Interim Pastor, Claremont Presbyterian Church, Claremont, CA
Dr. Duane R. Bidwell is a distinguished scholar, educator, and spiritual care practitioner with over 30 years of experience in ministry, higher education, and the nonprofit sector. Dr. Bidwell holds a Ph.D. and a Master of Divinity from Brite Divinity School. He is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and has held faculty positions at Claremont School of Theology, where he was a professor of practical theology, spiritual care, and counseling from 2010 to 2022. His clinical experience includes roles as a trauma chaplain, pastoral counselor, and spiritual director.
An advocate for interfaith dialogue, Dr. Bidwell’s research interests encompass health professions education, leadership, medical humanism, psychotherapy, and spirituality. He is particularly noted for his work on Buddhist-Christian studies and the experiences of spiritually fluid individuals.
Dr. Bidwell has authored several influential books, including:
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When One Religion Isn’t Enough: The Lives of Spiritually Fluid People (2018), a Christian Century bestseller and a Library Journal “Best Book of 2018.”
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After the Worst Day Ever: What Sick Kids Know About Sustaining Hope in Chronic Illness (2024), which explores how children with end-stage kidney disease understand and cultivate hope in the midst of illness.
His work has been featured by National Public Radio, CNN, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Interfaith Radio, the Utne Reader, and various podcasts. Dr. Bidwell is a former board member of the Taos Institute and serves on the editorial board of the International Journal of Collaborative-Dialogic Practices.
