William James Abraham (19 December 1947 – 7 October 2021) was a Northern Irish theologian, analytic philosopher, and Methodist pastor known for his contributions to the philosophy of religion, religious epistemology, evangelism, and church renewal. Abraham spent most of his career in the United States and was the Albert Cook Outler Professor of Wesley Studies at Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University. He previously taught at Seattle Pacific University and was a visiting professor at Harvard Divinity School. Abraham was associated with the Confessing Movement in the United Methodist Church and was a proponent of canonical theism, a church renewal movement that looks to the canons of the ancient ecumenical church as a source for renewing mainline Protestant churches.

Education

Abraham attended Methodist College in Belfast, Northern Ireland, then completed his undergraduate studies at the Queen's University of Belfast, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1970 in philosophy and psychology. He then attended Asbury Theological Seminary, earning an Master of Divinity degree in 1973, before earning his Doctor of Philosophy degree at Regent's Park College, Oxford University, in 1977. He was also awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Asbury in 2008.

Selected publications

Books

Articles

Chapters