Marty Folsom

Marty Folsom lives in the vibrant state of Washington. He completed his PhD at the University of Otago in New Zealand. He has taught in New Zealand and several Seattle-area schools for 30 years and has maintained a counseling practice for almost three decades. He is an academic who believes that learning needs to be accessible and practical. He and his wife have extensive gardens and a blended family of six, and Marty is an avid cook.

Dr. Folsom is a Relational Theologian. This affirms that God speaks and reveals the life of God in relationship, and that this life extends to humans and supports human flourishing. All God does is to nurture whole relationships. Consequently, our understanding of human community and personal relating derives from knowing God and participating in life together.

His trio of Face to Face books discusses the nature of personal relationships. They are packed with practical insight, as well as personal stories to guide the process of discovery. The first two books discuss what is missing in our relationship and how the relational life works. These books are like Martin Luther's 95 Theses: they present what needs to be discussed and changed in an increasingly impersonal, individualistic world. The third is a profound relational theology that invites us to share God's life.

These are excellent books for discussion groups, small-group studies, starting a conversation with a friend, or just for reading to reflect on what a meaningful life looks like when we pay attention to relationships.

Dr. Folsom is writing a 5-volume series on Karl Barth's Church Dogmatics to bring the insights of the greatest theologian of modern times to pastors, young scholars, and those wanting renewal in the world aligned with God's work. Three of this series have been released.

In addition, Dr. Folsom is writing a 5-volume series on the Psalms, each volume has 30 psalms. The first volume releases on April 7, 2026. These are expressions of Relational Theology, explored through the Psalms in a creative, participatory engagement.

"It's all about relationships" is the theme that runs through all this author's works. Understanding God, our connecting with God and one another, and our own growth as persons all focus on this relational connection shaped with others.

Dr. Folsom lives as a bridge between the academy, the church, and the world. He brings the voices of God to be heard by those who will listen, clarified by great thinkers, to address the concerns of our times. He brings human questions to the academy to gain deep insight into strategies for fulfilling relationships.