A native of Edinburgh, Scotland, Purves received degrees in philosophy and divinity from the University of Edinburgh, and a Th.M. from Duke Divinity School. His Ph.D. is from the University of Edinburgh. Purves came to the US in 1978 and was ordained by Philadelphia Presbytery. He served as minister of the Hebron Presbyterian Church, Clinton, Pa., until 1983, when he was called to join the faculty of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. Purves has a long list of publications, both books and articles, academic and popular. His books include The Search for Compassion: Spirituality and Ministry, Union in Christ (with Mark Achtemeier), A Passion for the Gospel (with Achtemeier), Encountering God: Christian Faith in Turbulent Times (with Charles Partee), Pastoral Theology in the Classical Tradition, Reconstructing Pastoral Theology: A Christological Foundation, The Crucifixion of Ministry, and The Resurrection of Ministry.
The Jean and Nancy Davis Chair of Historical Theology was established at Pittsburgh Seminary in 2013.
Read it all from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and make sure to see who founded the chair–a great story.
Dr. Purves also has served as an examining chaplain in Pastoral Ministry for the Episcopal Diocese and now Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh and attends the usually held annual Robert Burns Day haggis dinner at Archbishop’s Duncan’s home replete with kilt and sporran and single malt accompanied by the reading of Bobby Burn’s poems and music on the pipes.