Kurtley Knight, DMin

The Rev. Dr. Kurtley Knight is an assistant professor of spiritual formation at Portland Seminary. An ordained priest in the Anglican Church of North America, he also serves as an assisting priest at Church of the Vine, in Newberg, Oregon, and a senior teaching fellow at the Renovare Institute for Christian Spiritual Formation in Denver. He earned his DMin from Portland Seminary in 2016, where he studied leadership and spiritual formation.

Before joining the faculty full time in 2020, Kurtley served as a faculty advisor and adjunct professor of missional leadership at Portland Seminary from 2017 to 2020.

A pastor at heart, he has served the church for over a decade in many capacities: lead pastor, church planter, youth and young adult pastor, and Bible teacher across several states (California, Pennsylvania and Texas).   

Describing his calling, Kurtley says that, “God created me to curate sacred spaces where the soul can be attended to and known before God, so that seekers of Jesus can discover their true selves.” This emphasis guides his research interests around the following themes in Christian spiritual formation: liturgical and sacramental spirituality, congregational formation, spiritual discernment and direction.

Outside of work, Kurtley loves spending time with his wife Ivah. Together, they enjoy hiking, exploring new places, fitness training, basketball, movies, Star Trek and live music (especially jazz and funk).

Academic Background

DMin, Portland Seminary; MDiv, Andrews Theological Seminary; BA, Oakwood University

Expertise & Research Interests

Spiritual direction, Liturgical & Sacramental Spirituality, Congregational Formation, Pastoral Formation, Spiritual Discernment, and Missional Theology.

Research Bibliography 

Publications

• 2016: Knight, Kurtley Elliott, "Theocentric Vision: A Model for the Discernment of Congregational Vision as Spiritual Formation" (2016). Doctor of Ministry.Paper 134. https://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/dmin/134. (Dissertation)

• 2013: Knight, Kurtley. “Postmodern Apologetics?—8: Lacoste and A God of Liturgy and Parousia.” Spectrum Magazine, Adventist Forum, 6 Aug. 2013, https://spectrummagazine.org/post-archives/postmodern-apologetics-8-lacoste-and-god-liturgy-and-parousia/.

• 2009: Knight, Kurtley. “Preaching and Teaching Young Adults: Crafting a Word to Be Heard.” From Jay-Z to Jesus: Reaching & Teaching Young Adults in the Black Church, by Benjamin Stephens and Ralph C. Watkins, Judson Press, 2009.