Ron Clark JR
College of Bible - Graduate
Adjunct Faculty
Biography
Ron Clark is the Executive Director for Kairos Church Planting Support. He has been in ministry for over 35 years and has planted a church and developed leaders throughout the country. He is an adjunct instructor for George Fox University, Portland Seminary, Lipscomb University and is the Vice President for the Pacific Northwest Regional SBL/AAR. He has authored books and articles concerning Intimate Partner Violence and Theology, Biblical studies and ministry, and Marriage and Family Ministry.
Ron has an MDiv and D.Min from Harding School of Theology in Memphis, TN.
He and his wife Lori planted Agape Church of Christ in downtown Portland in 2007 and lead ministries with various state, county, and local government agencies addressing houselessness, prostitution, abuse, trafficking, and developing healthy marriages. Ron and Lori have been married since 1987 and have three sons.
Academic Degrees
- BA Biology, BA Chemistry - University Missouri Central
- MDiv, D.Min - Harding School of Theology
Academic Department
Classes
George Fox University
- Jesus and Leadership
- Writings of CS Lewis
- Old Testament Narratives
- Religion and Popular Culture
- Christian Faith and Thought
Lipscomb
- Introduction to Church Planting
- Sharing Faith
- Designing a Disciplemaking System
- Communal Practices
- Identity, Self Leadership, and Self Care
Research Interests
- Biblical Studies (Prophets, Wisdom Literature, Luke/Acts, Daniel, Corinthians)
- Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
- Ministry and Missional Church Planting
Research and Publications
Books
Освобождение от насилия (Freeing the Oppressed—Russian Translation). Eastern European Mission: Vienna, and Wipf and Stock Publishing: Eugene, 2019.
Reflections from the Marriage Table: Our Experiences of Love in Marriage, Ministry, and Family (Ron and Lori Clark). Eugene: Cascade, 2016.
The Spirit of Jesus Unleashed on the Church: Acts of the Early Christians in a Changing Culture. Eugene: Cascade, 2013. Jesus Unleashed: Luke’s Gospel for Emerging Christians. Eugene: Cascade, 2013.
The God of Second Chances: Finding Hope in the Prophets of Exile. Eugene: Cascade, 2012.
Am I Sleeping With the Enemy? Male and Female in God’s Image. Eugene: Cascade, 2010.
The Better Way: The Church of Agape in Emerging Corinth. Eugene: Resource, 2010.
Freeing the Oppressed: A Call to the Church Concerning Domestic Abuse. Eugene: Cascade, 2009.
Emerging Elders: Developing Shepherds in God’s Image. Abilene: Leafwood, 2008.
Setting the Captives Free: A Christian Theology of Domestic Violence. Eugene: Cascade, 2005.
Articles and Chapters
Contributor to Huff Post Blog “Is There Peace Within Our Walls? Intimate Partner Violence and White Mainline Protestant Churches in North America.” Religion and Men’s Violence Against Women, 195-206. Edited by Andrew Johnson. New York: Springer, 2015.
“Sent Ahead or Left Behind? The Left Behind Series, Abuse, and Cultures of Violence. ” A Cry Instead of Justice: The Bible and Cultures of Violence in Psychological Perspective, 182-94. Edited by Dereck Daschke and Andrew Kille. T and T Clark International, 2010.
“Submit or Else: Biblical Texts Used by Batterers in Intimate Partner Violence.” A Cry Instead of Justice: The Bible and Cultures of Violence in Psychological Perspective, 87-106. Edited by Dereck Daschke and Andrew Kille. T and T Clark International, 2010.
“Franklin, Pendleton, Sommer, and Ketcherside: Mutual Ministry Roots in the History of the Churches of Christ.” Restoration Quarterly 51:3 (2009).
Associate Editor for Wineskins January 2008 Issue: Domestic Abuse and the Family of God.
“The Silence in Dinah’s Cry.” Restoration Quarterly 49:3 (2007): 143-58. “The Silence in Dinah’s Cry.” Lectio Difficilior 1 (2006).
“Using Victim’s Testimonies with the Prophets,” and “Victim’s Testimonies in the Apocalypse.” In Teaching the Bible: Practical Strategies for Classroom Instruction. Edited by Mark Roncace and Patrick Gray. Atlanta: Scholar’s Press, 2005.
“Associating With the Humiliated: Using Victim’s Testimonies in the College Classroom.” Journal of Religion and Abuse 7:1 (2005): 61-79.
“Schools, Scholars, and Students: The Wisdom School Sitz im Leben and Proverbs” Restoration Quarterly 47:3 (2005).
“Associating With the Humiliated: Using Victim's Testimonies in the College Classroom.” Society of Biblical Literature Forum 2003.
“Kingdoms, Kids, and Kindness: A New Context for Luke 18:15-17,” Stone Campbell Journal 5:2 (Fall 2002), 235-48.
“Open Your Eyes.” Journal of Religion and Abuse 4:1 (2002): 27-46.
“The Silence in Dinah’s Cry.” Journal of Religion and Abuse 2:4 (2001): 81-98.
