Lee Camp

College of Bible - Undergraduate

Professor

Biography

Lee is an Alabamian by birth. He met his wife Laura at Lipscomb as an undergrad (BA in Computer Science), and then did seminary at Abilene Christian University (MA and MDiv). Following a stint in Nairobi, Kenya, Lee and Laura moved to South Bend, Indiana, where he completed graduate studies in Christian Ethics (MA and PhD). He and Laura have three grown sons, and love living in Nashville. Along with his role at Professor of Theology and Ethics, Lee is also the creator and host of No Small Endeavor ("Exploring what it means to live a good life"), a nationally syndicated podcast and public radio show, which also stages live events and variety shows. For more information, please visit the NSE website, or follow the podcast.

Academic Degrees

BA in Computer Science, Lipscomb University (1989)
MA in Doctrinal and Historical Studies and M.Div., Abilene Christian University (1993)
MA and PhD in Christian Ethics / Moral Theology, University of Notre Dame (1999)

Academic Department

Hazelip School of Theology

Classes

Research Interests

Research and Publications

Books, book chapters, journal articles:

Scandalous Witness: A Little Political Manifesto for Christians (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2020).

Concluding and Retrospective chapter in John Mark Hicks, et.al., Resisting Babel: Allegiance to God and the Problem of Government (Abilene, TX: ACU Press, 2020)

Concluding and Retrospective chapter in John Mark Hicks, et.al., Resisting Babel: Allegiance to God and the Problem of Government (Abilene, TX: ACU Press, 2020

Who Is My Enemy? Questions American Christians Must Face About Islam, and Themselves (Brazos Press, 2011).

Mere Discipleship: Radical Christianity in a Rebellious World (Brazos Press, December 2003; 2nd ed., 2009).

Review essay in The Cruciform Church rev. ed. (ACU Press, 2016).

Theological Themes Essays on Luke 3-4 for Lectionary Homiletics (December 2015 – January 2016).

Theological Themes Essays on Matthew 16:13-20 and Matthew 16:21-28 for Lectionary Homiletics XXV, no. 5 (August-September 2014).

“On Muslim Hospitality,” Missio Dei: A Journal of Missional Theology and Praxis 4, vol. 2 (August 2013).

“What About Romans 13: ‘Let Every Soul Be Subject’?” in eds. Tripp York and Justin Bronson Barringer, A Faith Not Worth Fighting For: Addressing Commonly Asked Questions about Christian Nonviolence (Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, 2012).

Contributor to Banned Questions About Jesus, ed. Christian Piatt (Chalice Press, 2011).

“Keeping Alive the Narratives of War and Peace,” in And the Word Became Flesh: Studies in History, Communication, and Scripture in Memory of Michael W. Casey, eds. Thomas H. Olbricht and David Fleer (Eugene, OR: Pickwick Publications, 2009), 269-283.

“Theological Ground for Peaceful Co-Existence,” Restoration Quarterly 49/4 (2007).

“The Practice of Church,” Leaven (2007).

Review of John Howard Yoder: Mennonite Patience, Evangelical Witness, Catholic Convictions, by Mark T. Nation, Mennonite Quarterly Review (2007).

“Restoration and Unity in the Work of John Howard Yoder,” in Radical Ecumenicity: Pursuing Unity and Continuity after John Howard Yoder, ed. John Nugent (Abilene Christian University Press, 2010).

“Salt and Light, Salsa and Tortillas,” in Preaching the Sermon on the Mount: The World It Imagines, eds. David Fleer and David Bland (Chalice Press, 2007).

“Nationalism and the American Church,” guest editor, Leaven 13/4 (2005).

“The Non-Violent Reign of God,” in Larry Chouinard, David Fiensy and George Pickens, eds., Biblical Ethics and the Issues of Life and Death (College Press, forthcoming, January 2004).

“Justice and the Coming of the Kingdom,” and “Justice and Non-Violence,” in Gary Holloway and John York, eds., Unfinished Reconciliation (Abilene Christian University Press, forthcoming, 2003).

“Why the Christian Church Ought to be Pacifist,” Leaven 10 no. 2 (2002): 79-84.

“Restoration and Unity in the Work of John Howard Yoder,” Restoration Quarterly 44 (January 2002): 1-14.

“The Case for Christian Non-Violence,” New Wineskins (January/February 2002), 25, 27.

“The Cross in Christendom: Constantinianism and the Doctrine of the Atonement,” presented to the Restoration Theological Research Fellowship, an additional meeting of the AAR/SBL, November, 1996. Published in Restoration Quarterly 40 (April 1998).

“Disapproving Disproportionate Response,” Perspectives 11, no. 9 (November 1996), and reprinted as “Changing the Rhetoric of War,” Common Sense 11, no. 3 (December 1996). Co-authored with Tobias Winwright.

