In 2010, he was honored with the Distinguished Faculty Lecturer Award from the Ecumenical Institute of Theology, acknowledging his teaching excellence and ability to inspire students.
RICHMOND, VA, June 20, 2024 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Rev. Arthur "Art" Dicken Thomas Jr., PhD, has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Dr. Thomas, an ordained United Methodist minister, has made significant contributions to church history and spirituality through his career as an educator. Affiliated with Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C., for over 30 years, he has been an adjunct professor of spirituality and church history, imparting his knowledge on the historical development of the Christian church and exploring the spiritual theology, visual arts, American religious history, spiritual classics, sacred traditions, and practices that have shaped its trajectory over centuries. He led eight Art and Spirituality tours of Europe with Catherine Kapikian, director of the Henry Luce III Center for the Arts and Religion.
In addition to his tenure at Wesley Theological Seminary, Dr. Thomas held the position of professor of Christian spirituality at The Ecumenical Institute of Theology at St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore from 1996 to 2017. St. Mary's Seminary is notably recognized as the oldest Catholic seminary in the U.S., providing a rich historical backdrop for its spirituality courses as faculty and students from Catholic and Protestant backgrounds dialogue with each other.
Besides his teaching engagements, he worked as part-time director of the Lovely Lane Museum of Baltimore (1994-2000) known for its Early American Methodist collection and exhibits. He oversaw the restoration and furnishing of the John Evans House in New Windsor, Maryland where the first Methodist class meeting in the New World gathered in 1768 under the leadership of Robert Strawbridge and Evans. Dr. Thomas's literary contributions include authoring books and articles focusing on Episcopal, Presbyterian, and Methodist history in America emphasizing the Second Great Awakening in Virginia, revivals, slavery reform, spiritual direction, Evangelicalism, and charismatic renewal.
Dr. Thomas's academic journey is marked by a series of notable achievements that have significantly contributed to his professional success. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in history and religion from the College of William and Mary in 1972, igniting his passion for history amidst Colonial Williamsburg's historic setting. He then pursued a Master of Divinity from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, graduating in 1975, and a Master of Arts in spirituality and Christian education from Wesley Theological Seminary in 1994. Dr. Thomas's academic pursuits culminated with a Doctor of Philosophy in church history from Union Presbyterian Seminary in 1981. These educational credentials have provided him with a solid foundation to explore and teach the complex interplay between church history, spirituality, and education.
Throughout his career, Dr. Thomas has been recognized for his contributions to theological education. In 2010, he was honored with the Distinguished Faculty Lecturer Award from the Ecumenical Institute of Theology, acknowledging his teaching excellence and ability to inspire students through his spiritual theology and history of spirituality lectures.
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