Don Thorsen

Don Thorsen (born 1955 in Turlock, California) is an American theologian, author, and professor of theology whose work focuses on systematic theology, Wesleyan and ecumenical thought, and Christian ethics. He completed a Th.M. in Systematic Theology at Princeton Theological Seminary and subsequently obtained both an M.Phil. and a PhD in Theological and Religious Studies from Drew University. He subsequently joined the faculty of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa, California, where he has served for nearly four decades as Professor of Theology and has held leadership responsibilities within theology and philosophy programs. His teaching and scholarship focus on systematic theology, Christian ethics, historical theology, and ecumenical studies. He argues that although the Protestant reformers emphasized the authority of Scripture as a corrective to ecclesial abuses, their theological method also relied upon systematic reasoning and the ecumenical creeds of the early Church. Following the approach of John Wesley, Thorsen affirms the primacy of Scripture together with the secondary, though genuine, theological authority of tradition, reason, and experience, commonly referred to as the Wesleyan quadrilateral. and has also participated in ecumenical efforts with the Wesleyan Holiness Connection. He has served in editorial roles with Christianity Today and Christian Scholar’s Review.

In 2023, Thorsen received the J. Irwin Miller Award for Excellence in Ecumenical Leadership from the National Council of Churches.

Research and scholarly works Thorsen’s research focuses on systematic theology, Wesleyan theological method, ecumenism, and contemporary ethical and social questions in Christian thought. His work frequently engages questions of salvation, grace, ecclesiology, and theological method within Wesleyan and broader Protestant traditions.

In the area of public and contextual theology, Thorsen’s work addresses racism, social injustice, and the role of theology in public life. He is a co-editor of Confronting Racism and White Supremacy in the US: Twenty-First Century Theological Perspectives (2024), which situates theological reflection within contemporary debates on race, structural injustice, and Christian responsibility in the United States.

His monograph, I Am Who I Am: Unfolding the Biblical Understanding of God (2025), presents a biblical-theological study of the doctrine of God, integrating exegetical analysis with systematic and historical theology. In addition, Thorsen has contributed to scholarship on church life and mission through edited collections such as Golden Nuggets of Truth: Christian Wisdom for Church Life and Mission (2024), which explores practical and theological dimensions of Christian discipleship and ministry.

Beyond academic theology, Thorsen has also written in narrative form, using fiction as a medium for theological reflection in Jesus’ Best Friend: A Novel (2023), which explores themes of discipleship and relational faith from a theological perspective.

Personal life Thorsen is married to Andrea Thorsen. They live in Sierra Madre, California. Pocket Dictionary of Christian Spirituality (InterVarsity, 2018) . Christian Ethics and Moral Philosophy: An Introduction to Issues and Approaches (Baker Academic, 2018), with Craig A. Boyd. . The Wesleyan Quadrilateral: An Introduction (Emeth Press, 2018). Twelve Great Books that Changed the University (Cascade, 2014), with Steve Wilkens. . Strength to Be Holy (Emeth, 2014). . Calvin vs. Wesley: Bringing Belief in Line with Practice (Abingdon, 2013). Unity in Mission: Theological Reflections on the Pilgrimage of Mission (Paulist, 2013), edited with Mitzi Budde. . Heart and Life: Rediscovering Holy Living (Aldersgate, 2012), edited with Barry Callen. . What Christians Believe about the Bible (Hendrickson, 2012), with Keith Reeves. . Everything You Know about Evangelicals Is Wrong (Well, Almost Everything) (Baker Academic, 2010), with Steve Wilkens. . The Holiness Manifesto (Eerdmans, 2008), edited with Kevin Mannoia. . An Exploration of Christian Theology (Hendrickson, 2008; rpt. Baker Academic, 2010). . Inclusive Language Handbook (Wesleyan/Holiness Women's Clergy, 1998), with Vickie Becker. Theological Resources for Ministry (Evangel, 1996). . The Wesleyan Quadrilateral: Scripture, Tradition, Reason, and Experience as a Model of Evangelical Theology (Zondervan, 1990).