Matthew Tennant

Matthew Aaron Tennant (born June 17, 1973) is an American academic and Baptists (Christianity) who is Senior Minister of University Baptist Church, Charlottesville, Virginia. 
== Biography ==
Matthew Tennant was born on Father's Day, June 17, 1973, in Killeen, TX. He is the second child of Robert Tennant and Joyce Tennant (née Biscomb) and grew up in Clawson, Michigan and Roanoke, Virginia|Roanoke, VA. 
== Ministry ==
While Senior Minister of Kilmarnock Baptist Church, Tennant participated in Ecumenism worship services and led mission trips to Haiti. Of the multiple mission trips to Haiti, he said, "At Kilmarnock Baptist Church, we seek to reflect God's love in our community and around the world. Through the BGAV partnership with the Source of Light, we can connect with the children and share God's love with them. Sometimes, we share this love with a song or story. Other times, we share it with a hug. We can all do something. We are taking a long view toward Haiti and the orphanage. Getting to know the children has been transformational for our congregation. Many of the same people return to the orphanage each year." 
During a snow storm, he "led worship in blue jeans and snow boots" and was able to keep the church's radio broadcast live.
In 2017, Tennant helped promote the Polar Plunge for the Northern Neck YMCA.
On March 17, 2020, Tennant addressed the impact of COVID-19 on churches as the pandemic began. During the 2020 election, Tennant was a speaker for Compassionate Christianity on "Faith, Hope, and Love During an Election."
== Controversy ==
During his sermon on November 14, 2021, Tennant listed various examples of "bad news" in the world. In the list, he said, “A white teenaged vigilante traveled from Illinois to Wisconsin with an assault rifle and killed two Black protestors is on trial in Kenosha, Wisconsin.” Radio host Jeff Schillings responded with a story "Crooked cross: Charlottesville 'pastor' lies about Kyle Rittenhouse (twice) in Sunday sermon." Baptist News Global reported on the incident. Tennant apologized for the inaccurate statement in the church newsletter the following Tuesday.https://universitybaptist.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/2021-11-16.pdf
== Publications ==
=== Books ===
Crossing the Lines We Draw (Valley Forge, PA: Judson Press, 2020)
The Work of the Church Treasurer (Valley Forge, PA: Judson Press, 2017)
Preaching in Plenty and in Want (Valley Forge, PA: Judson Press, 2011)
=== Peer Reviewed Articles ===
“Hall in dialogue with Segundo on human rights.” American Baptist Quarterly 28.4 (Fall 2009).
“Early Christian eschatology & interfaith dialogue.” In Religion beyond its Private Role in Modern Society, ed. van der Kooij and Hofstee (Leiden: Brill, 2013).
“John Clifford’s theological understanding of socialism.” In Baptist Historical Society Centenary Conference, edited by John H. Y. Briggs (Milton Keynes: Paternoster, 2010).
“The existential dimension of Juan Luis Segundo's ecclesiology.” Ecclesiology 12.2 (Spring 2016).
=== Popular Articles ===
"Andrew Cuomo, #MeToo, and hypocrisy" Baptist News Global, August 9, 2021
"How do we know God?" Progressive Christianity, March 10, 2021
"Crossing the lines we draw: Will our response to this pandemic unite or further divide us?" Baptist News Global, May 26, 2020
"Out of context: misunderstanding Romans 13" Baptist News Global, June 20, 2018
"The nation is grappling with mass gun killings. Why is the BGAV focused on human sexuality?" Baptist News Global, February 27, 2018
"Kneel or stand? A consideration of ‘imago Dei’" Baptist News Global, September 25, 2017
"Redefining evangelism: It’s not ‘us versus them’" Baptist News Global, July 13, 2017
"Measurable data misses the point of a community of faith" Baptist News Global, May 25, 2017
"Gender wage gap: A justice issue for the Church" Baptist News Global, January 26, 2017
"Barth, Church and migrants in Calais" Baptist News Global, November 6, 2016
"One Christian’s response to the first presidential debate" Baptist News Global, September 27, 2016
"How can a person find contentment in this age of cynicism?" Baptist News Global, August 31, 2016
"Rethinking short-term missions" Baptist News Global, August 3, 2016
Category:1973 births 
Category:American academics
Category:Baptist ministers