
  • M.A., Theology, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, 1998
  • Ph.D., Divinity, University of Aberdeen (Aberdeen, Scotland), 2002

Courses Taught

  • THE140 - Introduction to the Bible
  • SOC202 - Social Problems
  • THE240 - Introduction to ChristianThought and Practice
  • THE303 - History Of Christianity
  • THE320 - World Missions
  • THE313 - Religions of the World
  • THE390 - The Christian Imagination: C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien
  • THE390 - Theology and Harry Potter
  • THE411 - Christianity in America
  • THE413 - Christianity and Culture
  • THE490 - Senior Seminar
  • PHI341 - Ethics
  • LAR210 - Honors Seminar: Spiritual Biography and Memoir
  • THE351 - Judges, Ruth, and Esther
  • THE390 - Predestination and Free Will
  • PHI207 - Intro to Philosophy
  • THE390 - Heroes in Story and Scripture

Professional Memberships

American Academy of Religion

Expertise

  • Singleness / Specialties in American Slave Theology / Church History / Relationship Between Christianity and Culture

Scholarships and Creative Work

Articles
  • “Unmarried and Undaunted: How Singleness Can Inspire Faithful Service and Hope for the Resurrection.” Interview with Christianity Today, October 19, 2018.
  • “A Living God, a Living Word: Christian and Muslim Revelation in Perspective.” Missiology: An International Review, October, 2014.
  • “What Has Aslan to Do with Tash? C.S. Lewis and Natural Theology.” Inklings Forever, 2006.
  • “‘God Will Bless Us in Doing Right’: Oberlin College and Christian Social Reform.” Christian History Magazine, Issue 139, 2021
  • “Friendly Economics,” Christian History Magazine, Fall 2020, Issue 137.
Books
  • The Significance of Singleness: A Theological Vision for the Future of the Church, Brazos Press, 2018.
Book Chapters
  • “Orgies of Lovemaking: L.M. Montgomery’s Feminine Version of the Augustinian Community,” co-written with Kiera Ball. Forthcoming in L.M. Montgomery and Gender to be published by McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2021.
  • “The Last Enemy: Harry Potter and Western Anxiety about Death” in Cultural Politics and Harry Potter: Life, Death, and the Politics of Fear. Routledge Press, 2020.
Papers
  • "A Submerged Story: Hans Frei, the Resurrection of Jesus, and Big Fish." Paper presented at the Baylor University Symposium on Faith and Culture, Faith and Film. October 2014.
  • “Naked and New: Baptism and Identity in the Early Church.” Paper presented at the Upper Midwest Regional Meeting of the American Academy of Religion. April 2018.
  • “Orgies of Love-Making: Female Romance and Love in the Work of L.M. Montgomery.” Paper presented at the 12th Biennial L.M. Montgomery Institute International Conference. June 2016.
  • "Elijah's Voice is Crying: Doing Advent with the Slaves." Paper presented at the Upper Midwest Regional meeting of the American Academy of Religion. April 2015.
  • "Help! I'm a Virgin!: An Eschatological Response to Evangelical America's Fear of Celibacy." Paper presented at the conference “Ecclesia & Ethics III: Human Sexuality and the Church.” March 2015.
  • “What About My Soul?: Empathy and Moral Responsibility in Severus Snape.” Paper presented at the conference "A Brand of Fictional Magic: Reading Harry Potter as Literature" at St.Andrews University, St. Andrews, Scotland. May 2012.
  • “The Mountain’s Summit: Martin Luther King, Jr. and Dietrich Bonhoeffer as Mosaic Leaders.” Paper presented for the International Bonhoeffer Society at the International Meeting of the American Academy of Religion. November 2008.
  • “The Hermeneutics of Liberation: American Slave Theology and the Exodus.” Paper presented for the 2007-08 Theology and Ethics Lectures at New College, the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. February 2008
  • "What Has Aslan to Do with Tash?: C. S. Lewis and Natural Theology." Paper presented at the Frances White Colloquium on C.S. Lewis & Friends. June 2006.
  • “How Hauerwas Reasons: A Critique of Constantinianism.” Paper presented at the Upper Midwest Regional Conference of the American Academy of Religion. April 2005.
