David Efird

David Hampton Efird (born May 18, 1974) is an American philosopher and Anglican priest. As an academic, he specialises in the philosophy of language and the philosophy of religion.

Since 2002, Efird has worked at the University of York. He was a lecturer between 2002 and 2007, and has been a senior lecturer since 2007. He has been head of two of York's colleges: Provost of Vanbrugh College, York from 2008 to 2013, and Principal of James College, York since 2013.

Efird is a Church of England priest. He was ordained a deacon in 2010 and to the priesthood in 2011. He was a Minor Canon of York Minister, where he served his curacy. He currently serves as an assistant curate of the Parish of St. Mary Bishophill, an Anglo-Catholic parish in the City of York.

Efird was born on May 18, 1974 in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. He studied at Duke University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (AB) degree in 1995. He then studied theology at Princeton Theological Seminary, a seminary associated with the Presbyterian Church (USA), and graduated with a Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree in 1998. Having moved to the United Kingdom, he studied at the University of Edinburgh and graduated with a Master of Science (MSc) degree in 1999. He then undertook postgraduate research at the University of Oxford under the supervision of Professor Timothy Williamson. He completed his Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) degree in 2002. His doctoral thesis was titled "Unfenced existence".

Academic career

In 2002, Efird joined the University of York (in York, England) as a lecturer in philosophy. He was promoted to senior lecturer in 2007. He teaches metaphysics, social epistemology, theological ethics, and philosophical theology.

Efird has been involved in the leadership of two of York's colleges and has also been a head of college twice. From 2003 to 2008, he was Dean of Vanbrugh College, York. From 2008 to 2013, he was Provost of Vanbrugh. Since September 2013, he has been Principal of James College, York.

Efird serves as an assistant editor of the journal Mind.

Ordained ministry

In 2008, Efird began training for the priesthood with the Yorkshire Ministry Course. He was ordained in the Church of England as a deacon in 2010. On 19 June 2011, he was ordained as a priest by John Sentamu, Archbishop of York, during a service at York Minister. From 2010 to 2013, he served his curacy at York Minister where he was also Vicarius Canonicorum (a type of Minor Canon). Since 2013, he has been a non-stipendiary priest and assistant curate in the Parish of St. Mary Bishophill, an Anglo-Catholic parish in the City of York. The parish includes St Mary's Church and St Clement's Church.