The Reverend Christopher Berry is a linguist and philologist who has worked on the translations of many of extra-canonical texts along with working with a team of international scholars who are charged with establishing the historical setting and significance of each of these texts to the early Christian community and the world.
Pr. Berry currently serves as the Interim Bridge Pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Boulder, CO. He has served there since June 2019. Prior to that he served as the intentional interim pastor at Lutheran Church of the Resurrection in Granite Bay, CA and Saint Paul Lutheran Church in Oakland, CA following a two-year interim at Trinity Lutheran Church in Pleasanton, CA. He previously served as the Lutheran Campus Pastor at Western Washington University for 21 years, where he also served as the Director of the Shalom Center, an interfaith religious center at Western. While serving in his last four interim positions, Pr. Berry served on the board of directors for the National Association of Lutheran Interim Pastors (NALIP) for two years and on the Sierra Pacific Synod - ELCA Interim Ministry Steering Committee for five years as well as having served as a mentor for several new interim pastors.
His doctoral work was in Ancient Semitic Languages at the Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago where he specialized in Ancient Syriac, Aramaic, Ugarit and Hebrew. He has also been named as a visiting scholar, visiting professor or fellow at various universities and research centers throughout the world, including Hebrew University, the Pontifical Biblical Institute, University of Nice, University of Ontario, and the Smithsonian Institute and Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C..
His previous work has included translations of Genesis 1-11 with an emphasis on the creation narratives. He has done extensive research and lecturing on the topic of the misuse of sacred texts to perpetuate sexism in Western society. His translations and commentary on sacred texts of Judaism and Christianity as they purportedly relate to same-gender relationships are used all over the world by those who support inclusivity in the church. His most recent work has centered around the “Q” source to the synoptic gospels and a new translation of the Sermon on the Mount as well as serving on numerous peer review committees.
Since 2002 he has served in various capacities in working to end violence among young people as a senior fellow and lead instructor for various institutions. His work, along with others, has been instrumental in working to end bullying and harassment among young people. This work has been nation-wide in its scope and is the basis of many non-profits in their working with young people. He also has been a tireless advocate and trainer in diversity training, boundaries workshops and conflict resolution work in church groups, classrooms and businesses.
Chris is an avid photographer. His current passion combines his work in linguistics with his love of backpacking and photography as he and two other scholars explore links between Ancestral Puebloans in the Southwestern United States and civilizations in the Ancient Near East. He loves to fish, especially with his four sons. He is an accomplished fly fishing rod builder. For over twenty- five years he was a soccer referee, referee instructor and referee assessor. He has also been a mentor to countless soccer officials all over the country.
He is a voracious reader of many different types of literature ranging from Ancient Near Eastern texts to suspense novels. He is rarely caught anywhere without his current books or Kindle in his hand or in his briefcase.
Pr. Berry currently serves as the Interim Bridge Pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Boulder, CO. He has served there since June 2019. Prior to that he served as the intentional interim pastor at Lutheran Church of the Resurrection in Granite Bay, CA and Saint Paul Lutheran Church in Oakland, CA following a two-year interim at Trinity Lutheran Church in Pleasanton, CA. He previously served as the Lutheran Campus Pastor at Western Washington University for 21 years, where he also served as the Director of the Shalom Center, an interfaith religious center at Western. While serving in his last four interim positions, Pr. Berry served on the board of directors for the National Association of Lutheran Interim Pastors (NALIP) for two years and on the Sierra Pacific Synod - ELCA Interim Ministry Steering Committee for five years as well as having served as a mentor for several new interim pastors.
His doctoral work was in Ancient Semitic Languages at the Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago where he specialized in Ancient Syriac, Aramaic, Ugarit and Hebrew. He has also been named as a visiting scholar, visiting professor or fellow at various universities and research centers throughout the world, including Hebrew University, the Pontifical Biblical Institute, University of Nice, University of Ontario, and the Smithsonian Institute and Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C..
His previous work has included translations of Genesis 1-11 with an emphasis on the creation narratives. He has done extensive research and lecturing on the topic of the misuse of sacred texts to perpetuate sexism in Western society. His translations and commentary on sacred texts of Judaism and Christianity as they purportedly relate to same-gender relationships are used all over the world by those who support inclusivity in the church. His most recent work has centered around the “Q” source to the synoptic gospels and a new translation of the Sermon on the Mount as well as serving on numerous peer review committees.
Since 2002 he has served in various capacities in working to end violence among young people as a senior fellow and lead instructor for various institutions. His work, along with others, has been instrumental in working to end bullying and harassment among young people. This work has been nation-wide in its scope and is the basis of many non-profits in their working with young people. He also has been a tireless advocate and trainer in diversity training, boundaries workshops and conflict resolution work in church groups, classrooms and businesses.
Chris is an avid photographer. His current passion combines his work in linguistics with his love of backpacking and photography as he and two other scholars explore links between Ancestral Puebloans in the Southwestern United States and civilizations in the Ancient Near East. He loves to fish, especially with his four sons. He is an accomplished fly fishing rod builder. For over twenty- five years he was a soccer referee, referee instructor and referee assessor. He has also been a mentor to countless soccer officials all over the country.
He is a voracious reader of many different types of literature ranging from Ancient Near Eastern texts to suspense novels. He is rarely caught anywhere without his current books or Kindle in his hand or in his briefcase.