Christine Svinth-Værge Põder

Primary fields of research

Dialectical theology, particularly Karl Barth's theology and theological method,Luther's theology, lutheran theology in the 20th century, particularly the German Lutherrenaissance, Karl Holl, Rudolf Hermann, Regin Prenter. Foundational theology. Dogmatical topoi: Christology, reconciliation, justification, creation, hamartiology, ecclesiology, sacraments. Method in dogmatics, hereunder the relation between "law and gospel" as hermeneutical distinction (resp. between dogmatics and ethics), orientation- context- and practice-hermeneutical approaches, drawing also on feminist, postcolonial and liberation theological insights, green transition as case for these approaches.

Current research

• Political theologies in the Weimar Period and during reformation and their affinity to apocalyptic perspectives (Karl Barth,  Karl Holl, Emanuel Hirsch)
• Ideas of the sacraments in Reformation theology
• The reception of Luther's early theology in the German Lutherrenaissance with particular regard to negative thought figures in Luther's Lectures on the Romans and their significance for lutheran doctrine of justification in the 20th century. Problems and potentials. Focus on Karl Holl's existence-dialectical approach to assurance of faith (variations of "resignatio ad infernum") and Rudolf Hermann's theology of language in his interpretation of sin and grace in Luther. 
• Lutheran theology of the cross in the 20th century (Regin Prenter and H.J. Iwand and theology of the cross in contemporary contextual theology (feminist, postcolonial, liberation and eco-theology). Theology of the cross and hemeneuics of orientation
• Karl Barth's theology, theological method and implicit rhetorical strategy

CV

Employment

2021-               Head of Section for Systematic Theology, The Faculty of Theology, University of Copenhagen

2018-                Associate professor at Systematic Theology Section, The Faculty of Theology, University of Copenhagen

2013-2018       Professor mso (with special responsibilities) at Systematic Theology Section , The Faculty of Theology, University of Copenhagen

2008-2012       Carlsberg Foundation Postdoc scholarship at Section for Systematic Theology, The Faculty of Theology, Aarhus University

2002-2006       PhD-scholarship at Section for Systematic Theology, The Faculty of Theology, Aarhus University

Education

2025                 Flex-modul course: Personal leadership communication

2023                 PDR-course for leaders

2020-               Ongoing participation in various short courses/ workshops on leading, teaching, supervision

2019                   Leading Research – a leadership course (3 modules, each 1-2 days), LUKU, Leadership Development at UCPH

2015-2016         The Teaching and Learning in Higher Education Programme (Universitetspædagogikum), TEACH, University of Copenhagen

2014-              Ongoing participation in various short courses/ workshops on leading, teaching, supervision

2007                PhD, Section for Systematic Theology, Faculty of Theology, Aarhus University

2002-2007       PhD-student, Section for Systematic Theology, Faculty of Theology, Aarhus University

2001-2003       Visiting scholar at Theologische Fakultät, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Germany

2001                Cand. theol from Faculty of Theology, Aarhus University

1992-2001       Student of Theology at Aarhus University, including a year as exchange student at Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Germany, one semester at Institute for Art History at Aarhus University, and 10 months’ study at the University of Tartu, Estonia

Periods of maternity leave

2004-2005        (12 months)

2008-2009        (12 months)

Academic awards

PhD-prize of the Aarhus University Research Foundation, 2008, for the dissertation Doxological Hiddenness: The Fundamental Theological Significance of Prayer in Karl Barth's Work (Berlin: De Gruyter 2009)

Organisational contributions to the Faculty of Theology and the University of Copenhagen

2023-               Member of advisory board for DEI (diversity, equality, inclusion) at UCPH

2022                 Participant in KUUR’s education strategy work, Mission Group on content, learning and wellbeing

2021-2027        Head of Systematic Theology Section, The Faculty of Theology, University of Copenhagen and PhD-coordinator at section

2020                 Chair of assessment committee for a PhD-dissertation (Kerstin Wimmer)

2017-2021        Editorship of TEOL-information (journal of the Faculty of Theology, University of Copenhagen)

2017-2021        Editorship of the Publications of the Faculty of Theology, University of Copenhagen

2017                 Chair of assessment committee for a PhD-dissertation (Mikkel Christoffersen)

2017-2018        Chair of committee for dropout and unemployment at the Faculty of Theology (Board of Studies)

2015-2021        Member of Board of Studies, alternate

2014-15            Chair, Teologisk Forening

Contributions to the national and international research environment, incl. assessment committees, memberships of boards and editorships

2025                 External expert assessment of applications for a position as professor for Systematic Theology at the Faculty of Protestant Theology, the University of Vienna

2025                 Membership of assessment committee for a PhD-dissertation (Anna Jeppesen, Aarhus Universitet)

2024                 External expert assessment of 8 applications for a position as associate professor for Systematic Theology at the Department of Literature, History of Ideas and Religion, University of Göteborg

2024                 Membership of assessment committee for a PhD-dissertation (Filip Rasmussen MF, Oslo)

2022-                Member of Steering Committee of the Luther-Akademie Ratzeburg        

2022                 Membership of assessment committee for a PhD-dissertation (Daniel Hames, Free University of Amsterdam)

2020-2021        Planning and conducting international workshop European Crisis and Reorientation, October        2021 (funded by CEMES)

2020-               Member of editorial board of Svensk Teologisk Kvartalsskrift

2019-               Member of planning committee for the 20^th Nordic Conference on Systematic Theology (2022)

2019-                Member of advisory board, Kerygma und Dogma

2018-               Member of advisory board, Dansk Teologisk Tidsskrift

2017                 Coordinator of conference seminar at the 13. International Congress for Luther Research, Wittenberg

2016-2019        Member of planning committee for the 19^th Nordic Conference on Systematic Theology (2019)

2009-2024        Member of editorial board of Usuteaduslik Ajakiri, Akadeemiline Teoloogia Selts (Journal of Theology, Society of Academic Theology, Tartu University)

Collaboration with external institutions, societal impact, nationally and internationally

2024-                Content editor (fagansvarlig) at the Danish National Encyclopedia (lex.dk)

2022-                Participant in LWF’s Lutheran Confessions project

2021-                Appointed expert in judicial processing of clerical teaching cases at the district courts and the Eastern and Western High Courts

2021-               Faculty representative in the assessment committee of the Education and Knowledge Centre of the Danish National Church

2014                 Consultation between CPCE and the Anglican churches