Certificate in Applied Positive Psychology. University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 2026

​

Diploma in Advanced Theological Studies Nashotah House Theological Seminary, Nashotah, WI, 2025

​

Master of Arts—Christian Spiritual Formation and Leadership
Friends University, Wichita, KS, 2020

 

Doctor of Ministry—Spiritual Formation
Lincoln Christian University, Lincoln, IL, 2018

 

Doctor of Philosophy—Biblical Theology: New Testament
Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL, 2008

 

Master of Divinity. Lincoln Christian Seminary, Lincoln, IL, 1998

 

Bachelor of Science—Mathematics and Philosophy. University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI, 1986

Peter Spychalla serves as Associate Professor of New Testament and Spiritual Formation at Urbana Theological Seminary, teaching biblical Greek, New Testament, and spiritual formation. He enjoys equipping students with tools and skills for nuanced, faithful interpretation of Scripture, and applying these skills in New Testament book study courses.

As a trained spiritual director, Dr. Spychalla has special passion for leading students to experience God more deeply in exploring transformative discipleship practices. His diverse training and experience in Protestant, Anglican, and Roman Catholic faith streams enables him to lead students in adapting and appropriating historic faith practices of the broad, classical Church in Scripture-normed, Christ-centered ways.

​

Dr. Spychalla’s courses are highly-dialogical, interactive, and wed academic rigor and practical application. Key courses he teaches include “Reading and Praying Scripture for Spiritual Transformation (lectio divina)” and “Solitude and Silence.” He recently offered the course “Praying the Psalms.”

​

Dr. Spychalla himself remains an enthusiastic life-long student and practitioner of all things pertaining to Christian spirituality and human flourishing. He recently completed a program in applied positive psychology and is pursuing further Ignatian spirituality studies and Benedictine spirituality studies. He is a bridge-builder and guide to the best of diverse, historic Christian discipleship.