Marco Derks

Marco Derks (1980) is a Dutch theologian and essayist. Regularly he does some free-lance jobs as well. He devotes his spare time to the writing of academic or semi-academic publications, and hopes to get the chance to work on a PhD dissertation at some point. He is chair of the Dutch Society of Queer Theologians and managing editor of Michsjol (a journal on theology, culture and politics). He is a member of the Old-Catholic Church in the Netherlands.

Marco holds two academic degrees in Theology (MA, Theological University Kampen, 2006; MPhil, The University of Manchester, 2009). He has worked as project manager on the social inclusion of gays and lesbians within Christian circles (LKP, CHJC and ContrariO, 2009-2012), as confirmation class teacher (Reformed Church of Zwolle-Noord, 2006-2007), as freelance translator, editor and proof-reader (Kok Publishing Kampen, 2006-2009), as part-time teacher in philosophy (Greijdanus College Zwolle, 2007), as part-time teacher in Religious Education (Veluws College Walterbosch Apeldoorn, 2009), and as guest lecturer in Pastoral Care (Reformed College of Higher Education Zwolle, 2006). He is a former editor and co-editor in chief of the Christian multidisciplinary journal Radix.

The articles, essays, columns, and reviews he has written are on issues in Theology, Church and Culture. He has special interest in the fields of Augustinian Studies, Christology, Christian Ethics, Cultural Analysis, Gender Studies, Film Analysis, Pastoral Theology, Queer Theory/Theology, Radical Theologies (esp. Radical Orthodoxy) and Theological Anthropology. His publications include two edited volumes and contributions to edited volumes, journals, websites, and newspapers. Other publications are in preparation and he is pleased to write for other media, especially international journals. Although this website is mainly in English, his publications so far have all been written in Dutch - hopefully this will change in the years to come.

Academic references

“A highly intelligent person (and) an extremely able student who could make a significant contribution to scholarship both in English and Dutch.”

Prof. Graham Ward

Head of the School of Arts, Histories and Cultures

Professor of Contextual Theology and Ethics

The University of Manchester (UK)

"Marco brings sharp intelligence and imaginative flair to his academic work, rereading the Christian tradition in ways that are both faithful and creative. He produces that rare thing: incisive work which is both relevant and scholarly."

Prof. Gerard Loughlin

Professor of Theology and Religion

Durham University (UK)

“Marco possesses high academic qualities. He matches a consciousness of being rooted in his own tradition with the capacity to ask critical questions to this tradition and to innovate it. That means that he engages into open dialogue with other traditions and approaches. He is able to give clear analyses of complex theological matters and is continuously searching for the actual relevance of these matters.”

Prof. Ruard Ganzevoort

Professor of Practical Theology

VU University Amsterdam (NL)

“Marco is an exceptionally talented young academic: he is analytical, thorough, and independent, but also a typical team-player with many practical skills -- and the willingness to learn from others.”

Dr. David Bos

Lecturer in History of Christianity / Lecturer in Historical Sociology

Utrecht University (NL) / University of Amsterdam (NL)

“Marco is able to give a good analysis of theories he has studied, he is open-minded, he has much sensitivity for themes that are relevant in the spiritual and social context of our times, he does his research in a structured way and is able to give a very clear report of his research.”

Prof. Barend Kamphuis

Professor of Systematic Theology

Theological University Kampen (NL)

“Marco is intelligent, eager, able to reason and formulate, and has the ambition to present products of his studies.”

Prof. Ad de Bruijne

Professor of Christian Ethics and Spirituality

Theological University Kampen (NL)