Rev. Lawrence Porter , Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus of Systematic Theology
Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology
(973) 761-9575
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Rev. Lawrence Porter, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus of Systematic Theology
School of Theology
The library of Immaculate Conception Seminary is a theological research library, but also is meant to assist in the preparation of men for priestly ministry in the Catholic Church. Since its foundation, this library has always had a priest as its director. Father Lawrence Porter, who served as Director of the Seminary Library through June 30, 2022, taught Systematic Theology at Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology for 32 years, from 1988-2020. During that time, he published two books in theology and 34 articles, and he served for several years as chairman of the Department of Systematic Theology.
During his time as Library Director, Father Porter built up this library's collection
of recordings of religious music and videos. The website of the Seminary Library features
two essays by Father Porter: one is his explanation of one of the works fo religious
art in this library, and the other is an essay promoting this library's collection
of recorded music for worship.
Over the years, Father Porter has mounted in the Seminary Library several displays
of historical and biblical artifacts, in its main reading room and in its rare book
room. These displays feature rare works such as an autographed letter from Bishop
Fulton Sheen and an autographed letter from Cardinal Newman. Father Porter has assembled
historical artifacts such as Roman dice and Roman nails, Roman historical artifacts
which receive prominent reference in the Bible. He has framed portraits of the Seminary
faculty over the years and featured certain faculty who made outstanding contributions
not only to this Seminary but also to their profession, either by publication or professional
assistance and professional participation in pastoral and educational works. Father
Porter is currently working on framed portrait tributes to Monsignor James Turro,
after whom Immaculate Conception Seminary's library is named, and to recently-retired
Professor Zenobia Fox.
Education
- Ph.D., M.A., Vanderbilt University
- S.T.L., S.T.B., Pontifical Faculty of the Dominican House of Studies
- M.A., Brown University
- B.A., Providence College
Scholarship
- The Assault on Priesthood, Wipf & Stock, 2012
- A Guide to the Church: Its Origin and Nature, Its Mission and Ministries, Alba House, 2008
- "Sheep and Shepherd: An Ancient Image of the Church and a Contemporary Challenge", Gregorianum 82, 51-85, January 2001
- Salt of the Earth, Homiletic and Pastoral Review XCV, 51-58, July 1995
- "The Summa Contra Gentiles III, Questions 161-165: A Rare Glimpse into the Heart as Well as the Mind of Aquinas", The Thomist 58, 245-263, October 1994
- "Principles of Collegiality from Portraits of Presbyteral Assemblies in Acts", The Jurist 51, 81-102, April 1991
- "On Keeping ‘Persons’ in the Trinity", Theological Studies 41, 530-548, September 1980
Father Porter has published 34 essays. Several appeared in theological quarterlies such as Theological Studies, The Thomist, Gregorianum, Communio, The Jurist, and American Benedictine Review. Others appeared in such pastoral journals as The Bible Today, The Saint Austin Review, and Homiletic and Pastoral Review. Some were published in such magazines as Crisis, The Priest, and The New Oxford Review.
Accomplishments
- Father Porter has been the recipient of four research grants from Seton Hall University's Research Council (1989, 1993, 1994, and 1995), and of the Provost's Award for Publication (2009), and in 2014 he was given the honor of "Researcher of the Year."