Bexley Seabury Expands Its Faculty With Two New Bible Professors

Bexley Seabury Seminary
Posted Mar 28, 2022

Bexley Seabury Seminary is overjoyed to announce the hiring of two new professors, Dr. Peter Ajer and Dr. Kay Apigo.

Peter Ajer

For 14 years, Bexley Seabury has not offered its own courses in biblical studies, and instead, relied on partner institutions to provide them to students. Last summer, it decided to change that. Bexley Seabury began a search for a full-time Bible professor, seeking someone who could teach both Old and New Testaments and who was actively engaged in the broader church. As the search progressed, nearly 60 applications were submitted by incredibly gifted candidates from across the nation and around the world. By the end of the process, the search committee was pleasantly surprised to identify not one finalist, but two.

The new Assistant Professor of New Testament, Dr. Peter Claver Ajer, holds a Bachelor of Sacred Theology from Pontifical Urbaniana University, a Licentiate in Sacred Scripture from the Pontifical Biblical Institute, and a Ph.D. in Biblical Studies (New Testament) from the Graduate Theological Union with an allied focus in Political Science, focusing on Peace and Conflict Studies. Ajer has been a lecturer in New Testament Studies at Church Divinity School of the Pacific and part-time faculty at the University of San Francisco and Saint Mary’s College of California. He has taught Bible courses, both Old and New Testament, and Human Rights Ethics. His current research explores the gathering motif in the Fourth Gospel and the social construction of space in Paul’s letter to Philemon. Ajer was born and raised in Uganda and is the author of The Death of Jesus and the Politics of Place in the Gospel of John, Eugene, OR: Pickwick Publications, 2016.

Kay Apigo

A scholar of the Old Testament with expertise in Tradition History, Reception Criticism, Children’s Studies, and Children’s Literature Studies, Dr. Kay Apigo is joining the faculty as Assistant Professor of Old Testament. She holds a PhD in Biblical Studies from Union Theological Seminary (Old Testament/Hebrew Bible) where she wrote her dissertation, “YHWH’s Flood, Noah’s Ark: Adaptations of the Genesis Flood Story Then and Now,” on the development of the Noah’s Ark story in children’s Bibles throughout American history. Her experiences as a biblical scholar and a mother of two young children have led to an understanding of the Bible as a multigenerational story at the core of its culture and the identity of its ancient audience. She brings this language of storytelling to her teaching of the Bible, presenting the Old Testament as literature told and retold in the context of human history.

The Rev. Dr. Jason Fout, Academic Dean, said, “I’m thrilled we’re bringing in Dr. Peter Ajer and Dr. Kay Apigo as our new Bible professors. They are both committed to learning and teaching and have significant experience in teaching online, as well as a proven track record of contributing vital and relevant research. They will enrich our common life by bringing different perspectives and voices to our faculty conversations. Each will teach in their area of specialization in Biblical Studies—Kay in Old Testament and Peter in New Testament, as well as in collateral areas.”

Kay and Peter will begin their new roles with Bexley Seabury on July 1 and will offer classes beginning in the fall.

“I’m delighted we have the honor of welcoming Peter and Kay to our faculty,” expressed the Rev. Dr. Micah T.J. Jackson, President of Bexley Seabury Seminary. “Their wisdom and witness will enhance and strengthen our seminary community. I have no doubt they will be popular with our students, and we’re looking forward to seeing how their contributions to our common life will transform our way of being. I look forward to working with them both very much.”

Please join Bexley Seabury in celebrating these new members of our community!

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Bexley Seabury Seminary, known as “the seminary beyond walls” offers low-residency and context-based theological education and formation for people pursuing MDiv and DMin degrees, as well as a Diploma in Anglican Studies. Furthermore, with its more recent launch of Pathways for Baptismal Living, those who are interested in continuing education, licensure, certification, and other relevant courses have access to a flexible and affordable approach to learning. Its mission is to educate, form, and inspire the Body of Christ to blaze new pathways for prophetic and pastoral service in response to God’s call. If you’re a leader who recognizes the need for more innovative solutions for equipping and preparing the next generations of Jesus followers in all four orders of ministry, then please find out more by contacting Melissa Rau, Director of Institutional Advancement: mrau@bexleyseabury.edu