Exciting new chapter in life

I thought it might be worth sharing with my readers some news about a new chapter my family and I are going to embark upon later this year.

Beginning in August, I will join the faculty of Memphis Theological Seminary in Memphis, Tennessee. I'll teach in the area of historical theology and Wesleyan studies, and a part of my position will include guiding the seminary's United Methodist students through the required courses in the history, doctrine, & polity of the UMC.

This is a wonderful opportunity for my family and me. In terms of my sense of vocation, it is a dream come true: I will be able to combine my love of the church and the Wesleyan tradition with the opportunity to teach in a seminary environment where preparation for Christian ministry is highly valued. My wife Emily and I are both excited at the prospect of moving to the Memphis area (which is close to where both of us grew up), and we're happy that little Alice Elizabeth is going to be close to her grandparents. I also think the MTS faculty is going to be a great group of scholars and pastors with whom to work in the coming years.

(Arkansas United Methodist, 4-Feb-11)

The past five years in Durham, North Carolina, have been wonderful for us. We love Duke and the friends we've made here. The two years I spent as the pastor of Mt. Carmel UMC in nearby Henderson during my doctoral studies were a tremendous blessing, and that community continues to be a means of grace in my life. But the time to move on to the next chapter in our lives is finally here, and I think the MTS community is going to be an ideal place for us to plant roots and engage in the work of ministry. We sense the guidance of the Holy Spirit at work in all of this, trusting that "all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28).

There's still the little matter of a dissertation to finish, of course, but I'm keeping my nose to the grindstone and trusting in God's grace to lead me through to the end!

Memphis Theological Seminary is a seminary of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. It is located in the heart of Memphis and truly embodies the best of the ecumenical tradition in its approach to theological education, its embrace of many denominations within the Christian family in its faculty and student body, and its engagement with the ministries of churches in the city of Memphis. Here's a link to the history of MTS on the seminary's website.