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College of Bible & Ministry

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Overview

Across the nation, we need leaders in churches and ministries who guide and grow others with solid biblical teachings, transparency and integrity. At Lipscomb, you will be equipped to serve God’s kingdom in the world with wisdom, compassion, humility, and a curious and adventurous heart. Lipscomb’s College of Bible & Ministry will provide you with a solid Scriptural foundation through a perspective rooted in our Christian heritage and close association with the Churches of Christ. Study the classic disciplines of Bible, theology and church history at one of only two schools in Middle Tennessee that is fully accredited by the Association of Theological Schools. By integrating strong academics with spiritual formation and practical experience, we will prepare you to serve Christ’s mission in the world with integrity and truth.

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Undergraduate Programs

We offer a number of faith-focused majors and minors that prepare you for missional work, worship ministry, Bible education and more. To put selfless service into practice in the real world, students also have the option to take part in mission trips and service learning opportunities.

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Graduate Programs

As one of the only two schools in Middle Tennessee that is fully accredited by the Association of Theological Schools, Lipscomb will provide you with the strong academics and spiritual formation needed as you pursue the next step of your calling in ministry.

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Dean Leonard Allen speaks in front of group in Ezell Chapel.

Hazelip School of Theology

With us, your degree is as much about academics as it is about the personal journey you take as you study Scripture, church history, Christian thought and ministerial formation. Here, academic subject matters are put in conversation with the concerns of today’s practitioners. As one of the few ATS-accredited graduate schools in the region, we offer real-world ministry experiences and quality academics.

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Engage

Lipscomb’s Engage Youth Theology Initiative is for high school sophomores, juniors and seniors interested in exploring what it means to live a life of Christian leadership and service. This initiative seeks to encourage young people to explore theological traditions, ask questions about the moral dimensions of contemporary issues and examine how their faith calls them to justice and service.

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People

Meet the key people who make up the College of Bible & Ministry.

  • Leonard Allen

    Leonard Allen

    Dean, College of Bible and Ministry

    C. Leonard Allen serves as dean of the College of Bible and Ministry at Lipscomb University. He taught theology, ethics, and philosophy at the graduate and undergraduate level for over…

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  • Holly Allen

    Holly Allen

    Professor

    Holly Catterton Allen is Professor of Family Science and Christian Ministry where she holds a joint appointment in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the College of Bible…

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  • Mark Black

    Mark Black

    Professor of New Testament

    Mark teaches Luke-Acts, Synoptic Gospels, New Testament Theology, Corinthians, New Testament Exegesis, and Biblical Ethics. He received his B.A. in Bible from Freed-Hardeman University, his M.A. and M.Th. from Harding…

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  • Steve Bonner

    Steve Bonner

    Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Bible

    Steven Bonner serves as the Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Bible and Associate Professor of Christian ministry. He attended Lipscomb University where he received his B.A., M.A., and M.Div. He received…

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  • Terry Briley

    Terry Briley

    Professor

    Terry teaches Old Testament and Hebrew courses. He is also one of the pulpit ministers for the Natchez Trace Church of Christ and is involved with mission work in Brazil.…

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  • Lee Camp

    Lee Camp

    Professor

    Lee Camp is Professor of Theology and Ethics, currently teaching primarily in the M.Div. and D.Min. programs in the Hazelip School. He was awarded a permanent designation as a University…

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  • Phillip Camp

    Phillip Camp

    Professor

    Phillip teaches various Old Testament text courses, Critical Interpretation to the Bible, and Hebrew. He received his bachelor's degree from Cornell University in 1989, his Master of Arts in Religion…

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  • Ken Durham

    Ken Durham

    Batsell Barrett Baxter Chair of Preaching

    Ken teaches courses in ministry and preaching, as well as Freshman Bible. He came to Lipscomb following 35 years of full time church ministry; he most recently served as senior…

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  • David Fleer

    David Fleer

    Professor

    David's teaching focus is homiletics. Under his direction, Lipscomb University hosts the annual Conference on Preaching. For the past few years Fleer has served as advisory board chair for the…

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  • George Goldman

    George Goldman

    Professor

    George teaches courses in New Testament, Greek, and Faith & Culture. He received his B.A. and M.A. from Lipscomb University (1988, 1991), his M.Div. from Harding University Graduate School of…

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  • Frank Guertin

    Frank Guertin

    Assistant Dean

    Frank Guertin is Assistant Dean for the Hazelip School of Theology at Lipscomb University and Assistant Professor of Theology. Guertin completed his bachelor's degree at Ohio Valley University and his…

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  • John Mark Hicks

    John Mark Hicks

    Professor

    John Mark teaches theology and history courses. He received his B.A. in Bible from Freed-Hardeman University (1977), his M.A.R. in Theological Studies from Westminster Theological Seminary (1980), his M.A. in…

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  • Richard Hughes

    Richard Hughes

    Scholar in Residence

    Serving as Scholar-in-Residence in the College of Bible and Ministry, Richard Hughes is a graduate of Harding University (B.A., 1965), Abilene Christian University (M.A., 1967), and the University of Iowa…

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  • Steve Joiner

    Steve Joiner

    Dean, College of Leadership and Public Service

    Steve Joiner is the Dean of the College of Leadership and Public Service and Managing Director of the Institute for Conflict Management at Lipscomb University. Joiner also serves as Professor…

