Duane R. Bidwell

Duane Bidwell is an award-winning teacher, mentor, trainer, and writer who explores comparative approaches to mental health and spirituality, educational leadership, and Buddhist-Christian studies. He and his wife live in Southern California. On March 19, 2024, Beacon Press releases his new book, "After the Worst Day Ever: What Sick Kids Know About Sustaining Hope in Chronic Illness." It explores childhood hope from the perspectives of 48 children living with end-stage renal disease. His previous book with Beacon, "When One Religion Isn't Enough: The Lives of Spiritually Fluid People," was named a Library Journal "Best Book - 2018" and is a Christian Century best seller. In addition to the books for sale on Amazon, Duane edited "Spirituality, Social Construction, and Relational Processes: Essays and Reflections" (Worldshare Books, 2016). Professionally, Duane is a faculty member of the Center for Health Professions Education, Hébert School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. He serves on the board of the Society for Buddhist-Christian Studies. From 2016-2023, he served on the board of The Taos Institute. From 2010-2022, Duane was a professor at Claremont School of Theology, and from 2010-2019 provided spiritually integrative psychotherapy and spiritual direction at The Clinebell Institute for Pastoral Counseling and Psychotherapy. He is a clinical Fellow of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors and a minister of the Presbyterian Church (USA). From 2008-2013, he co-edited "The Journal of Pastoral Theology." He also co-directed "Beyond Apologetics: Sexual Identity, Pastoral Theology, and Pastoral Practice," a research project of 13 scholars constructing the next generation of thought and practice for spiritual care with the GLBTQI community. In his off time, Duane hikes the San Gabriel mountains with his family and friends, grows native California plants, trains bonsai, and eats and reads voraciously. He volunteers as a fire lookout in the San Bernardino Mountains. From 2007-2009, he served on the faculty of Phillips Theological Seminary in Tulsa, and from 2002-2007 he directed the Pastoral Care and Training Center, an accredited pastoral counseling center at Brite Divinity School in Fort Worth. He has served as a parish pastor, pastoral counselor, spiritual director, hospital chaplain, and director of an interfaith HIV/AIDS agency.