Skip to main content
Hazelip School of Theology professor in background stands in front of class in foreground.

Hazelip School of Theology

Serve More Effectively Wherever You're Called.

The landscape of ministry is changing as never before. At the Hazelip School of Theology, we care for the lifespan of ministers and train you for challenges faced at every stage of life whether today and in the future. We equip you with the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to empower your calling in the Kingdom, whether that’s in local congregations, faith-based nonprofit spaces, chaplaincy roles or other forms of ministry you are supporting.

Your degree is more than just an academic experience. It is also about the personal journey you take as you study the complexities of Scripture, the textures of church history, the breadth of Christian theology and the pastoral practices of personal and communal formation. Here at Hazelip, the classic theological disciplines are meaningfully connected to the practical concerns of how to sustain Christian faith within your circles of influence.

Our way of educating is holistic, flexible and easily accessible for all regardless of the program you choose, making it ideal for Kingdom workers and professionals in various fields. We consider ourselves theological educators first and foremost, women and men that are willing to share our scholarly resources alongside our personal pieces of wisdom that flow out of our own journeys with Christ. We are thus accessible outside the classroom for other kinds of formative conversations because we highly value the personal dimensions of a seminary experience.

People interact at Christian Scholars Conference

Graduate Programs

The Hazelip School of Theology offers several innovative graduate programs specifically created for professionals serving in today’s congregations and other faith-based initiatives. Learn from expert faculty and understand how to serve more effectively in your calling. Join our learning community and grow with us in our commitment to advance the Kingdom of God.

View Graduate Programs
100%

Ministry Involvement from Faculty

Dr. Lauren White teaching

Accredited by the Association of Theological Schools

Our accreditation through the Association of Theological Schools means we are a seminary focused on our educational mission. We continually examine our classroom practices and improve our ways of teaching so that our students flourish in this learning community. Accredited by ATS since 2011, we pursue excellence in all that we do and regularly ask our students and graduates for feedback on how we might improve our work together.

Our Academic Programs
students discussing biblical text

Hazelip Exchange Events

The Hazelip Exchange hosts live, unrecorded Zoom meetings with leaders and peers regarding the bible and ministry. Each event is an hour of conversation with fellow participants, Hazelip faculty, and Dr. John Mark Hicks about important topics in theology, Scripture, and culture. Hazelip Exchange sessions are ideal for current students, alumni, faculty, staff, church ministers and members.

Hazelip Exchange
150+

Graduate Theology Students

People

Meet the key people that make up the Hazelip School of Theology.

  • Leonard Allen Headshot

    Leonard Allen

    Dean of the College of Bible

    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...

    Meet Leonard Allen
  • Frank Guertin headshot

    Frank Guertin

    Assistant Dean and Associate Professor

    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...

    Meet Frank Guertin
  • Carlus Gupton headshot

    Carlus Gupton

    Director, Doctor of Ministry Program

    Carlus is from Mayfield, Kentucky. He began preaching at age 17 and has continued for over 45 years, broadening this work in 2001 to include training ministers. In addition to...

    Meet Carlus Gupton
  • Randy Willingham headshot

    Randy Willingham

    Competency-Based Education Director

    Randy Willingham is the Director for the Hazelip School of Theology's Competency-Based Theological Education. He holds degrees from Oklahoma State University, Harding University, Harding School of Theology, and Abilene Christian University. His 1994 doctoral thesis ...

    Meet Randy Willingham
  • Greg Anderson headshot

    Greg Anderson

    Adjunct Faculty

    Greg Anderson and his wife Dalene live in Midland, TX, where Greg serves as President of Midland Christian School and Assistant Director of Lipscomb University's Doctorate of Ministry Program. Greg...

    Meet Greg Anderson
  • Mark Black

    Mark Black

    Adjunct Faculty

    Mark teaches Luke-Acts, Synoptic Gospels, New Testament Theology, Corinthians, New Testament Exegesis, and Biblical Ethics. He has preached at the Moreland Ave Church of Christ in Atlanta, the Okolona church...