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  • Earl Lavender

    Earl Lavender

    Professor

    Earl holds undergraduate degrees from Ohio Valley College and Lipscomb, an M.A. in Biblical Studies from Lipscomb, and a Ph.D. in Historical Theology from Saint Louis University. He has taught…

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  • Rhonda Lowry

    Rhonda Lowry

    Adjunct Faculty

    Rhonda completed her M.Div. degree and has taught at Fuller Theological Seminary and Pepperdine University. She is also a fellow with the Institute for Christian Spirituality. Rhonda is a…

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  • Kris Miller

    Kris Miller

    Assistant Professor of Bible

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  • Steve Sherman

    Steve Sherman

    Executive Director, Peugeot Center for Engineering Service

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  • Josh Strahan

    Josh Strahan

    Associate Professor

    Josh teaches courses in Freshman Bible and New Testament. He received his bachelor's degree in Bible from Lipscomb University in 2004, his Master of Divinity degree from Abilene Christian University…

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  • Walter Surdacki

    Walter Surdacki

    Associate Professor

    Walter teaches various Youth Ministry and practical ministry courses. He completed his undergrad studies at the Institute for Christian Studies (B.A., 1990), and graduate studies at Pepperdine University (M.S.…

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  • Kate Watkins

    Kate Watkins

    Executive Director, LIFE Program

    Kate Sullivan Watkins is Assistant Professor in the College of Bible and Ministry and teaches Spiritual Disciplines for Christian Living. She is the director of the Lipscomb Initiative for Education…

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  • Lauren White

    Lauren White

    Assistant Professor of Theology

    Lauren graduated with a Ph.D. in Theological Studies from Vanderbilt University in May, 2018. She also holds an MTS from Vanderbilt University (2010), an M.A. in English from Abilene Christian University…

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  • Mike Williams

    Mike Williams

    Associate Professor

    Mike graduated from the University of Arizona with a bachelor's degree in 1986. He graduated from Abilene Christian University with a M. Div. in 1991. He holds the doctorate in…

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  • John York

    John York

    Professor

    In addition to his responsibilities with the D.Min. program, John teaches graduate New Testament text and ministry courses. He received his training from Abilene Christian University (B.A. M.A., M.Div.),…

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News

News - Honor roll
Community
February 11, 2019

Honor Roll, Provost’s List recognizes academic achievements for fall semester
News - Lipscomb University campus
Community
January 31, 2019

LIPSCOMBLEADS is largest giving campaign in institutional history, $250 million goal
Campus Life 1
News
January 28, 2019

Sturgeon appointed vice president of student life
Community
January 14, 2019

Hazelip School of Theology 2019 Preaching Workshop to focus on rediscovering the gospel

The Lipscomb University Hazelip School of Theology is excited to host its annual Preaching Workshop, February 11-12. This year's theme, Preaching at the Crossroads: Rediscovering Gospel in the New World will introduce discussion on the importance of preaching, examples of the gospel at work, and what it looks like...
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Events

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Mar 5 / 8:30 am

Youth Ministry Conference

Bible 2.0: Helping Adolescents to Read the Bible Featuring JP O'Conner • Princeton University When Johannes Gutenberg smithed his first printing press, did he realize the radical shift in worldview that would begin? Did he know that he was pushing a tiny snowball off of a very tall mountain? Could he have...
event
Mar 8 / 5:00 pm

Nurture 2019

On Friday, March 8, Lipscomb University's Institute for Christian Spirituality will host its annual Nurture conference in the Ezell Center. Christians are restless in American culture today. And for many good reasons. As Philip Jenkins and others have shown us, the West is becoming increasingly post-Christian and global Christianity is becoming increasingly post-Western....
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Apr 11 / 8:00 am

8th Annual Student Scholars Symposium

Beginning at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 11 in Allen Arena, the Student Scholars Symposium will host their annual academic conference. The conference is open to all Lipscomb students and is designed to give students an opportunity to showcase their creative works and research results in a professional setting. During the conference,...
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May 20 / 3:00 pm

InterGenerate Conference

Lipscomb University Professor of Family Science and Christian Ministry, Dr. Holly Catterton Allen's book "InterGenerate: Transforming Churches through Intergenerational Ministry” was written after the InterGenerate Conference in 2017. Intergenerate is a conference  designed for both practitioners and academics seeking to enhance life-long faith formation through intergenerational Christian experiences. Senior pastors, professors, age-level ministers, sociologists,...
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Undergraduate Programs

Whether you feel called to youth ministry, preaching or foreign missions, domestic church planting, urban ministry or life in an intentional community, our undergraduate programs will equip you for a life of faith and service in ministry. Our core theology and ministry program will provide you with a foundation of knowledge, tools and skills necessary for Christian leadership and service. Explore your options at Lipscomb.

Graduate Programs

If you are considering entering or are already active in ministry, we offer a number of paths and majors for your walk with God. For example, our Master of Arts in Christian Practice degree includes theological studies that you can pursue alongside a graduate certificate program or additional coursework at our Hazelip School of Theology. All of our graduate programs are designed to provide you with advanced theological learning within practical ministry contexts.