Dave Bookless

Dave Bookless was born in Kolkata and lived in India until aged 10 when he moved to England with his family. He has worked as a teacher and lecturer in multifaith Bradford, a vicar in multiracial Southall, as Founding Director of A Rocha UK and, since 2011, as Director of Theology for A Rocha International. A Rocha is a global family of Christian organizations which, inspired by God’s love, engages in scientific research, environmental education and community-based conservation projects in more than 20 countries and across six continents. (www.arocha.org).

Dave's passion is living and communicating Christian faith in ways that reflect the full biblical Gospel, and speak to contemporary cultures. As well as working as A Rocha International's Director for Theology, Dave serves as a Creation Care Catalyst for the Lausanne Movement (https://lausanne.org), serves on the Church of England’s Environment Working Group, and is Associate Minister of St Mary's Church, Norwood Green, Southall. Dave's PhD (Cambridge, 2019) examiend 'Why should wild nature be preserved? A dialogue between Biblical Theology and Biodiversity Conservation'.

Dave has spoken in 40+ countries across 6 continents on environmental issues and Christian faith. He writes widely on faith and environment, and also on inter-faith relations. One of his books, 'Planetwise' (IVP, 2008), a basic introduction to the bible and environment, has been translated into Chinese, Dutch, French, German, Korean and Spanish. His autobiography, 'God Doesn't do Waste' (IVP, 2010) was chosen as a 'book of the year' by Third Way magazine. Dave has contributed chapters to over 20 other books, including 'The Bible and Wildlife Conservation' in the 'Oxford Handbook of the Bible and Ecology' (OUP, 2022), and (with others) 'Faith in the West? Engaging Christian groups in conservation in secular western societies' in 'Religion and Nature Conservation: Global Case Studies' (Routledge, 2021).