By Sarah Carlson, Arts Editor
Dr. James Thompson, professor and associate dean of the Graduate School of Theology, will replace Dr. David Wray as the Robert and Kay Onstead chair of Undergraduate Bible, and Dr. Jeff Childers, associate professor of Bible, ministry and missions, will be the new Carmichael-Walling Chair in the Graduate School of Theology beginning this fall.
The endowed chairs have a three-year rotating basis, which allows time for research to be conducted. The Onstead and Carmichael-Walling chairs are academic chairs, which are different from a department chair.
Wray recently stepped down as the chair of the Department of Bible, Missions and Ministry, and Dr. Jack Reese, dean of the College of Biblical Studies, said the department is a long way from filling Wray’s department chair position.
The chairs are allowed time to travel and to complete research in their area of interest, and Reese said Thompson is probably one of the most distinguished faculty members in the college.
“He is one of our finest scholars,” Reese said. “His work on the book of Hebrews is among the most important on the study of Hebrews anywhere. In a variety of ways, he is ideally suited for [the position].”
Thompson will continue hold the position of associate dean of the Graduate School of Theology for at least the next year and said he is ready to be the Onstead chair.
“I’m looking forward to the chair very much,” Thompson said. “I’m looking forward to the extended research in other countries.”
Thompson said he will work on several research projects while he is chair, one being the continuation of his research on the Epistle to the Hebrews-a book he has studied for most of his career. He said some of his favorite places to conduct research are in libraries at Yale and Princeton universities. Thompson also has traveled to Germany several summers, saying the University of T�bingen has one of the greatest libraries in that country. He said he has not decided whether he will travel overseas for his research, and he also will work on researching the history of preaching, something else he has spent time on.
In the meantime, as chair, Thompson said he will continue to focus on and fine-tune the quality of education in the College of Biblical Studies.
Childers was approached by a committee of all tenured faculty in the Graduate School of Theology to fill the Carmichael-Walling position and said he is very excited to be chair. The former chair was Dr. Carroll Osburn, whom Childers studied under, and Childers said he benefited from him while he was chair.
“It’s exciting to be in that same position,” Childers said, “and to follow in the footsteps of one of my teachers.”
Childers’ area of research focuses on New Testament textual criticism and studying ancient manuscripts. He also researches early Christianity and is currently working on a biography of a 5th Century missionary and translating Georgian texts. His research as the chair will begin in the summer when he will attend a North American Patristic Society conference to present a paper of his.
“He will bring great vision and energy to this role,” said Reese in an e-mail announcement to employees of the College of Biblical Studies.
“We are excited about this opportunity and believe it best serves both Jeff and the entire Graduate School of Theology. This role will allow Jeff to focus his work, both in his coursework assignments in the GST and in his research.”
