And the Award Goes To...

I love making lists... So recently I decided to do sort of an awards show in my head for all my favorite theologians in their respective fields (nerdy is an understatement). I made a list of my "favorite" (read most influential, most respected, go-to) theologians. I decided to keep it narrowed down to people who I've read (though I am sure that there are many who should be on the list whom I have not yet read) and people who are still currently living.

Biblical theology:

• Walter Brueggemann 
• Tom Wright 
• J.D. Crossan 
• Scott McKnight 
• Marcus Borg 
• F.F. Bruce
• Bruce Metzger
• James Dunn

Ecclesiology:

• Leonard Sweet
• Kenda Creasy Dean
• Brian McLaren 
• Scott McKnight
• Andrew Root 
• Tony Jones
• Doug Pagitt
• Phyllis Tickle 

Youth Ministry:

• Kenda Creasy Dean
• Andrew Root
• Mike King 
• Kara Powell 
• Mark Matlock 
• Jim Burns
• Amy Jacober 

Political Theology:

• Cornel West
• Desmond Tutu
• Tony Campolo 
• Jim Wallis  
• Greg Boyd 
• Stanley Hauerwas 
• William Cavanaugh 
• Ron Sider
• Julie Clawson 

For Articulation of the Gospel:

• Tom Wright
• Rob Bell
• Desmond Tutu
• Shane Claiborne 
• Gabriel Fackre 
• Dan Kimball
• Erwin McManus 

Systematic Theology:

• Daniel Migliore
• Alister McGrath
• Gabriel Fackre 
• John Stott

Spiritual Formation: 

• Dallas Willard 
• Brian McLaren 
• Tom Wright 
• Richard Foster 

Eschatology: 

• Jurgen Moltmann 
• Tom Wright 
• Barbara Rossing 
• Brian McLaren 
• Paul Boyer 

Church History: 

• Justo Gonzalez 
• Alister McGrath 
• Phillip Jenkins 
• Christopher Ocker 

Apologetics: 

• Alister McGrath
• William Placher
• Tom Wright 
• Rob Bell
• John Stott

On nonviolence:

• Stanley Hauerwas 
• Walter Wink
• Desmond Tutu
• John Dear 

This list is somewhat off-the-top-of-my-head and I'm sure it'll be in need of an update within days of my having made it but, that being said, it's a fair representation of my influences even if not a comprehensive one.  If you think there's a theological category I'm missing or somebody you know & read who needs to be on the list, lemme know.