Rev. Dr. Rodger Nishioka
Dr. Rodger Nishioka holds the Benton Family chair in Christian education as an associate professor at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, GA. While he teaches in the area of Christian education and practical theology, he specializes in ministry with youth and young adults and has completed a research project comparing the participation of young adults in mainline Protestant congregations and non-denominational independent Christian movements.
Prior to his joining the faculty at Columbia, Rodger served for 12 years as denominational staff in youth & young adult ministry for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Rodger received his undergraduate degree from Seattle Pacific University, his master’s degree in theological studies from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, a Doctor of Divinity degree from Austin College and his Ph.D. from Georgia State University in Atlanta.
He has published several articles, chapters, and books largely focused on ministry with youth and young adults and the educational ministry of the church as spiritual formation.
Rodger is the son of an honorably retired Presbyterian pastor and is evidence that you can be a pastor’s kid and still love Jesus.