Revd Dr Dave Bookless is Head of Theology for A Rocha International (www.arocha.org). A Rocha is a global family of conservation organizations working together to live out God’s calling to care for creation and equip others to do likewise. Dave’s PhD at Cambridge explored a theological understanding of biodiversity conservation. He was born in India and his first degree was in Modern History (1983) at Jesus College Cambridge (specialising in Gandhian politics). He stayed in Cambridge to complete a Post-Graduate Certificate in Education, specialising in multifaith Religious Education, before teaching and becoming Lecturer in Christianity as a World Religion for Bradford’s Interfaith Education Centre. From 1988-1991 he trained for ordination at Trinity College, Bristol, where he completed a Dip. HE in Theology and an MA in Church, Religion and Society 1780-1914. He was ordained in 1991, serving as curate at St John’s Southall before becoming Priest-in-Charge of St George’s Southall, where he remained until 2000. In 2001 he left full-time parish ministry to set-up A Rocha UK. He was National Director until 2008 before focusing on writing and theological education, and in 2011 moved to his current role with A Rocha International. Dave has written and spoken widely, his books including ‘Planetwise: Dare to Care for God’s World’ (IVP 2008) and ‘God Doesn’t do Waste’ (IVP 2010). He is married to Anne and they have four adult daughters. His academic interests include a theology of place; the intersections of ecological theology with missiology and ecclesiology, and the theological importance of wildlife.
Selected Recent Science and Religion Publications:
- Bookless, D. J .C. (2024) ‘The Place of Biodiversity in the Purposes of God’, in Green Theology, ed. Mujadad Zaman, Mohr Siebeck
- Bookless, D. J .C. (2024) ‘Biblical Foundations for Creation Care’, in Hope for Creation: Missional Responses to Environmental and Human Calamities’, eds. J. Bonk, M. Distefano, J. Jennings, J. Kim, J. H. Lee, William Carey Publishing
- Bookless, D. J. C. (2023) ‘Making a World of Difference’, London: Renew Our World (www.renewourworld.net/resources)
- Bookless, D. J .C. (2022) ‘The Bible and Conservation Biology’, in The Oxford Handbook on Religion and Ecology, eds. Marlow, H., and Harris, M., Oxford University Press
- Bookless, D. J .C. (2019) ‘For better, for worse: the Evangelical Movement and the Environment’, in For Better, for Worse: The role of religion in Development Cooperation, eds. R. Oden and T. Samuelsson, Swedish Mission Council
- Bookless, Dave (2018), ‘Context or Content? The place of the natural environment in world mission’, in Missional Conversations, eds. C. Ross and C. Smith, SCM Press
- Bookless, Dave (2016), ‘How does Creation Care belong within an Evangelical understanding of Mission?’, in Creation Care and the Gospel: Reconsidering the Mission of the Church, eds. C. Bell and R. S. White, Hendrickson
- Bookless, Dave (2015), ‘Jesus is Lord … of all? Evangelicals, Earth Care and the scope of the Gospel’ in Creation Care in Christian Mission, ed. Kapya Kaoma, Oxford: Regnum Press
- Bookless, D. J .C. (2010), ‘Environment and Leadership’, in International Study Guide 43: A Guide to Leadership, ed. Andre Tite, London: SPCK
- Bookless, Dave (2010), God Doesn’t do Waste: Redeeming the Whole of Life, Nottingham: IVP
- Bookless, Dave (2008), Planetwise: Dare to Care for God’s World, Nottingham: IVP
- Bookless, D. J. C. (2008), The Fifth Mark of Mission-Ecological Concern from a Praxis Perspective in Mission in the Twenty-first Century, eds. in A. Walls and C. Ross, London: Darton Longman and Todd
