Skip navigation
Chat Apply Now Request Info Call Now
The Communication Building of Regent, a top Virginia Beach college.
Mark A. Jumper, Ph.D.
Director of Chaplaincy & Military AffairsAssociate Professor

Mark A. Jumper, Ph.D.

Bio

Dr. Mark Andrew Jumper, Texas-born and raised, is a third-generation Presbyterian minister and pastor and a retired United States Navy chaplain with 24 years of service with the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. He and his wife, Ginger, have seven children. He came to Regent in 2014. He prays to combine Biblical faithfulness, positive Reformed theology and Holy Spirit energy to equip students for fruitful service in all God’s world.

Jumper earned the Ph.D. in Humanities at Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island, with a dissertation on Justice After War. He earned an M.Div. at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia, and a B.A. in History at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He completed the Chaplain Advanced Course in Newport, Rhode Island, and earned certification as a Texas teacher (Social Studies 6-12). He also studied at the Naval War College, the University of Connecticut, the University of Oklahoma, Southeast Missouri State University, and the University of Missouri.

Jumper has served as Endorser for Chaplains for the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC) and as National Secretary for the Military Chaplains Association. He also served as moderator of the EPC presbyteries of Mid-America and Florida. He was the first pastor of Diamondhead Community Church (PCUS), Mississippi, and second pastor of Hope EPC in Grayslake, Illinois.

As director of chaplaincy at Regent, he and his team prepare students for service in all 10 functional areas of chaplaincy.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Chaplaincy Theory, Placement, and Practice
Religion, Culture, and Society
Christian History, from Ancient to Modern—including Holy Spirit Movements
Healthcare Ethics
International Ethics: War, Peace, Diplomacy, Religion
War, Peace, and Christian Faith
Theology of Worship

Credentials

B.A., History, Oral Roberts University; M.Div., Columbia Theological Seminary; Graduate, Advanced Course, Naval Chaplains School; Certified Teacher (Social Studies 8-12), State of Texas; Ph.D., Humanities, Salve Regina University

Publications

Books and Media:

Co-Editor, Chaplaincy: A Textbook, under contract with Baker Academic

Co-Editor, The Holy Spirit and the Reformation Legacy (Pickwick, 2020)

Articles for Timothy J. Demy and Jeffrey M. Shaw, editors, Religion and Contemporary Politics: A Global Encyclopedia (ABC-CLIO, 2019):

  • Boko Haram
  • Brazil
  • First Amendment Advocacy and Controversy
  • Free Exercise of Religion and the U.S. Supreme Court
  • Neuhaus, Richard John
  • Religion and U.S. Domestic Policy

“Law and Grace as Partners: An Examination of Reformed Theology” in Vinson Synan, Editor, The Truth About Grace (Charisma House, 2018)

Articles for Timothy J. Demy and Paul R. Shockley, editors, Evangelical America: An Encyclopedia of Contemporary American Religious Culture (ABC-CLIO, 2017):

  • The Bible Presbyterian Church
  • Fourth Presbyterian Church, Bethesda, Maryland
  • Halverson, Richard
  • Regent University

Articles for Jeffrey M. Shaw and Timothy J. Demy, editors, War and Religion: An Encyclopedia of Faith and Conflict (ABC-CLIO, 2017):

  • Alarcos, Battle of (Castile, Spain, 1189)
  • Camisard Revolt (France, 1702-1704)
  • The Challenge of Peace (U.S. Catholic Bishops, 1983)
  • Chamkaur, Battle of (Punjab, India, 1705)
  • Cresson, Battle of (Holy Land, 1187)
  • Decretists (Europe, 1150s forward)
  • Kappel, Battle of (Switzerland, 1531)
  • Mars, God of War (Roman Empire)
  • The Song of Roland (France, c. 1100)
  • Wounded Knee (South Dakota, USA, 1890)

Booklet, Serving Those Who Serve: Chaplains with the U.S. Coast Guard (U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, 2001)

Video, Serving Those Who Serve: Chaplains with the U.S. Coast Guard (Video, U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, 2001)

Articles:

“Chaplain for Life,” The Military Chaplain, (2013)

Book Review, "Pebbles in My Boots," The Military Chaplain (2011)

"Post-War Preaching," Journal for Preachers (2007)

"Worship: An ETERNITY Focus vs. Traditional or Contemporary," Hope EPC Gleanings (2007)

"The Reformation's Revolution in Worship," Hope EPC Gleanings (2007)

"The Warrior Transition Program," The Navy Chaplain (2004)

Church Policy Documents:

"Evangelical Presbyterian Church Procedure Manual, Chaplains Work and Care Committee," enacted and published by the General Assembly of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (2012)

"Ministry Policy for EPC Chaplains Dealing with Persons Who Practice Homosexual Behavior And Claim Homosexual Identity." Policy statement enacted and published by the General Assembly of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (2011)

Select Presentations:

“Martyrdom Compared: Christianity and Islam,” session presentation for Annual Meeting, Evangelical Theological Society, streamed (2020)

“Does Faith Play a Role? Religion in the Military,” panel participant at Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, VA (2020)

“Redefining Humans: A Survey and Analysis With Biblical Responses” for leadership training class (also streamed worldwide), the Foundation for American Christian Education (FACE), Chesapeake, VA (2016); also given for Vanguard Ministries Leadership Conference (2019)

“The End of Judah: Jus Post Bellum Broken,” session presentation for Annual Meeting, Evangelical Theological Society, Denver, CO (2018)

“Challenges to Theological Education in a Post-Truth Age,” plenary panel presenter for the Annual Institute of the Military Chaplains Association, Arlington, VA (2018)

“Healthcare Ethics and Conquering Zero Harm: A High Reliability Organization (HRO) Perspective,” plenary presentation for the 70th Anniversary Symposium of the US Navy Medical Service Corps, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, VA (2017)

“Using Francis Schaeffer’s ‘Line of Despair’ as an Analytical Tool” for Ratio Christi, Regent University’s apologetics club (2016)

“Sexuality Gone Wrong: A Biblical Response,” plenary presentation for A Reason for Hope, the annual conference of the Foundation for American Christian Education (FACE), Chesapeake, VA (2016)

“Techne, Pneuma, and Paideia: From Foucault to Faith to Form,” session presentation for Regent University conference, The Holy Spirit, Science, and Theological Education, Virginia Beach, VA (2016)

“From None To Done: What Every Leader Should Know About the Spirituality (or Lack Thereof) of Today's Workforce,” panel participant at Marine Corps University, Quantico, VA (2016)

“Grace in the Reformed Tradition” for Empowered 21 Global Scholars Consultation, London, England (2016)

Affiliations

Evangelical Presbyterian Church: Ordained Teaching Elder; Evangelical Theological Society; Military Chaplains Association; Naval War College Foundation; Commander, Chaplain Corps, U.S. Navy (Retired)

MEMBERSHIPS

Institutional Review Board

Awards

Military Chaplains Association: Distinguished Service Award as Coast Guard Chaplain of the Year 1998; Military: Meritorious Service Medal (2), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (2), Coast Guard Commendation Medal (2), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2), Presidential Unit Citation—Hurricane Katrina