Dr. Josh R. Ritter holds an M.Div. from McAfee School of Theology and a Ph.D. from Georgia State University in communication studies, specifically rhetorical theory and criticism and religious rhetoric. He served as a minster in various contexts for over 20 years. He taught in higher education for over 15 years, and he focused on discipleship and formation work for over 12 years while working with undergraduate, graduate, and seminary students at Baylor. He also served as a hospital chaplain and a VA chaplain. He first began attending the Episcopal church in Atlanta, GA at St. Bartholomew’s around 2005, and he has attended St. Alban’s Waco for almost 10 years where he served as Usher and Vestry member. He also led a public deliberation budget approval process and a discernment process for the Vestry there, which will conclude later this Fall. He has also served the Diocese of Texas in various ways, such as serving as a council delegate and as a workshop leader at Clergy Conference.
Dr. Ritter’s trainings and practices focus on different forms of communication, public deliberation, leadership, discipleship, spiritual formation, and deliberative theology. His primary concern in his work emphasizes the ways we love our neighbors by the ways we get to know our neighbors. He has three amazing girls, and his wife is an Associate Clinical Professor of Social Work at Baylor University. He is a contemplative Christian who enjoys learning about all types of theological diversity and exploring the many expressions of community. He views all of life as religious life because all of life is the practice of surrender and availability to God, neighbor, self, and Creation. He enjoys writing, centering prayer, and archery as contemplative spiritual practices.
