The Divinity School at

Duke University Duke University is a private research university in Durham, North Carolina. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present-day city of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco and electric power industrialist James ...

Durham, North Carolina Durham ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the county seat of Durham County, North Carolina, Durham County. Small portions of the city limits extend into Orange County, North Carolina, Orange County and Wake County, North Carol ...

, is one of ten graduate or professional schools within Duke University. It is also one of thirteen

seminaries A seminary, school of theology, theological seminary, or divinity school is an educational institution for educating students (sometimes called ''seminarians'') in scripture, theology, generally to prepare them for ordination to serve as clergy, ...

founded and supported by the

United Methodist Church The United Methodist Church (UMC) is a worldwide mainline Protestant denomination based in the United States, and a major part of Methodism. In the 19th century, its main predecessor, the Methodist Episcopal Church, was a leader in evangelical ...

. It has 39 regular rank faculty and 15 joint, secondary or adjunct faculty, and, as of 2017, an enrollment of 543

full-time equivalent Full-time equivalent (FTE), or whole time equivalent (WTE), is a unit that indicates the workload of an employee, employed person (or student) in a way that makes workloads or class loads comparable across various contexts. FTE is often used to me ...

students. The current dean of the Divinity School is the Rev. Dr. Edgardo Colón-Emeric, who assumed the deanship on Aug. 31, 2021. Former deans include the prominent New Testament scholar Richard B. Hays, who stepped down in 2015.

History

The Divinity School was founded in 1926 as the first graduate school at Duke, following a large endowment by

James B. Duke James Buchanan Duke (December 23, 1856 – October 10, 1925) was an American tobacco and electric power industrialist best known for the introduction of modern cigarette manufacture and marketing, and his involvement with Duke Universit ...

, a

tobacco Tobacco is the common name of several plants in the genus '' Nicotiana'' of the family Solanaceae, and the general term for any product prepared from the cured leaves of these plants. More than 70 species of tobacco are known, but the ...

magnate, in 1924. The Divinity School carries on from the original founding of Trinity College in 1859, which provided free training for Methodist preachers in exchange for support from the church. Though the school is affiliated with the United Methodist Church, it is also ecumenical in outlook and has both faculty and students from a variety of denominations. The Divinity School consists of three buildings: the original Gray Building, the Langford Building, and the Westbrook Building. The most recent building is the Hugh A. Westbrook Building, which opened in 2005 and is . It also contains the 315-seat Bishop W. Kenneth Goodson Chapel with -high ceilings, office space, a bookstore, cafe, outdoor patio, and a 177-seat lecture hall.

Stanley Hauerwas Stanley Martin Hauerwas (born July 24, 1940) is an American theologian, ethicist, and public intellectual. Hauerwas was a longtime professor at Duke University, serving as the Gilbert T. Rowe Professor of Theological Ethics at Duke Divinity Schoo ...

, considered one of the leading exponents of postliberal and narrative approaches to theology, was a longtime professor at Duke Divinity School, serving as the Gilbert T. Rowe Professor of Theological Ethics. ''

Time Time is the continued sequence of existence and events that occurs in an apparently irreversible succession from the past, through the present, into the future. It is a component quantity of various measurements used to sequence events, to ...

'' magazine named Hauerwas "America's Best Theologian" in 2001. Hauerwas retired in 2013, but continues to write and speak at Duke as a senior research fellow. Duke Divinity also benefits from the resources of

The Duke Endowment The Duke Endowment is a private foundation established in 1924 by industrialist and philanthropist James B. Duke. It supports selected programs of higher education, health care, children's welfare, and spiritual life in North Carolina and Sout ...

, providing an outlet for this fund's support of higher education and the rural church in North Carolina. Resources from the Charlotte, NC–based endowment go to underwrite Divinity School programs for field education, continuing education, the Thriving Rural Communities Initiative, and Hispanic Ministries. The Divinity School also receives support from the Ministerial Education Fund of the United Methodist Church for student financial aid, faculty support, and other core mission programs of the school.

Notable faculty

Jeremy Begbie Jeremy Sutherland Begbie, BA, BD, PhD, LRAM, ARCM, (born 1957) is Thomas A. Langford Distinguished Research Professor of Theology at Duke Divinity School, Duke University, where he directs Duke Initiatives in Theology and the Arts. He is a systema ...

, Thomas A. Langford Distinguished Professor of Theology and director of the Duke Initiatives in Theology and the Arts *

Luke Bretherton Luke Bretherton is a British theologian and Robert E. Cushman Distinguished Professor of Moral & Political Theology at Duke University. His book ''The Conditions and Possibilities of Faithful Witness'' was awarded the 2013 Michael Ramsey Prize fo ...

