The Torrance family includes several prominent modern Scottish theologians and clergymen, primarily associated with the

Church of Scotland The Church of Scotland (CoS; ; ) is a Presbyterian denomination of Christianity that holds the status of the national church in Scotland. It is one of the country's largest, having 245,000 members in 2024 and 259,200 members in 2023. While mem ...

. The patriarch of the Torrance family of theologians is Thomas Torrance (1871–1959), a Scottish missionary to China. He was the father of Mary, Thomas F., Grace, Margaret,

James James may refer to: People * James (given name) * James (surname) * James (musician), aka Faruq Mahfuz Anam James, (born 1964), Bollywood musician * James, brother of Jesus * King James (disambiguation), various kings named James * Prince Ja ...

, and

David David (; , "beloved one") was a king of ancient Israel and Judah and the third king of the United Monarchy, according to the Hebrew Bible and Old Testament. The Tel Dan stele, an Aramaic-inscribed stone erected by a king of Aram-Dam ...

. The first generation after Thomas Torrance include: * Thomas Forsyth (T. F.) Torrance (1913–2007) – Late Church of Scotland minister and influential theologian who was Professor of Christian Dogmatics at

New College, Edinburgh New College is a historic building at the The University of Edinburgh, University of Edinburgh which houses the university's School of Divinity. It is one of the largest and most renowned centres for studies in Theology and Religious studies, R ...

, the

University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh (, ; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in Post-nominal letters, post-nominals) is a Public university, public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Founded by the City of Edinburgh Council, town council under th ...

. * James (J. B.) Torrance (1923–2003) – Late Church of Scotland minister and Professor of Systematic Theology,

University of Aberdeen The University of Aberdeen (abbreviated ''Aberd.'' in List of post-nominal letters (United Kingdom), post-nominals; ) is a public university, public research university in Aberdeen, Scotland. It was founded in 1495 when William Elphinstone, Bis ...

. Younger brother of Thomas Torrance. * David W. Torrance (born 1924) – Church of Scotland minister and youngest son of the Torrance family. * Ronald Wallace (1911–2006) – Late Professor of Biblical Theology at

Columbia Theological Seminary Columbia Theological Seminary is a Presbyterian seminary in Decatur, Georgia. It is one of ten theological institutions affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA). History Columbia Theological Seminary was founded in 1828 in Lexington, Geor ...

. He was married to Mary. His son-in-law,

George Newlands George McLeod Newlands is a Scottish theologian widely published in the fields of modern systematic theology, Christology, emancipatory theology, and the history of Christian thought. He is Emeritus Professor of Divinity, Glasgow, Professor of D ...

, was also an academic theologian. * Kenneth Mackenzie (1920 - 1971), missionary in Central Africa with his wife, Margaret Torrance. Well-known second generation theologians of the Torrance family include: * Iain Richard Torrance (born 1949) – President and Professor of Patristics Emeritus at

Princeton Theological Seminary Princeton Theological Seminary (PTSem), officially The Theological Seminary of the Presbyterian Church, is a Private university, private seminary, school of theology in Princeton, New Jersey, Princeton, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Establish ...

and a former

Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland The moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland is the minister or elder chosen to moderate (chair) the annual General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, which is held for a week in Edinburgh every year. After chairing the Ass ...

. Son of Thomas F. Torrance. *

Alan Torrance Alan Torrance (born 1956) is a Scottish theologian, academic and ordained minister of the Church of Scotland. Torrance was ordained as a minister in the Church of Scotland in 1984. His academic career began at the Knox Theological Hall and the Un ...

(born 1956) –

Emeritus ''Emeritus/Emerita'' () is an honorary title granted to someone who retires from a position of distinction, most commonly an academic faculty position, but is allowed to continue using the previous title, as in "professor emeritus". In some c ...

Professor of Systematic Theology at St Mary's College, the

University of St Andrews The University of St Andrews (, ; abbreviated as St And in post-nominals) is a public university in St Andrews, Scotland. It is the List of oldest universities in continuous operation, oldest of the four ancient universities of Scotland and, f ...

. Son of James Torrance. Theologically active members of the Torrance family's third generation are: * Andrew Torrance -

Professor Professor (commonly abbreviated as Prof.) is an Academy, academic rank at university, universities and other tertiary education, post-secondary education and research institutions in most countries. Literally, ''professor'' derives from Latin ...

of Theology and co-founder (with his father, Alan) of the Logos Institute for Analytic and Exegetical Theology at the

. * David Torrance -

Missionary A missionary is a member of a Religious denomination, religious group who is sent into an area in order to promote its faith or provide services to people, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care, and economic development.Thoma ...

with the

Church Mission Society The Church Mission Society (CMS), formerly known as the Church Missionary Society, is a British Anglican mission society working with Christians around the world. Founded in 1799, CMS has attracted over nine thousand men and women to serve as ...

serving in

Tanzania Tanzania, officially the United Republic of Tanzania, is a country in East Africa within the African Great Lakes region. It is bordered by Uganda to the northwest; Kenya to the northeast; the Indian Ocean to the east; Mozambique and Malawi to t ...

as a theological educator. Son of Alan Torrance.

References

{{Reflist Scottish families