Rev. Dr. Hank Lederle
Henry Ivor Lederle was born in Durban, South Africa of German, Welshand Dutch parentage. He did hisprimary and secondary schooling in Newcastle, Northern Natal, graduating in1963 from Newcastle High School as Student Body President. He also received the top academichonors in his year and the oratory award.
He then commenced University education in Bloemfontein at the University of the Orange Free State, obtaining a BA (with three majors: Semitic languages, Greek and Philosophy) in 1966 and a second BA (Honors) degree (in Philosophy) cum laude in 1967. Next he completed an MA in Christian Philosophy while also lecturing full-time at the University in Christian Philosophy.
He then moved to the University of Stellenbosch in the Cape Province, completing a B. Th. (equivalent to the American M. Div.) cum laude in 1972. He spent 1974-75 doing preliminary doctoral research in Systematic Theology at the University of Tuebingen on a German State scholarship. Upon returning to South Africa he completed the doctoral course work in Systematic Theology at the University of Stellenbosch.
In 1976 he received a call as a Missionary in Malawi where he taught various theological subjects at two different theological colleges, in Zomba and Nkhoma. From 1978 he taught Systematic Theology and History of Doctrine at the University of South Africa (Unisa) in Pretoria where he was first Senior Lecturer and then Associate Professor. During his time at Unisa he also completed a degree in English Language and Literature.
In 1980/81 his interest in international theological exchange led to two overseas visits. First he was invited to serve as a research assistant in Theology at the University of Muenster in Germany. Subsequently he taught for a full academic year in the Religion and Theology department at Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan. His assignment included classes in Old and New Testament.
In 1982 he commenced work on a doctoral dissertation in Pneumatology. During a sabbatical leave in 1984 he traveled widely in the USA,visiting Charismatic communities on a grant supplied by the South African Human Sciences’ Research Council. His dissertation provides a model for the integration of Charismatic spirituality into Christianity at large. The project was completed in October 1985. Treasures Old and New was published by Hendrickson Publishers in Peabody, Massachusetts (3,500 copiessold).
At the University of South Africa he founded and directed a long-term interdisciplinary research project on church renewal movements, funded and supported by the major Pentecostal Churches in that country. He also served as the secretary to the nation-wide Association of Southern Africa Theological Institutions.
A major step in his academic career was the receiving of the prestigious Alexander von Humboldt scholarship for post-doctoral research in Germany. From August 1988 to July 1989 Dr. Lederle did research at a Theological Institute of the University of Heidelberg. Two Unisa publications on doctrinal diversity in Christianity were based on this work.
In August 1990 he moved to the United States to Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was appointed as full professor at the School of Theology and Missions, Oral Roberts University, to teach Systematic Theology and Charismatic Studies. He also chaired a faculty committee at ORU investigating the possibility of developing a Ph.D. program at the Seminary. During this time Dr. Lederle was invited to teach a variety of theological courses at Pentecostal Institutions in Los Angeles, Novosibirsk (Siberia) and South Korea. Apart from Theology he has also taught courses in Theological German.
After five years in Tulsa, Dr. Lederle received a call as Theologian-in-Residence and Associate Pastor for Adult Education at a large downtown Presbyterian Church and served there for three years. In August 1996 he presented two papers and led a workshop on the Holy Spirit at a Global Consultation on Theological Education in Oslo, Norway. In May and June 1998 he presented a Clergy Continuing Education program in the Synod of Livingstonia, Malawi and taught a course on the doctrine of the Holy Spirit at Calvin Seminary, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
In August 1998 Dr. Lederle returned to teaching at ORU. He taught both on the Master of Divinity and the Doctor of Ministry levels. For the year 2000/2001 he served as the President of the University Faculty Assembly of ORU, initiating and chairing new projects such as the university-wide Christian Worldview Committee and the involvement of faculty in student mission initiatives. He also traveled to teach courses and preach at Pentecostal Churches in Iceland and Sumatra, Indonesia as well as in San Diego and Palm Springs, CA. Once again Dr. Lederle was asked to spearhead a new initiative to establish a Ph.D. in Charismatic Studies at ORU, but funds were not forthcoming.
In August 2002 the Lederle family moved to Sterling, Kansas where he was appointed Professor in the Religion and Philosophy department, as well as Dean of Chapel, at a small evangelical liberal arts college in rural Kansas, Sterling College. For the first time in his career he could lecture and be in Christian ministry at the same time. In May 2005 he became chair of the Religion and Philosophy department and later served on the President’s Cabinet. He has also been active in the community, preaching in several local congregations and serving on a number of search committees for the college.
Dr. Lederle is married to Fran Archer, and they have three daughters: Stephanie, who works in Dallas, TX, Christine, who works at Hillsong Church in Capetown, South Africa and Karin (and her husband Ben) who both work at Sterling College. The Lederles are all South African born but became American citizens in March 1996.