Popular level pieces:

“Cash on Dylan, and the Vocation of Prophets and Poets: ‘Here-in is a hell of a poet,’” The Rabbit Room, May 2018,.

“When the World’s Burning, Who Needs Poetry,” Ethics Daily, 23 May 2018.

“On Cultivating Habits to Live Your Life Well,” Ethics Daily, 30 January 2018.

“Lessons from Thomas Paine: The Destruction of Christianity,” Ethics Daily, 21 December 2017.

“Lessons from Thomas Paine: Our Democratic Aristocracy,” Ethics Daily, 20 December 2017.

Op-ed on “White Lives Matter” gathering in Nashville, published as: “Commentary: A response to ‘White Lives Matter’,” op-ed, Christian Chronicle, 27 October 2017; “Tragedy should not be fodder for hate, white supremacy,” op-ed, WKRN, Nashville, Tennessee, 25 October 2017.

“President Trump in my Home State of Alabama: Special,” Huffington Post, 28 September 2017.

“Make the Church Great Again,” Huffington Post, 28 October 2016.

“The UnChristian Quest for a Christian America,” Huffington Post, 21 April 2016.

“The Politics of Easter,” Huffington Post, 29 March 2016.

“Reflections from the Ryman,” Intersections (Fall 2015): 26-27.

“You Tele-Conferenced Me in Prison: Once a Cold Heart, Always a Cold Heart,” Huffington Post, 21 May 2015.

“A Biblical Argument (Sort of) in Opposition to the Bible as Tennessee's State Book,” Huffington Post, 15 April 2015.

“Clint Eastwood's Sniper, and the American Messiah,” Huffington Post, 27 January 2015.

Various Blog articles on the No Small Endeavor website.

“Learning About Authority While Flying Without Engines,” Ethics Daily, 29 May 2015.

“Happiness: The Christian Faith's Ultimate Goal - Part 1,” Ethics Daily, 14 May 2015 and Part 2, 15 May 2015.

More available in CV.

Relevant Professional Work

Grants and Awards

Scandalous Witness: “Favorite Books of 2020,” Gravity Leadership; Amazon.com #1 New Release for “Ethics in Christian Theology”; “Best Books of 2020,” Englewood Review of Books.
Outstanding Teacher Award, Lipscomb University, with permanent designation as “University Outstanding Teacher,” May 2017
Grant from the John R. Templeton Foundation in support of public television distribution of “Tokens Show: The Dichotomies in Dayton,” Fall 2016
Grant from the Science and Technology for Emerging Adult Ministries Initiative at Fuller Theological Seminary, Fall 2016
Summer Research Grant, Summer 2016, Lipscomb University
Faculty for Chile Study Abroad, Spring Semester 2014, in residence in Santiago.
Research Grant, BioLogos Foundation, Summer 2013 through Summer 2015.
Tokens Show recognized as Nashville’s “2013 Best Local Variety Show,” Nashville Scene
Summer Research Grant, Summer 2012, Lipscomb University
Faculty for UK Study Abroad with Lipscomb University President, Chairman of the Board, and incoming Lipscomb University students, Summer 2012 teaching course “Rhythm and Roots.”
Who Is My Enemy? Recognized as #4 on “Most Important Books of 2011” by RELEVANT magazine
Who Is My Enemy? Recognized as a “Best Book of 2011” by Englewood Review of Books
Louisville Institute Award, Lilly Foundation, Summer 2009, for travel to and research in Jerusalem and Istanbul
Outstanding Teacher of the Year, Lipscomb University, May 2006
Christian Scholar-in-Residence Sabbatical, Lipscomb University, Spring 2005
Summer Research Grant, Lipscomb University, Summer 2001
Outstanding Teacher of the Year, Lipscomb University, May 2001
Graduate teaching fellowship, College of Arts and Letters, University of Notre Dame, 1998-99 academic year.
Full Fellowship, University of Notre Dame, 1994-1998 academic years.
Fellowship, Christian Scholarship Foundation, 1996-99 academic years.
Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement (4.0 G.P.A.), Abilene Christian University, December 1993
Undergraduate Degree, Magna Cum Laude, May 1989
Presidential Scholarship, Lipscomb University, 1985-89
Alpha Chi National Honor Society, Lipscomb University
Goodpasture Bible Award, Lipscomb University, May 1989
Who's Who Among American College Students
“Bachelor of Ugliness,” Lipscomb University, 1988-89
2019-2020: JoAnn C. Carland Distinguished Service Award, Institute for Global Business Research.
2017-2018: Best Paper Award, Academic Business World International Conference.
2017-2018: Distinguished Research Award, Institute for Global Business Research.
Lilly Endowment Incorporated grant of $933,075 for partial support of No Small Endeavor, 2022-2025
John Templeton Foundation Public Engagements grant of $234,800 for partial support of No Small Endeavor, 2022-2023