The Divinity School at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, 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 evangelica ...

. 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 employed person (or student) in a way that makes workloads or class loads comparable across various contexts. FTE is often used to measure a ...

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 University ...

, 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 ch ...

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, t ...

'' 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 South ...

, 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 Ellen F. Davis (born November 20, 1950) is an American theologian and Old Testament scholar. She is the Amos Ragan Kearns Distinguished Professor of Bible and Practical Theology at Duke Divinity School. Biography Davis has degrees from University ...

, 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 Richard Bevan Hays (born May 4, 1948) is an American New Testament scholar and George Washington Ivey Professor Emeritus of New Testament Duke Divinity School in Durham, North Carolina. He is an ordained minister in the United Methodist Church. ...

, 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, 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 Timothy B. Tyson (born 1959) is an American writer and historian who specializes in the issues of culture, religion, and race associated with the Civil Rights Movement. He is a senior research scholar at the Center for Documentary Studies at Du ...

, 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 Samuel Wells (August 15, 1801 – July 15, 1868) was an American politician and the 25th Governor of Maine. Biography Samuel Wells was born in Durham, New Hampshire on August 15, 1801. He was educated at local schools, studied law, and was adm ...

, 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 Boulto ...

(

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 ...

of the

* Kenneth H. Carter Jr. (

) – a

of the

and Bishop-in-Residence at Duke Divinity School *

Finis Alonzo Crutchfield Jr. Finis Alonzo Crutchfield Jr. ( – ) was a noted American clergyman and a bishop in the United Methodist Church. He began his pastoral career after graduating from Duke University Divinity School in 1940. His first assignment was First United Me ...

(1940) – bishop of the United Methodist Church (1972–1974) *

Ernest A. Fitzgerald Ernest A. Fitzgerald (24 July 1925 – 27 September 2001) was an American bishop of the United Methodist Church, elected in 1984. Birth and family He was born in Crouse, North Carolina. He married Sarah Frances Perry of Wingate, North Carolina 24 ...

(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 De ...

(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 ...

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 estab ...

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

Vergel L. Lattimore Vergel L. Lattimore is a retired brigadier general in the United States 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 milit ...

(

1977) – Air National Guard brigadier general * Deidre Palmer, 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 ...

(

1979) – former president of the United Methodist Council of

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

(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 ">SA/nowiki>). He holds the Chair in Reformed Theology at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.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 forme ...

Mack B. Stokes Marion "Mack" Boyd Stokes (December 21, 1911 – November 21, 2012) was an American bishop of the United Methodist Church, elected in 1972. He was born in Wonsan, Korea of missionary parents. He is a graduate of Asbury College ( A.B. degre ...

(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. Roy Kinneer Patteson Jr. was an American scholar whose knowledge of Biblical Hebrew, Aramaic, Syriac and Hellenistic Greek enabled him to undertake an analysis of the text of the Ben Sira Scroll discovered at Masada in Palestine in 1964. His re ...

, 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 Southern Virginia University (SVU) is a private liberal arts college in Buena Vista, Virginia. The college, though not officially affiliated with a particular faith, embraces the values of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS C ...

and King College *Sandra Steiner Ball (M.Div. 1987) – a

of the

Jacob C. Martinson Jr. Jacob C. Martinson was the president of High Point University from 1985 to 2005. He graduated from the Duke Divinity School in 1957. Martinson is an ordained United Methodist minister and has served as President of Andrew College in Georgia and ...

(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 Commis ...

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 produce ...

, 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 Beverly Roberts Gaventa is Distinguished Professor of New Testament Interpretation at Baylor UniversityBaylor 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 ...

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 o ...

*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, Presbyterian minister, preacher, and theologian. The author of thirty-nine published books, his work encompassed different genres, including fiction, autobi ...

. 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