By Jaci Schneider, Staff Writer

The Bible Department is taking strides to make ACU more culturally diverse

As part of ACU’s quest to promote diversity, the Department of Bible, Missions and Ministry will offer two new courses next fall to broaden the department’s cultural scope.

Dr. Jerry Taylor, assistant professor of Bible, missions and ministry, will teach Preaching in African-American Congregations, and Dr. Edward Robinson, assistant professor of Bible, missions and ministry, will teach The Participation of African-Americans in the Restoration Movement.

“This is an attempt to put flesh and bones on the effort to create diversity in the department and the university,” Taylor said.

His class will focus on the structure of sermons and preaching styles in black churches.

“I hope that a class such as this will attract not only African-Americans, but also other cultures to worship cross-culturally,” said Taylor.

He said he sees the opportunity of teaching the course as a way to contribute to the unity of the body of Christ across cultural lines. Taylor said he is happy to see ACU’s commitment to diversity being brought together, and he’s glad to be a part of it.

Robinson will teach a course that examines the lives and contributions of influential black Christians in the Restoration Move-ment. Robinson said in an e-mail that he is excited to teach this course.

The Restoration Move-ment took place in the 19th century to restore Christ-ianity to its earliest form. It gave birth to the Churches of Christ, Christian Churches and Disciples of Christ. Without knowledge of the black participants, the portrait of the Restoration Movement is incomplete, Robinson said.

“I feel extremely blessed and honored to be part of offering such a course,” Robinson said, “because I know that my knowledge and understanding will grow.”