Tony Amoury Alkhoury
Field of Study: Practical Theology | Religion and Education
Contact Info: [email protected]
Education:
ThM: Fuller Theological Seminary
MDiv: Harvard University
MSc in Clinical and Hospital Pharmacy: Damascus University
BSc in Pharmacy and Medicinal Chemistry: Al-Baath University
Background
Tony, originally from Homs, Syria, grew up in a Syrian Orthodox family. From a young age, he was deeply drawn to understanding God, participating in various Orthodox and Catholic denominations in Homs. By the age of eighteen, Tony identified as an evangelical Christian. Over the years, he faced personal challenges that led him on a profound journey of questioning and spiritual rediscovery. Today, Tony embraces an ecumenical Christian identity, appreciating multiple Christian traditions.
Professionally, Tony spent a decade in Syria as a Clinical Assistant Professor in Pharmacy and Clinical Pharmacist. Beyond his medical profession, he pursued his passion by serving as a church youth leader. In 2016, Tony moved to the U.S. to further his theological studies. He completed his MDiv degree from Harvard University in 2019 and was honored to deliver the commencement speech.
At Harvard, Tony’s dedication to teaching earned him the Excellence in Teaching award twice. Additionally, he was one of the six recipients of the distinguished Hopkins Shareholder Award, recognizing his outstanding ministerial potential. Post-Harvard, Tony pursued a ThM in Practical Theology at Fuller Seminary. Presently, he is conducting research at UTS under the supervision of Dr. Mary C. Boys.
Research Topic
Tony’s primary research interest lies in the exploration of a “practical theology of discernment” within the Syrian church. This approach examines discernment as both an act of paying attention and a process of discerning God’s will in decision-making. It raises critical questions about what, when, and how people in the Syrian context during the war are paying attention, and what they are not attending to. Furthermore, it explores how the paradoxes of knowing and unknowing, revelation and mystery, influence paying attention as a form of discernment. Tony’s research delves into what it means to remain attentive when this attentiveness often exposes individuals to ongoing trauma and pain. It questions how attentiveness can be sustained, and when it should not be, especially when distraction, numbness, and detachment become necessary coping mechanisms in times of conflict. At its core, this practical theology seeks to develop a framework that is rooted in the church’s biblical and theological commitments and is aimed at liberating both its members and the wider Syrian society.
Teaching Experience at Union: FE 103 – Field Education Seminar