Peter Ward, Ph.D., Appointed McKeever Chair of Moral Theology

Peter Ward, Ph.D., will serve as the Paul E. McKeever Chair of Moral Theology at St. John's University during the fall semester. Dr. Ward comes to St. John’s from Durham University in the United Kingdom, where he serves as Professor of Practical Theology in Ecclesiology and Ethnography in the Department of Theology and Religion.

A theologian who uses ethnographic research as one entry point into understanding religious practice, Dr. Ward has extensively researched the intersection of religion and popular culture. A long-serving, well-published, and accomplished academic, Dr. Ward’s research has its origins in the practice of mission and ministry in the Christian Church.

Dr. Ward has written on all aspects of youth ministry, popular culture, and the Church, and the study of contemporary worship. His most recent book is Celebrity Worship (Routledge, 2019), which explores religion and popular culture.

Rev. Patrick S. L. Flanagan, C.M., Ph.D., Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Theology and Religious Studies, and Member, St. John’s University Board of Governors, observed, “Dr. Ward is an exciting addition to the theology department and to the larger campus community. His timely research and expertise provide theologically informed approaches and has broad appeal to students of all academic interests and faith backgrounds.”

Dr. Ward will deliver four public lectures throughout the fall semester.

Created in 1988 and named for the late Rev. Paul McKeever, a long-serving faculty member and chair of the Department of Theology and Religious Studies, the McKeever Chair serves the University community through research, scholarship, and shared conversations.