, Robert E. Cushman Distinguished Professor of Moral and Political Theology * Ellen F. Davis, Amos Ragan Kearns Distinguished Professor of Bible and Practical Theology *

, Gilbert T. Rowe Gilbert T. Rowe Professor Emeritus of Divinity and Law * Richard B. Hays, Former dean and George Washington Ivey Professor Emeritus of New Testament *

Frederick Herzog Frederick Ludwig Herzog (1925–1995) was an American systematic theologian at Duke University and minister of the United Church of Christ. An impassioned champion of civil rights, his academic focus was liberation theology. Life Herzog wa ...

, systematic theologian and champion of civil rights, on the faculty from 1960 to 1995 *

L. Gregory Jones Lorentz Gregory Jones (commonly styled as L. Gregory Jones) is an American theologian and academic administrator who is currently the President of Belmont University, serving since June 2021. He was previously the executive vice president and prov ...

, Dean of the Divinity School as well as Ruth W. and A. Morris Williams Jr. Distinguished Professor of Theology and Christian Ministry (also a Duke University alumnus) * Richard Alan Lischer, James T. and Alice Mead Cleland Professor Emeritus of Preaching *C. Kavin Rowe, George Washington Ivey Distinguished Professor of New Testament * Timothy Tyson, Former Visiting Professor of American Christianity and Southern Culture *

Geoffrey Wainwright Geoffrey Wainwright (1939 – 17 March 2020) was an English theologian. He spent much of his career in the United States and taught at Duke Divinity School. Wainwright made major contributions to modern Methodist theology and Christian liturgy, ...

, Robert Earl Cushman Professor Emeritus of Christian Theology * Samuel Wells, research professor of Christian ethics at Duke Divinity School from 2005 to 2012 *

Lauren Winner Lauren Frances Winner (born 1976) is an American historian, scholar of religion, and Episcopal priest. She is Associate Professor of Christian Spirituality at Duke Divinity School. Winner writes and lectures on Christian practice, the history of ...

, Associate Professor of Christian Spirituality *

William Willimon William Henry Willimon (born May 15, 1946) is a retired American theologian and bishop in the United Methodist Church who served the North Alabama Conference for eight years. He is Professor of the Practice of Christian Ministry and Director of th ...

, Professor of Practice of Christian Ministry as well as former United Methodist Church bishop *Norman Wirzba, Gilbert T. Rowe Distinguished Professor of Christian Theology as well as Senior Fellow at the Kenan Institute for Ethics at Duke University

Notable alumni

Edwin Charles Boulton Edwin Charles Boulton (15 April 1928 – 15 May 2000) was an American bishop of the United Methodist Church, elected in 1980. Birth and family He was born on 15 April 1928 in St. Joseph, Missouri, the son of Glenn E. and Elsa A. Person Boulton ...

(

M.Div. For graduate-level theological institutions, the Master of Divinity (MDiv, ''magister divinitatis'' in Latin) is the first professional degree of the pastoral profession in North America. It is the most common academic degree in seminaries and di ...

1953) – a

bishop A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...

of the

* Kenneth H. Carter Jr. (

) – a

of the

and Bishop-in-Residence at Duke Divinity School * Finis Alonzo Crutchfield Jr. (1940) – bishop of the United Methodist Church (1972–1974) * Ernest A. Fitzgerald (B.D. degree, 1951) – retired bishop of the United Methodist Church *

Amile Jefferson Amile O. Jefferson (born May 7, 1993) is an American basketball coach and former player. He is an assistant coach for the Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). He played college basketball for the Blue Dev ...

(MA in Christian Studies 2017) –

NBA The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America. The league is composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada) and is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United St ...

player with the

Orlando Magic The Orlando Magic are an American professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. The Magic compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Southeast Division. The franchise was establ ...

, first Duke basketball player to be a 4 time All-ACC Academic All-Star. * Vergel L. Lattimore (

1977) –

Air National Guard The Air National Guard (ANG), also known as the Air Guard, is a federal military reserve force of the United States Air Force, as well as the air militia of each U.S. state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the ter ...

brigadier general *

Deidre Palmer Deidre Palmer was the President of the Uniting Church in Australia from 8 July 2018 until 17 July 2021. She is a counsellor, theologian, and social worker. She was the Moderator of the Uniting Church's Synod of South Australia from 2013 to 2016 ...