  • “Sweet Canaan: Slaves in the New World.” Paper presented at the Pruit Memorial Symposium at Baylor University. October 2004.
  • “Mutilating the Self: Search for Identity in Little Women.” Paper presented at the Midwest Regional Conference for the Society of Christianity and Literature. Fall 2004.
  • “Sojourners on Earth: Martin Luther King, Jr. and Dietrich Bonhoeffer in Solidarity with Their People.” Paper presented at the Theological Conference of The University of Aberdeen and St. Andrews University. May 1999.
Lectures
  • Keynote Speaker at Denver Seminary’s “Significance of Singleness Symposium: Casting an Alternative Vision.” November 8-9, 2019.
  • “Sweet Canaan: The Theology of the American Slaves.” A three week class taught for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute of Sioux Falls. September 5-19, 2019.
  • “Enter the Passion: Picturing Ourselves in the Story.” Adult education class at First Presbyterian Church, Sioux Falls, SD, March 1-April 7, 2020.
  • “Singleness and the Church.” Adult education class at First Presbyterian Church, Sioux Falls, SD, March 17-April 7, 2019.
  • Chapel Speaker at Trinity International University, October 19, 2018.
  • Guest speaker in several class at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, October 18-19, 2018.
  • Keynote speaker at interdenominationally sponsored conference “Sweet Canaan: The Theology of American Slaves” in Lawrence, KS. April 8-9, 2016.
  • Guest speaker on the history of Islam for Sioux Falls Seminary Church History course. Fall semester 2012, 2013, 2014.
  • Special lecturer for T.H.I.N.K. of Sioux Falls during the fall semester on the topic of the relationship between Islam and Christianity. Fall 2013.
  • Keynote speaker at the American Baptist Chautauqua Conference, Green Lake, WI. October 5-9, 2008.
  • Lecturer for the “Perspectives on World Missions” classes. Spring 2007.
  • Guest lecturer in a class entitled “Race and Theology” taught by Dr. Philip Thompson at Sioux Falls Seminary. January 2005.
  • “Islam.” Four week adult education class at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls, SD. February 2004.
  • Keynote Speaker at the Brethren in Christ Study Conference (2023) at Messiah University
Presentations
  • Organizer and moderator of a Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial event at Sioux Falls Seminary. The event consisted of a panel of Sioux Falls residents representing USF, Augustana, Sioux Falls Seminary, and Sioux Falls Psychological Services who shared how King had affected their lives, expressed their hopes for his legacy in Sioux Falls, and answered questions from the audience. January 13, 2014.
  • Panelist at Augustana College Honors Program “Faith and Skepticism in the 21st Century” panel discussion. September 25, 2013.
  • Podcast Guest: Haberbros. December 11, 2020. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-37-testimony-john-baptist-christian-singleness-w/id1506224898?i=1000502085913&fbclid=IwAR3pcN9Hkhf8eJvJLw3ETn2gwHXwrxAxfAvMbUFZGEFm7E9fXmx2hSRnl_Y
  • Podcast Guest: Mutuality Matters. October 15, 2020. https://mutualitymatters.podbean.com/e/s2-e8-not-a-natural-institution/
  • Podcast Guest: The Church Next Door. June 19, 2020. http://www.thechurchnextdoor.com.au/my/COGS2E2?fbclid=IwAR3i1DRKCimbcvHwAR9GvEkyyPDAXZQXN_3JLXqnsd3GJJS3S3h-mpbfx2A
  • Podcast Guest: Engage 360. May 11, 2020. https://denverseminary.edu/sermon/38--the-significance-of-singleness/?fbclid=IwAR1MWxWhKLloVbwHwIF5hcNLB9mCsEc9cT3YRxF7G2TEhnqHfMmlPjDsRxA
  • Podcast Guest: Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith and Culture. August 19, 2019. https://www.biola.edu/blogs/think-biblically/2019/significance-of-singleness
  • Podcast Guest: Renovation Podcast. November 13, 2018. https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=212381052987777&ref=watch_permalink
Electronic Publications
  • “Lottie Moon Did Not Waste Her Singleness,” IMB.org, February 8, 2019.

Service/Volunteer Work

Church

Preaching Team

Church

Two Minute Teaching Director

Volunteer

Child-care volunteer for the Gathering Well

Volunteer

Volunteer lunch packer for Compassion Preschool