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Administration
Douglas A. Sweeney, Dean, Professor
Thomas L. Fuller, Associate Dean
Faculty
Carl L. Beckwith, Professor
Mark S. Gignilliat, Professor
Paul R. House, Professor
Kenneth A. Mathews, Professor
Osvaldo Padilla, Professor
Michael Pasquarello, Professor; Director DMin Program and Robert Smith, Jr. Preaching Institute
Allen P. Ross, Professor
Robert Smith Jr., Professor; Charles T. Carter Baptist Chair of Divinity
Frank S. Thielman, Professor; Presbyterian Chair of Divinity
Douglas D. Webster, Professor
D. Mark DeVine, Associate Professor
Piotr Malysz, Associate Professor
M. Sydney Park, Associate Professor
Stefana Dan Laing, Assistant Professor
Timothy F. George, Research Professor
David A. Parks, Administrative Faculty
History
On February 9, 1988, the Board of Trustees of Samford University authorized the establishment of a School of Divinity beginning in the 1988-89 academic year. In one sense this action fulfilled the founding purpose of the University adopted in 1841, which provided for “the establishment of a Theological Institution, connected with the college hereinafter established.”
In December 1988, the Samford Board of Trustees voted to name the school the Beeson School of Divinity in honor of Ralph Waldo Beeson and his late father, John Wesley Beeson. Ralph Beeson provided the largest gift from a living individual in Samford history to establish the only divinity school at that time at a Baptist college or university in the nation. In its first year, Beeson School of Divinity secured the dean, four full-time faculty, and two adjunct faculty, and enrolled 32 students.
The School of Divinity, like other entities of Samford University, is open to persons from all denominations. The confessional context in which the faculty teaches is defined by the Baptist Faith and Message Statement of 1963. The school offers quality theological education in a Christian university setting from an explicitly evangelical perspective. Non-Baptist faculty teach in accordance with their confessional statements on matters of denominational distinctives.
Accreditation
Beeson Divinity School is accredited by The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC) and by The Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS) to award the following degrees: master of divinity (M.Div.), master of arts in theological studies (M.A.T.S.), and doctor of ministry (D.Min.).
For questions or concerns about the accreditation of Beeson Divinity School at Samford University, contact:
The Commission on Colleges Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
1866 Southern Lane
Decatur, GA 30033-4097
(404) 679-4500
www.sacscoc.org
The Commission on Accrediting Association of Theological Schools
10 Summit Park Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15275
(412) 788-6505
www.ats.edu
Global Center
The Global Center in the Beeson School of Divinity exists to help people know their world, help people serve God in the world, and help the world know God through Jesus Christ. It serves as an education center for the worldwide Christian movement, and a networking and research center for those involved in missions.
The Global Center exhibit area highlights cross-cultural Christian witness, and major issues of global concern for the 21st century. The Global Center hosts several World Christianity and missions education and/or mobilization events each semester that are open to the public as well as students.
Global Center staff members are involved in teaching; speaking in churches and academic settings; facilitating short-term missions for students, and prayerfully supporting our Beeson Divinity alumni serving in missions.
For additional information please contact:
The Global Center
Beeson School of Divinity
Samford University
Birmingham, Alabama 35229-2268
Phone: (205) 726-2170
Fax: (205) 726-2271
Website: www.beesondivinity.com/globalcenter
Departments and Program Offerings
