Christopher Ocker

Christopher Ocker is the Dean and Vice President for Academic Affairs at the Graduate Theological Union (GTU) and holds the John Dillenberger Professorship in the History of Christianity. He has been affiliated with the GTU since 1991 and served on leave from 2019-2021. His academic credentials include a ThM and PhD from Princeton Theological Seminary and an MDiv from Fuller Theological Seminary.

His research focuses on Late Medieval and Early Modern Europe, emphasizing the Reformation, biblical interpretation, theological history, religious conflict, and interreligious entanglements. Notable works include The Hybrid Reformation (2022) and Luther, Conflict, and Christendom (2018). He has also edited volumes such as Politics and Reformations (2007) and Church-Robbers and Reformers in Germany (2006).

Ocker’s publications consistently engage with material culture, textual analysis, and interdisciplinary approaches to religious history. His recent scholarship explores prayer practices, medieval theology, and the intersections of gender, law, and religious identity. His work frequently bridges theological analysis with sociohistorical contexts, particularly in Reformation-era Europe.

His leadership roles at the GTU reflect his commitment to interdenominational theological education. While no specific grants or advising details are noted, his extensive publication record underscores his role as a leading scholar in early modern religious history. His research also extends to cross-cultural religious interactions, including studies on Christian-Muslim dynamics and the material dimensions of religious practice.