Return To Campus Plan

Lipscomb University's comprehensive plan to return to campus.

Learn More
Endeavor

Now accepting applications for the new Endeavor Program, a unique educational experience designed for you!

Learn More
Return To Campus Plan

Lipscomb University's comprehensive plan to return to campus.

Learn More
A Bible class meets

College of Bible & Ministry

In this Section Toggle Subnavigation

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.

Three student talking

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.

View Undergraduate Programs
Students lean back in chairs before class talking

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.

View Graduate Programs
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.

About Hazelip
Students walk across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma Alabama Play Video

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.

About Engage

People

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

  • Leonard Allen Headshot

    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...

    Learn More
  • 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...

    Learn More
  • Mark Black

    Mark Black

    Professor

    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...

    Learn More
  • Steve Bonner headshot

    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...

    Learn More
  • 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....

    Learn More
  • Lee Camp

    Lee Camp

    Professor

    Lee C. Camp is professor of theology and ethics. He was awarded a permanent designation as a University "Outstanding Teacher" in 2017. He completed his undergrad studies at Lipscomb and...

    Learn More
  • Phillip Camp headshot

    Phillip Camp

    Professor

    Phillip Camp teaches various Old Testament text courses, OT Interpretation, and Hebrew. He is the author of "Finding Your Way: A Guide to Seminary Life and Beyond" (Cascade, 2009) and...

    Learn More
  • David Fleer headshot

    David Fleer

    Professor

    For the last thirteen years David has served as Professor of Bible and Communication, Special Assistant to the President at Lipscomb University and Executive Director of the Thomas H. Olbricht...

    Learn More
  • George Goldman headshot

    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...

    Learn More
  • Frank Guertin headshot

    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...

    Learn More
  • John Mark Hicks headshot

    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...

    Learn More
  • Richard Hughes headshot

    Richard Hughes

    Scholar in Residence

    The scholarly interests of Richard Hughes, the Center's Scholar in Residence, have ranged from religion and race in America, to religion and American self-understanding, to religion and American higher education,...

    Learn More
  • Steve Joiner headshot

    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...

    Learn More
  • Earl Lavender headshot

    Earl Lavender

    Professor

    Earl Lavender was born to missionary parents in Trieste, Italy on July 15, 1954. He earned undergraduate degrees from Ohio Valley College and David Lipscomb College. He is married to the...

    Learn More
  • 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...

    Learn More
  • Kris Miller

    Kris Miller

    Assistant Professor

    Kris Miller joined the faculty of the College of Bible and Ministry in 2015, serving as assistant professor of theology and director of Lipscomb's Institute for Christian Spirituality. He has nine...

    Learn More
  • Steve Sherman

    Steve Sherman

    Executive Director, Peugeot Center for Engineering

    Learn More
  • Josh Strahan headshot

    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...

    Learn More
  • Walter Surdacki headshot

    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....

    Learn More
  • Kate Watkins

    Kate Watkins

    LIFE Consultant

    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...

    Learn More
  • Lauren White

    Lauren White

    Assistant Professor

    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...

    Learn More
  • Mike Williams headshot

    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...

    Learn More
  • John York headshot

    John York

    Executive Director and Dean

    John has been part of the faculty of Lipscomb University since the Fall of 1998. Before becoming Executive Director and Dean of Lipscomb University - Austin Center (LUAC), John was...

    Learn More

News

Cover of the book Jesus in Isolation by Scott Sager
Faith
April 13, 2021

Sager releases first book, ‘Jesus in Isolation: Lazarus, Viruses and Us’

Kinesiology Research
Research
April 13, 2021

10th annual Student Scholars Symposium highlights decade of growth

Three students walking in front of Swang
Academics
April 12, 2021

Lipscomb named to prestigious Phi Theta Kappa Transfer Honor Roll for fifth consecutive year
Logo for Imagine 2021
Community
April 8, 2021

IMAGINE 2021 initiative features look at 'The Soul of America' with Jon Meacham, Bill Haslam
More News

Events

Conference logo
event
May 24 / 12:00 pm

InterGenerate Conference & Children's Spirituality Summit 2021
Ibram X. Kendi
event
Jun 9 / 8:00 am

Christian Scholars' Conference - June 9, 2021 - University
Picture of Impact 2020 in Allen
event
Jun 21 / 12:00 am

IMPACT 2021 - June 21, 2021 - University
ENGAGE
event
Jul 6 / 1:00 pm

ENGAGE Youth Theology Initiative - July 6, 2021 - University
More Events

Blog

Switch to remote teaching brought painful benefits for students and professors

Scattered across Middle Tennessee but united in a common mission, the Lipscomb community faced COVID-19 restrictions head on, working remotely but diligently in the spring and summer of 2020 to finish the spring semester strong for students and to bring them back to a safe and caring campus in August. While...

Wed, 01/13/2021 - 14:11
Posted by Grace Evans

Lee Camp’s Scandalous Witness offers new insights into faith and politics in the U.S.

Americans seem to be more divided than ever, and politics are at the center of this societal divide, especially in an election year. Lee Camp, professor of theology and ethics, has answered some of this anxiety with hope in his new book, Scandalous Witness: A Little Political Manifesto for Christians, available...

Wed, 01/13/2021 - 14:05
Posted by Grace Evans

Josh Strahan lays out the basics of belief

Professor addresses life’s big questions in book now used in Lipscomb’s classrooms to reinforce students’ core Christian beliefs. Fueled by a desire to fight a current trend within today’s younger generation to water down Christian faith into generally moral wishful thinking, Lipscomb University Associate Professor Josh Strahan (’04) has written a...

Wed, 01/13/2021 - 14:01
Posted by Grace Evans

More Blog Posts

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.