Ekaterina Lomperis, PhD

Ekaterina Lomperis is Richard B. Parker Assistant Professor of Theology and Wesleyan Thought, and a faculty fellow in the George Fox University Honors Program. Raised and educated in the countries of Moldova and Russia, she moved to the United States to earn her MDiv from Harvard University and her PhD from the University of Chicago.

Dr. Lomperis’s current research focuses on theologies of suffering, healing, and physical and spiritual wellness, with particular attention to their gendered dimensions. Her areas of academic interest span theologies of the early modern era, contemporary global Christian thought, women’s theological voices in the history of Christianity, and constructive science-engaged theologies. She serves on the board of the national Conference on Medicine and Religion.

With Dr. Dan Brunner, Dr. Lomperis is a Principle Investigator of the “Science for Seminaries” grant, which seeks to advance engagements with science in seminary curricula and is sponsored by the American Academy for the Advancement of Science. With two other colleagues, she is also developing a “Mother-logian” project, which explores modes for a greater integration of one’s identities as an academic theologian, educator and mother, and which is sponsored by a grant from the Wabash Center for the Teaching and Learning in Theology and Religion.

In addition, her research and teaching have been supported by grants and fellowships from the Louisville Institute, the Martin Marty Center for the Advanced Study of Religion, the Center of Theological Inquiry, and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

With Gary Ferngren, Dr. Lomperis is an author of Essential Readings in Medicine and Religion (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2017). 

Dr. Lomperis is an active member of the United Methodist Church. In her free time, she enjoys loud games with her three children and quiet solitary nature walks.

Academic Background

Expertise and Research Interests

The Protestant Reformations, medicine and religion, suffering, healing and gender, contemporary global Christian thought, history of Christian spirituality

Research Bibliography

Books

Scholarly Publications

“A Response to Christine Helmer’s Theology and the End of Doctrine.” Journal of Lutheran Ethics, 7 (2015).

Select Presentations

“Discerning the Early Protestant Spirit: Martin Luther, Medical Cessationism, and the Spirit’s Work of Healing” American Academy of Religion Annual Meeting, 2016

 "Justification by Pain? Physical Suffering, Healing, and Salvation in John Calvin’s Thought." Calvin Studies Society Colloquium, 2015.

"Christian Bodies in Pain as Spiritual Battlefields: Bodily Suffering in Martin Luther’s Thought." American Academy of Religion Annual Meeting, 2014.

"Avoiding the Idolatry of Wellbeing: Martin Luther’s Theology of Medical Care, 1516-1530." 
Conference on Medicine and Religion, 2013.