, president of the

Uniting Church in Australia The Uniting Church in Australia (UCA) was founded on 22 June 1977, when most congregations of the Methodist Church of Australasia, about two-thirds of the Presbyterian Church of Australia and almost all the churches of the Congregational Union ...

from 8 July 2018 *

Gregory V. Palmer Gregory Vaughn Palmer (born August 8, 1954) is an American bishop of The United Methodist Church, elected in 2000. He was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His father, Herbert Palmer, is also a United Methodist pastor. Education He ...

(

1979) – former president of the United Methodist Council of

Bishops A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...

(2008–2010) *

Andrew Purves Andrew Purves (born 1946) is a Scottish theologian in the Reformed tradition through the Church of Scotland (and later, the Presbyterian Church .html" ;"title="SA/nowiki>">SA/nowiki>). He holds the Chair in Reformed Theology at Pittsburgh Theolo ...

(Th. M. degree) – holds the Hugh Thomson Kerr Chair in Pastoral Theology at

Pittsburgh Theological Seminary Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (PTS) is a Presbyterian graduate seminary in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1794, it houses one of the largest theological libraries in the tri-state area. History Pittsburgh Theological Seminary was formed ...

* Mack B. Stokes (B.D. degree, 1935) – retired bishop of the United Methodist Church *

Randall Wallace Randall Wallace (born July 28, 1949) is an American screenwriter, film director, producer, and songwriter who came to prominence by writing the screenplay for the historical drama film ''Braveheart'' (1995). His work on the film earned him a nom ...

(Did not graduate, but did attend) – Hollywood screenwriter, producer and director, involved with '' Braveheart,'' ''The Man in the Iron Mask,'' ''Pearl Harbor,'' and ''We Were Soldiers'' * Roy Kinneer Patteson Jr., Th.M, 1964; Ph.D graduate studies in religion 1967. Noted ancient language scholar, authority on the origin of the alphabet and former president of Southern Virginia University and King College *Sandra Steiner Ball (M.Div. 1987) – a

of the

* Jacob C. Martinson Jr. (1957) – former president of

Andrew College Andrew College is a private liberal arts college in Cuthbert, Georgia. It is associated with The United Methodist Church and is the ninth-oldest college in Georgia. Andrew is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Comm ...

Brevard College Brevard College is a private college in Brevard, North Carolina. The college grants the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree. History Brevard College was named for Ephraim Brevard, a teacher and one of the local leaders that produc ...

, and

High Point University High Point University is a private university in High Point, North Carolina. It is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. The university was founded as High Point College in 1924, and it became High Point University in October 1991. HPU of ...

* Beverly Roberts Gaventa (Ph.D. degree) – distinguished professor of New Testament interpretation at

Baylor University Baylor University is a private Baptist Christian research university in Waco, Texas. Baylor was chartered in 1845 by the last Congress of the Republic of Texas. Baylor is the oldest continuously operating university in Texas and one of the fir ...

and Helen H.P. Manson Professor of New Testament Literature and Exegesis Emerita at

Princeton Theological Seminary Princeton Theological Seminary (PTSem), officially The Theological Seminary of the Presbyterian Church, is a private school of theology in Princeton, New Jersey. Founded in 1812 under the auspices of Archibald Alexander, the General Assembly of t ...

*Hugh A. Westbrook (M.Div., 1970) – hospice pioneer and co-founder of Hospice Care, Inc (later

VITAS Healthcare VITAS® Healthcare is a provider of end-of-life care in the United States. Operating 49 hospice programs in 14 states and the District of Columbia, VITAS employs 11,000 professionals and serves an average daily census of more than 18,000 patien ...

) *Ryan P. Tinetti (D.Min., 2018) – pastor of historic Trinity Lutheran Church ( Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod) Arcadia, MI.

Awards and prizes

Among its student awards, the Divinity School awards a prize for Excellence in Writing in honor of the American theologian and writer,

Frederick Buechner Carl Frederick Buechner ( ; July 11, 1926 – August 15, 2022) was an American author, Presbyterianism, Presbyterian Minister (Christianity), minister, preacher, and theologian. The author of thirty-nine published books, his work encompassed d ...

. Winners of the prize are selected by faculty in recognition of their significant achievements in these areas. Other annual student awards include the Award for Excellence in Bible, the Hoyt Hickman Award for Excellence in Liturgics, and the Jameson Jones Preaching Award.

References

External links

*
Duke UniversityThe Religion in North Carolina Digital Collection
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Divinity School A seminary, school of theology, theological seminary, or divinity school is an educational institution for educating students (sometimes called ''seminarians'') in scripture, theology, generally to prepare them for ordination to serve as clergy ...

Methodism in North Carolina Seminaries and theological colleges in North Carolina United Methodist seminaries Educational institutions established in 1926 1926 establishments in North Carolina Protestant seminaries and theological colleges