John Hougen BA, MDiv., PhD

An ordained pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, John has served in both parish and university settings. His academic work has been focused on the intersection of spirituality and the arts. He has been a docent at the Philadelphia Museum of Art since 2006, leading tours of the permanent collection and several special exhibits, including “Rembrandt and the Face of Jesus” and, most recently, “Modern Times: American Art 1910 –1950.”

As a consultant for Interfaith Philadelphia, he has coordinated the Zones of Peace initiative of the Religious Leaders Council of Greater Philadelphia and provides leadership for The Art of Interfaith Understanding, facilitating retreats and tour / discussions at the PMA, contemplating art and increasing interfaith understanding through encounters with art from the world’s religions.

His publications include hymn texts, prayers, articles, and 4 books, most notably Ecstasy within Discipline: The Poetry of Richard Wilbur; and Down to Earth, Lenten Meditations on the Mind of Christ. He was a participant in the 2016 pilgrimage to Assisi and is eager to return.