Adrian Bird, Ph.D.

Biography

Dr. Adrian Bird currently serves as the University Chaplain, bringing a breadth and wealth of international work experience to Queens University.
Dr. Bird has extensive teaching experience, leading courses in Christian History (Ancient & Modern), Christian Encounters with World Religions, Mission and evangelism, and Christian Ethics across several institutions, including Union Presbyterian Seminary, Charlotte (2011-2022); Columbia College, Columbia; (2016-2019); Lenoir-Rhyne University, Columbia (2014-2018). For several years, Dr. Bird also taught courses at Borad River Correctional Facility in Columbia, SC, and served as a mentor within the Columbia International University Prison Ministry at the Kirkland Correctional Facility in South Carolina. Currently, Dr. Bird teaches within the Philosophy and Religion Department at Queens University.

Beyond the classroom, Dr. Bird is committed to building bridges within the interfaith movement, serving as President of Interfaith Partners of South Carolina (2017-2020), and on the Executive Committe of MeckMIN (2022-present).

With his wife, Rev. Julie Walkup Bird, Adrian served as Mission Partner in Residence in Kerala, India, with the Church of South India (2003-4). Prior to that, Adrian joined Voluntary Service Overseas to work with the Ministry of Education, Sport and Culture in Zimbabwe, Africa (1998-2001), and as Chaplain of the Presbyterian Children’s Homes and Services in Itasca, Texas (2001-2003).

Dr. Bird has several published works, including:

Published Books

M.M. Thomas and Dalit Theology, Bangalore, India: BTESSC/SATHRI, August, 2008.

Published Book Chapters

“Locating M.M. Thomas between Word and World.” The Life, Legacy and Theology of M.M. Thomas: “Only Participants Earn the Right to be Prophets” Aldershot: Ashgate, 2016.

Religion in Southeast Asia: An Encyclopaedia (Various Entries) ABC-CLIO, 2015.
Subject references: “Religion in Burma”; “Liberation Theology”; “Education in Southeast Asia”; “Confucianism”; “Daoism”, “Mahasi Sayadaw”.

Published Articles

• “Welcoming Justice in Encounters with the Other” Commentary on Genesis 18: 1-15; Matthew 9:35-10:1.
• South Carolina Christian Action Council resources for SCCAC Racial Justice Sunday, June 14, 2020
• “Between Text and Sermon: Genesis 9:8–17.” Interpretation (Pub. date: July, 2019)
• “Dispelling Myths about the Interfaith Movement.” The Interfaith Observer. June 2019

Education

Ph.D., University of Edinburgh
Master of Theology (awarded with Distinction), University of Edinburgh
Master of Theological Studies, Brite Divinity School, Texas
B. Ed. (Hons.), Sheffield Hallam University, United Kingdom