Relevant Experience
- Expert Witness to DV/SA. Oregon Coalition for Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault.
- YWCA 40 hour Advocate training completed.
- Allies in Change, 40 hour Batterer Intervention Provider training completed.
- Team Leader for Domestic Violence Prevention for Association for Marriage and Family Ministries.
- IPV Consultant for Northwest Marriage Institute, Violence Against People with Disabilities Council, and National Association of Marriage and Family Ministry Team.
- Appointed to Oregon Attorney General’s Sexual Assault Task Force and Oregon Men Against Violence.
- Youth Minister 2 years. Minister and Church Planter 35 years. Executive Director for Kairos Church Planting Support.
Awards
- Elected to serve as Vice President and President for PNW Regional SBL/AAR (2022)
- Midori Hamilton Award for Domestic Violence Work. Presented by Oregon Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence (2019)
- Appointed to Oregon Attorney General’s Sexual Assault Task Force.(2006)
- Adjunct Faculty of the Year, Cascade College (2002, 2005)
- Stop Abuse Award. Multnomah County Domestic Violence Council (2002)
- SBL Student-Scholar Award Central States Region SBL/AAR (1998)
- Jack P. Lewis Hebrew Study Award. Harding School of Theology (1994)
- Eagle Scout (1978)
Talks and Presentations
Aug 2022 Family Relationships as a Model for Ancient Elders and Church Leadership. Save Ancient Studies Association (SASA) National Conference (Online).
May 2022 Associating with the Humiliated: Romans 12 in Ministry Context. Regional SBL/AAR Conference (Online).
In these sessions we are editing a collection of papers for a published volume in 2025.
Nov 2021 Zonah Passages and Sex Workers. National SBL/AAR Conference. San Antonio, TX.
Aug 2020 "Men Speaking Out: Theology, Power, and Transformation," Healing the Healers Clergy Domestic Violence Prevention. Odysee Impact (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3fWqHUQKN8).
Aug 2020 Your Warriors Will Become Women. SASA National Conference (Online).
June 2020 Missional Ministry and The Rich Man and Lazarus. Christian Scholar’s Conference. Nashville, TN.
May 2020 Associating with the Humiliated: Romans 12 in Ministry Context. Regional SBL/AAR Conference (Online).
Dec 2020 “Creating Caring Churches: Protecting Victims, Holding Offenders Accountable, and Confronting Abusive Leaders.” Multnomah County Online Conference.
Nov 2020 “Examining the Roots of Gendered Violence and Faith Communities.” National Organization for Men Against Sexism, Online Conference.
Oct 2020 “What Does It Mean to Be a Missional Church in Crisis? Developing Responses to Portland’s Houseless Crisis Through Apocalypticism, Eschatology, and Prophetic Ministries in Jeremiah 16:14-15 and 29:1-14,” and “Associating with the Humiliated: Paul’s Hermeneutic of Transformation Among the Marginalized in Romans 12:1-16.” Stone Campbell Journal Lectures, Online Conference.
Nov 2019 “Maturing through Agape: A Discussion of Agape, Faith Development, and Telos in the Practice of Spiritual Growth of Congregational Mission and Ministry in Portland, OR..” National SBL/AAR Conference, Psychology and Bible. San Diego, CA.
Nov 2019 “Traumatized with the Prophets: Exploring the Prophets in Healing for Survivors of Intimate Partner and Sexual Assault, Bystanders, and Those of Us Who Care for Them.” National SBL/AAR Conference, Bible and Homiletics. San Diego, CA.
June 2019 “Creating Safe and Sacred Spaces for Restorative Justice in Faith Based Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) Prevention.” Northwest Justice Conference, Multnomah University, Portland.
June 2019 IPV trainings in Colombia with Alas de Libertad ministries in Cali, Buena Ventura, Ibahgue, Pereia, and Bogota.
April 2019 “Misogyny and Human Trafficking: Is There A Connection?” City Club Human Trafficking Series, Kells Irish Pub, Portland.
Nov 2018 “The Lucan Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus: Wondering How to Respond to My Neighbors in Portland, Oregon.” “Sweeping the Strangers and Outsiders in Your City: Luke's Rich Man, Lazarus, Boundaries, and Houseless Humans in Portland.” National SBL/AAR Conference, Denver, CO. November 16-20.
Nov 2018 “Submit or Else, Addressing Batterers in Faith Communities.” “Addressing the Roots of Violence in Faith Communities,” Battering Intervention Services Coalition of Michigan National Conference. Lansing, MI. Nov 13-16, 2018.
Feb 2018 “Are We Drinking the Kool-Aid: An Antidote for Toxic Masculinity in the Faith Community.” Engaging Men and Masculinity Conference, Oregon State University, Corvalis, OR.
Jan 2018 “Misogyny and Human Trafficking.” Kells Irish Pub City Club Meeting. Portland, OR.
Nov 2017 “Associating With the Humiliated: Paul’s Motion in Romans 12:1-20 and Social Justice.” National SBL/AAR Conference, Homiletics and Bible Section, Boston, MA.
