About Me:

Imperial Fora, Rome

Chiesa di Santa Susanna, Rome

Hello and welcome! My name is Daniel Cochran, and I am a pastor, professor, author, and tour guide. I am deeply passionate about the history of Christian art and architecture, and I enjoy finding new and creative ways to share this material with congregations around the United States.

I am an ordained pastor in the United Methodist Church serving congregations in the greater Chicago area. I am also an adjunct professor of religious studies at Elmhurst University, currently teaching courses in Christian Social Ethics. I also lectured in the Religious Studies Program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where I earned my Ph.D. in the History of Art (2018). I also hold an M.Div, from Harvard Divinity School (2011) and a B.A. magna cum laude from the University of Rochester, NY.

My book Building the Body of Christ: Christian Art, Identity, and Community in Late Antique Italy (Fortress Academic, 2020) argues that the visual arts played a crucial role in the formation of Christian identities and the "Christianization" of the Roman Empire in late antique Italy (fourth and sixth centuries). High resolution colored images for my book are available on this website.

Bringing together my pastoral and academic vocations, I offer education programs (for all ages) that explore Christian scripture, history, and theology through the visual arts. I also offer travel planning assistance for individuals and families planning trips to Italy. I work closely with clients to design daily schedules that reduce trip-induced stress while ensuring that they maximize their adventures overseas. 

Lastly, I offer guided tours of Rome. These trips are designed for congregations looking for a unique small group experience that provides an unparalleled experience in faith formation and fellowship. We spend over a week in Rome, using the city's art, architecture, and archaeological sites to gain a rich understanding of the complex history of Christianity. Our objective is to better understand the past so that we can more clearly discern where God is leading us today for tomorrow.

Enjoy exploring the website, and reach out to [email protected] if you want to explore this art together!

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Education

2018
Ph.D. from the Department of Art History, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Advisor: Thomas E. A. Dale
Thesis: Building the Body of Christ: Art, Architecture, and the Formation of Christian Identity in Late Antique Italy

2011
M.Div., Harvard University Divinity School, Cambridge, MA
Thesis: A Sacred Contest in a Contested Space: the Appropriation and Reuse of the Temple of Apollo at Didyma

2008
BA (magna cum laude), University of Rochester, NY, magna cum laude
Thesis: "Rethinking the Relationship Between Jew and Gentile in the Pauline Corpus" (awarded with honors)

Ministry Experience (selected)​

2023-present
Associate Pastor: Gary Memorial UMC in Wheaton, IL

2021-2023
Pastor: Aldersgate UMC in Wheaton, IL

2018-2021
Associate Pastor: Grace UMC in Naperville, IL

2017-2018
Associate Pastor: Hinsdale UMC in Hinsdale, IL

2010-2011
Harvard-Epworth United Methodist Church, Cambridge, MA

2009-2010
King's Chapel, Boston, MA