WJ de Kock

Wynand Johannes de Kock (ThD, University of South Africa) is Professor of Practical Theology at Palmer Theological Seminary at Eastern University in Philadelphia. He is married to Marian Bosch and has two daughters, Carmen and Zoé. His best canine friend is Archie, who takes him on an early morning walk every day.

He is the creator of an innovative approach to teaching theology called the Openseminary (openseminary.com), a platform designed to make serious theological education accessible beyond traditional institutional walls. His ministry spans three decades, three continents, in local churches, non-profit organisations, and universities, colleges, and seminaries.

He is the author of Out of My Mind: Following the Trajectory of God's Redemptive Story (2014), On Being in the Middle: Doing Theology in the Face of Uncertainty (2024), and Embodied Wisdom (2025) as well as numerous academic journal articles, book chapters, and essays. His work has been engaged by leading scholars in the field of post-colonial theology. He writes regularly on theology, culture, and Christian formation at his Substack,

A regular speaker at national and international theological conferences, Wynand brings a pastoral heart and a scholar's mind to questions of faith, practice, and life in the Spirit. He has a deep love of the arts and enjoys painting, building things, roasting coffee, writing, and engaging with his graduate and post-graduate students — and above all, seeing women and men equipped to make space for life as followers of Jesus.