June 2017 “Agape as A Missional Church Developing and Leading Community Agencies to Address Social Justice and New Theological Paradigms.” Christian Scholar’s Conference.
May 2017 “Misogyny as a Factor in Trafficking and Prostitution.” University of Oregon.
May 2017 “Sweeping the Strangers and Outsiders in Your City: Luke's Rich Man, Lazarus, Boundaries, and Houseless Humans in Portland.” PNW Regional SBL/AAR Conference.
May 2017 “Wisdom Literature for Marriage and Family.” Ron and Lori Clark, Pepperdine Bible Lectures.
Feb 2017 “Misogyny as a Factor in Trafficking and Prostitution.” Kells Irish Pub Portland City Club Lectures.
Nov 2016 “Proclaiming the Freedom and Healing from the Exodus to Victims of Intimate Partner Violence,” National SBL/AAR Conference.
Apr 2016 “Zechariah: Repeated Cycles and Apocalyptic Images Addressing Shame In Post Exilic and Colonized Yehud,” “Are These Folks Drunk or Do We Need to Learn Another Language? Acts 2:13 and Resistance to the Mission of the Early Church and Beyond.” Stone Campbell Journal Lectures.
June 2015 “In Those Days There Was No King in Israel… What Do We Do With Sexual Violence, Survivors, and the Sacred Texts?” Christian Scholar’s Conference.
Nov 2014 “Dear Theophilus: Luke’s Message for Pastoral Counseling, Outreach, and Ministry,” “Zechariah: Repeated Cycles and Apocalyptic Images Addressing Shame in Post Exilic and Colonized Yehud.” National SBL/AAR Conference.
June 2014 “Sinful Women and the Men Who Love Them: Another Look at the Woman Who Washed Jesus’ Feet in Luke 7.” Christian Scholar’s Conference.
May 2014 “Sinful Women and the Men Who Love Them: Another Look at the Woman Who Washed Jesus’ Feet in Luke 7.” PNW Regional SBL/AAR Conference.
Nov 2013 “An Analysis of Zurmond’s Variants in Ge’ez Gospels: Rest or More Work for the Weary.” National SBL/AAR Conference.
May 2013 “Touched by a Sinner: Luke’s Account of the Sinful Woman, Jesus, and Masculinity in Luke 7:37-43.” PNW Regional SBL/AAR Conference.
Nov 2012 “The Feminization of Captives in Ancient Israel and the Near East,” “Using Victims’ Testimony in Pastoral Care,” National SBL/AAR Conference.
Feb 2012 “Confronting Misogyny in Human Trafficking,” National Human Trafficking Colloquium.
Jan 2012 Annual Chaney Lectures, Central Christian College.
Nov 2011 “Is Misogyny the Root of All Evil?” “Submit or Else: Addressing Misogyny and Pastoral Theology,” National SBL/AAR Conference.
Oct 2011 “Confronting Misogyny in Faith Communities.” Roots of Change Annual Sexual Assault Conference.
May 2011 “Misogyny, Prostitution, and Trafficking.” Peace and Safety in the Christian Home National Conference.
Aug 2010 “Am I Sleeping With the Enemy?” Webinar for Oregon Attorney General’s Sexual Assault Task Force.
May 2010 “Agape as Topos in 1 Corinthians,” and “A Male Response to Intimate Partner Violence,” PNW Regional SBL/AAR Conference.
Feb 2010 Engaging Males in Domestic Violence Prevention, University of Oregon.
Oct 2009 “Redefining Masculinity in the Faith Community,” Roots of Change, National Organization of Men Against Violence.
Aug 2008 “A Theology for Addressing Abuse in Our Churches and Communities.” Association For Marriage and Family Ministries National Conference.
Aug 2008 “Am I Sleeping With the Enemy?” Oregon Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Assault State Conference.
June 2008 “The Rape of Dinah,” National Crime Victim’s Convention.
Nov 2007 “Many Psychologists Can Bring Victory. Really!” National SBL/AAR Conference.
Nov 2007 “Helping Dinah and the Faith Community,” Oregon State Sexual Assault Conference.
Sept 2007 “Redefining Masculinity in the Faith Community.” International Violence and Trauma Convention.
Nov 2005 “The Rape of Dinah,” and “Submit or Else: Batterers and Violence in the Biblical Text,” National SBL/AAR Conference.
For a list of presentations from 1998 to 2004 please contact me.
Community Involvement
- Village Coalition
- Worked with community agencies to build 6 houseless villages for those on the streets, in Portland. Board member Agape Houseless Village.
- Member Portland Police Bureau's Implicit Bias Speakers' Team.
- Worked with a Team to begin "Community Against Domestic Violence" and the "Engaging Men Project". Also worked with community agencies to develop Faith Based teams in 8 cities in Oregon.
- Appointed by Oregon Attorney General for 2 terms on Sexual Assault Task Force.
- Portland Wrestling Official for 16 years.
- President Reynolds Youth Football.