    Meet Mark Black
  • Lee Camp headshot

    Lee Camp

    Professor

    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...

    Meet Lee Camp
  • Phillip Camp headshot

    Phillip Camp

    Professor

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

    Meet Phillip Camp
  • JP Conway headshot

    Jp Conway

    Assistant Bible Professor of Christian Ministry

    J.P. grew up in Nashville. After high school at Ezell Harding Christian School, he studied at Abilene Christian University (BA in Youth and Family Ministry) and interned two summers at...

    Meet Jp Conway
  • Lipscomb Featured Faculty

    Derrick Jackson

    Adjunct Faculty

    Meet Derrick Jackson
  • Lipscomb Featured Faculty

    Orpheus Heyward

    Adjunct Faculty

    Dr. Orpheus J. Heyward is a noted expert in Biblical Exposition and functions as a Faculty Affiliate Professor for Expository Preaching and Christian Leadership. He is the Minister to one...

    Meet Orpheus Heyward
  • John Mark Hicks headshot

    John Mark Hicks

    Adjunct Faculty

    John Mark Hicks has taught full time in higher education among Churches of Christ since 1982 and is currently Professor of Theology at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee. He has...

    Meet John Mark Hicks
  • Aaron Howard headshot

    Aaron Howard

    Assistant Professor

    Aaron teaches undergraduate and graduate classes in ethics. He holds a PhD in Ethics and Society from Vanderbilt University. an MA in Theology & Biblical Studies from Fuller Theological Seminary,...

    Meet Aaron Howard
  • Earl Lavender headshot

    Earl Lavender

    Professor

    Earl was born to missionary parents in Trieste, Italy. He earned undergraduate degrees from Ohio Valley College and David Lipscomb College (Physical Education and Coaching).  He is married to the...

    Meet Earl Lavender
  • Kris Miller headshot

    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...

    Meet Kris Miller
  • Josh Strahan headshot

    Josh Strahan

    Professor

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

    Meet Josh Strahan
  • Paavo Tucker headshot

    Paavo Tucker

    Adjunct Faculty

    Paavo was born in Nashville, and grew up in Finland as a missionary kid before moving to the United States to go to college at Freed-Hardeman University. He attained his...

    Meet Paavo Tucker
  • Lauren White headshot

    Lauren White

    Assistant Professor

    Lauren Smelser White has served as Assistant Professor of Theology at Lipscomb since 2018 and teaches various undergraduate and graduate courses in Bible and systematic, historical, and contextual theology. She...

    Meet Lauren White

Blog

Bible Land Adventures - A Conversation with Scott Sager

Seasoned travel leader and Bible professor Scott Sager designed Bible Land Adventures from his over thirty years of experience in Israel. He kindly sat down with us to talk about this new book.


Tue, 02/20/2024 - 14:39
Posted by Grace Evans

Speaking with God: Probing Old Testament Prayers for Contemporary Signficance

It started with a footnote. In his 2010 book, Creation Untamed: The Bible, God, and Natural Disasters, Terence Fretheim noted that there had been little theological reflection on how the Israelites had practiced prayer. Intrigued, Lipscomb professor Phillip Camp and other theologians spent the next seven years researching, discussing and contemplating...


Thu, 01/25/2024 - 12:11
Posted by Grace Evans

Lessons from a Croatian Summer Camp

“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.” Don’t let the future orientation of Lipscomb’s College of Bible & Ministry’s mission statement fool you.  “I’ve been convicted by many people – specifically my professors here...


Tue, 12/05/2023 - 15:16
Posted by Grace Evans

More Blog Posts

Graduate Programs


Our graduate programs provide theological training in a relational context, emphasizing advanced knowledge of Scripture, theology and the history of Christian thought. Your education experience at Hazelip will be filled with purposeful, personal growth.