Professional Experience
August 2002 – present Professor of Religion and Philosophy and Campus Chaplain Sterling College Sterling,KS
August 1998 – July 2002 Professor of Theology School of Theology and Missions Oral Roberts UniversityTulsa,OK
August 1995 – July 1998 Theologian-in-Residence and Associate Pastor for Adult Education First Presbyterian Church Tulsa,OK
August 1990 – July 1995 Professor of Theology School of Theology and Missions Oral Roberts University Tulsa,OK
1978 – July 1990 Associate Professor and Senior Lecturer in Theology Faculty of Theology University of South Africa Pretoria,SA
1976 – 1978 Professor of Theology Theological Colleges of Nkhomaand Zomba, Malawi Central Africa
1973 – 1975 German State Scholarship Recipient (DAAD) University of Tuebingen Germany
1968 – 1969 Lecturerin Christian Philosophy University of the Orange Free State Bloemfontein,South Africa
Concurrent Positions
1988 – 1989 Visiting Research Fellow
Von Humboldt Post-Doctoral Scholarship
University of Heidelberg, Germany
1983 – 1990 Founding Director
Research Project on Charismatic Movements
Institute for Theological Research
Universityof South Africa
1986 – 1990 Member of Ministerial Staff
Trinity Presbyterian Church
Lynnwood,Pretoria
1980 – 1981 Visiting Professor
Religion and Theology Department
Calvin College
GrandRapids, Michigan
1980 Academic Exchange Research Fellow
Departmentof Theology
Universityof Muenster
Germany
Publications
1. Monographs
The Church of JesusChrist. Pretoria: Unisa, 1978. 126pp.
The History of theDoctrine of God. Vol. 1. Pretoria: Unisa, 1979. 111pp.
The History of theDoctrine of God. Vol. 2. Pretoria: Unisa, 1980. 112pp.
The Charismatic Movement. Pretoria: Unisa, 1983. 167pp.
Charismatic Theology. Pretoria: Unisa, 1986. 174pp.
Current PneumatologicalThemes. Pretoria: Unisa, 1987. 140pp.
Treasures Old andNew. Interpretations of“Spirit-baptism” in the Charismatic Renewal Movement. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson,1988. 264pp.
Ecumenical Theology. A Survey of the Distinctive Teachingsof the Major Christian Churches. Pretoria: Unisa, 1990. 172pp.
The Modern EcumenicalMovement. Pretoria: Unisa, 1991. 110pp.
2. Collections of Essays
Toward the Unity of theChurch. (in Afrikaans). Cape Town: Tafelberg, 1979.
Infant Baptism? The Arguments For and Against. Roodepoort: CUM, 1984.
It is I, the Lord, Who Heals You. (in Afrikaans.) Pretoria: Sovereign, 1985.
Healing in the Name of God. Pretoria: Powell, 1986.
Like a Roaring Lion – theBible, the Devil and Demonic Powers. Pretoria: Powell, 1987.
What is Distinctive about Pentecostal Theology? (With M.S. Clark) .Pretoria: Unisa, 1989.
Rainbow in a Fallen World: Unity and Diversity ofChristian Higher Education. Sioux City, IA: Dordt College Press, 1990.
Initial Evidence:Historical and Biblical Perspectives on the Pentecostal Doctrine of Spirit Baptism. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1991.
3. Periodical Articles
Various theological articlesover the years in International Reformed Bulletin, Theologia Evangelica,Missionalia, Koers, Ecumenical Review and Ministerial Formation (W.C.C.). More recent articles include:
“TheSpirit of Unity: Discomforting Comforter. Some Reflections of the
HolySpirit, Ecumenism and the Pentecostal-Charismatic Movements” in
TheEcumenical Review. Geneva, Switzerland: W.C.C., Vol42,
Numbers3-4 (July-Oct 1990), pp 279-287.
“Lifein the Spirit and Worldview: Some Preliminary Thoughts on
UnderstandingReality, Faith and Providence” in Spirit and Renewal:
Essaysin Honor of J. Rodman Williams. Sheffield, England: Sheffield
AcademicPress, 1993, pp 22-23.
“ThePentecostal and Charismatic Movements” and “Is Politics in the
Atonement? Charismatic Movements andSocio-Political Matters” in
Spirit,Renewal and Ministry. Christian Council of Ghana, Accra: 1995,
pp88-98 and 99-115.
“TheViability of Ecumenical Theological Education” in Ministerial
Formation. Geneva, Switzerland: E.T.E., Vol 74, July 1996.
“WorkshopVI Report: Pentecostal and Ecumenical Theological Education”
inMinisterial Formation. Geneva, Switzerland: E.T.E., Vol 75,Oct 1996,
pp39-41 and 44-46.
“BeingChurch in a Time of Change: Finding the Boundaries” in Reformed
Liturgy& Music. Louisville, KY: Vol XXXII, No 2, 1998pp 70, 71.
“ADwelling Place for God: The Pentecost Motif in Theological Education”
inMinisterial Formation. Geneva, Switzerland: E.T.E., Vol 87,Oct 1999,
pp7-13.
Plusa large number of book reviews for Calvin Theological Journal and
Pneuma.
Education
Th.D., Unisa – University of South Africa, Pretoria 1985. (Majoring in Pneumatology, with minors in Old and New Testament Theology)
Lic. Th., Theological Seminary, Stellenbosch, 1975.
B.Th. (M.Div.), Universityof Stellenbosch, 1972.
M.A. in Philosophy,University of the Orange Free State, Bloemfontein, 1969.
B.A. Honors (A second Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy), U.O.F.S., Bloemfontein, 1967.
B.A. (Greek and Hebrew),U.O.F.S. Bloemfontein, 1966.
Office
Campbell Basement 43
Contact Information
Phone: (620) 278-4333
Email: hlederle@sterling.edu
