Michael

Associate Professor of Theology & Ethics

Manager, Life-Long Learning

 

Michael is our in-house philosopher and theologian, ready for any conversation that involves serious, and sometimes not so serious, thought. When not cooking up thoughts, he'll happily cook you a meal or brew you a coffee. His wife and sons keep him hopping, and his guitar keeps them rocking.

Education

  • Ph.D. in Theological Ethics, University of Aberdeen, School of Divinity, 2019
  • M.Th in Theological Ethics, University of Aberdeen, School of Divinity, 2017
  • M.A. in Christian Studies, ACTS Seminaries, 2014
  • B.A. in English and Communications, Simon Fraser University, 2009

Forthcoming Publications

  • Morelli, Michael, Franics Pang, and Cynthia Tam (eds.). A Deeper Communion: Ecclesial Engagement with Disability. Hamilton: MacMaster Divinity College Press. TBD.
  • "Fortifying Wine: 1 Timothy 5:23's prescript from chronic and acute stomach prblems, frequent ailments, and ecclesial disease." A Deeper Communion: Ecclesial Engagement with Disability. Hamilton: MacMaster Divinity College Press. TBD.

Publications

  • Jantzen D, Morelli M, Wolff AC. "Wonder, Awe, and Imagination in Nursing Professional Practice Education." Nurs Philosophy 2026 Apr;27(2):e70088. doi: 10.1111/nup.70088. PMID: 42051018; PMCID: PMC13125969.
  • "Eppur Si Muove (And Yet it Moves) Revisiting Jacques Ellul's Thesis in Technology Society and a Critical, Hope-full Consideration of What's Ahead." Questioning 21st Century Technology with Jacques Ellul. Eugene: Wipf & Stock, 2025.
  • "Transference of the Transcendent in the Post-Christenedom West: A Critical and Constructive Engagement with Jacques Ellul's New Demons." Secularism and the Pursuit of Transcendence Volume 1. Hamilton: McMaster Divinity College Press, 2025.
  • "Stillness, Silence, and Prophetic Visions of God's Justice Against the Vision of a Technologically Agitated World." Awake, Emering, and Connected: Theologies of Justice from the Missing Generation. London: SCM Press, 2024.
  • “The death of a fascist does not mean the end of fascism: a storied and theological proposal for non-violent, disruptive anti-fascism.” Political Theology Network (politicaltheology.com). September 27, 2024.
  • “Birds of the Air and Winged Creatures: An Ironic Critique of Surveillance in Ecclesiastes and an Ellulian Ethic of Language, Love, Fear, and Freedom.” Philosophical Journal of Conflict and Violence Vol. VII (Issue 2/2024). https://trivent-publishing.eu/img/cms/8-%20PJCV%207-2-%20Michael%20Morelli.pdf
  • “A Theological Rationale for Competency-Based Theological Education.” Northwest Institute for Ministry Education Research. https://nimer.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Future-of-Theol-Ed-2-PDF-Pub-Copy-3.pdf
  • Desert, Wilderness, Wasteland, and Word: A New Essay by Jacques Ellul and Five Critical Reflections. Eugene: Wipf & Stock. 2023. (editor)
  • “Michael Morelli.” Générations Ellul. Soixante héritiers de la pensée de Jacques Ellul: Tome Deux (forthcoming book chapter).
  • Theology, Ethics, and Technology in the Work of Jacques Ellul and Paul Virilio. Lanham, ML: Lexington Books, 2021.
  • “What’s in a Name? Jacques Ellul’s Reading of Naming in Genesis 1–3.” Jacques Ellul and The Bible: Towards a Hermeneutic of Freedom. Eugene: Wipf and Stock, 2020.
  • "The Undivided Body: An Ecclesial Response to Surveillance Technologies and Practice. Northwest Institute for Ministry Education Research. June 2022.
  • “The Athenian Altar and The Amazonian Chatbot: A Pauline Reading of Artificial Intelligence and Apocalyptic Ends.” Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science 53, March 2019.
  • “Charlottesville vs. The Real Revolution.” Political Illusion and Reality: Engaging The Prophetic Insights of Jacques Ellul. Eugene: Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2018.
  • “Aura 2.0: The Technoscientific Return of Art’s Religious Value.” Implicit Religion 20.3, 2017, 245-257.
  • “The Judgments We Make: Justice in a Digitised World.” Granite Interdisciplinary Journal 1.1, 2017, 7-10.
  • "We're All Living in the Upside Down: Stranger Things is About the Internet's Dark Sides." Salon.com, 2016.

Courses Taught

  • KDMIN 910 - Marketplace Leadership
  • CBE 702 & 706 - Worship, History & Church Formation
  • THS 602 - Christian Ethics
  • THS 631A - Theolology of Suffering
  • CBE 501 & 651 - Theological Method
  • RELS 381A - Theology, Anthropologhy & Disability
  • PED 301 - Intro to Political Theology (micro-course)
  • CBE 201 - Intro to Theological Method
  • CBE 103 & 108 - Intro to Trinitarian Theology
  • CBE 105 - Intro Ecclesiology
  • CBE 106 - Intro to Discipleship
  • CBE 109 - Intro to Worldview

Professional

  • Associate Professor, Theology & Ethics, Northwest College and Seminary, 2025 – Present
  • Program Manger, Northwest College & Seminary, Life-Long Learning, 2024-Present
  • Adjuct Professor, Theology: Trinity Western University School of Nursing, 2025 - Present
  • Adjust Professor, Theology: Trinity Western University School of Religious Studies, 2022 - Present
  • Program Manager, CBTE, Northwest College & Seminary, 2022-2024
  • Assistant Professor, Theology & Ethics, Northwest College & Seminary, 2020-2025
  • Assistant Dean, Northwest College & Seminary, 2019-2022
  • Administrative Coordinator, Religion and Surveillance Network, 2017-2018
  • Managing Editor, Village Church, 2013-2015
  • Worship Arts Pastor, The Port Church, 2011-2013

Interests

  • Theological ethics, how God changes the realities that make up our existence
  • Theology, morality, culture, politics, technology, medical ethics, and disability
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