THE SHORT BIO:
David Taylor is a theologian, author, speaker, priest, and director of initiatives in art and faith. Associate Professor of Theology & Culture at Fuller Theological Seminary, he has lectured widely on the arts, from Thailand to South Africa. He has written for The Washington Post, Image Journal, Theology Today, Worship, Religion News Service, Christianity Today, and Books & Culture, among others. He lives on 21 acres east of Austin with his wife Phaedra, a visual artist and gardener, and his daughter Blythe and son Sebastian.
Me today.
With PJ’s art behind.
Me at 5.
With a bump.
THE LONGER BIO:
W. David O. Taylor is Associate Professor of Theology & Culture at Fuller Theological Seminary as well as the director of various initiatives in worship, theology and the arts. He teaches courses in systematic theology, art and worship, art and theology, art and beauty, spiritual formation through the psalms, and theology and science fiction.
He is the author of several books: including Prayers for the Pilgrimage: A Book of Collects for All of Life (IVP, 2024), A Body of Praise: Understanding the Role of Our Physical Bodies in Worship (Baker Academic, 2023), Open and Unafraid: The Psalms as a Guide to Life (Thomas Nelson/HarperCollins, 2020), Glimpses of the New Creation: Worship and the Formative Power of the Arts (Eerdmans, 2019), and The Theater of God’s Glory: Calvin, Creation and the Liturgical Arts (Eerdmans, 2017). He’s the editor with Dan Train of Naming the Spirit: Pneumatology through the Arts (IVP Academic, 2025); with Jeremy Begbie and Dan Train of The Art of New Creation: Trajectories in Theology and the Arts (IVP Academic, 2022); For the Beauty of the Church: Casting a Vision for the Arts (Baker Books, 2010); and with Taylor Worley of Contemporary Art and the Church: A Conversation between Two Worlds (IVP Academic, 2017).
He has written for: The Washington Post, Religion News Service, Calvin Theological Journal, Christian Scholars Review, Image Journal, Worship, Comment, Theology Today, Books & Culture, The Gospel Coalition, Worship Leader Magazine, and Christianity Today, among others.
He serves. on the advisory board for Duke Initiatives in Theology and the Arts as well as the advisory board for IVP Academic’s series, “Studies in Theology and the Arts.” He also serves as the Scholar in Residence for Arts, Media, and Culture for the C4SO Anglican Diocese.
He was a core participant in the four-year project “Theology, Modernity, and the Visual Arts,” hosted by King’s College, London, which involved annual conversations between scholars and artists in London, Chicago, Berlin, and Venice, from 2018-2022, and is presently a core participant in the “Theology and the Visual Art” project, hosted again by King’s College, London, 2024-2026..
For twelve years, in full and part time capacity, he served as a pastor at Hope Chapel in Austin, Texas. There he supervised an arts ministry and the adult education program, along with preaching regularly.
In 2016 he produced a short film with Bono and Eugene Peterson: "Bono and Eugene Peterson: THE PSALMS." In the June 2016 issue of Christianity Today, he and his wife were featured for their work with the church and the arts.
His artistic interests include: playwriting, modern dance, and film, and in recent years, science fiction literature. He is ordained as a priest in the Anglican Communion in North America and he lives in Austin with his wife Phaedra, a visual artist, gardener and cook, his daughter Blythe and his son Sebastian.
He can be found on social media in all these places: Twitter @wdavidotaylor, on Bluesky @wdavidotaylor, on Instagram @davidtaylor_theologian, on Facebook @wdavidotaylor2020.
