Samford University’s Beeson Divinity School will welcome Ian McFarland, Robert W. Woodruff Professor of Theology at Emory University’s Candler School of Theology, Nov. 1-3, to deliver the school’s annual Reformation Heritage Lectures.
He will deliver two lectures and give a sermon on the theme: “'Not by Bread Alone': Justification and the Christian Hope.”
A Lutheran lay theologian, McFarland began his teaching career at the University of Aberdeen in 1998 and then served as Regius Professor of Divinity at the University of Cambridge from 2015-2019. During his time at Cambridge, he also held the Bishop Mack B. and Rose Stokes Chair of Theology and served as associate dean of faculty and academic affairs. His research and instruction focus on Christology, eschatology, theological anthropology and the doctrine of creation.
McFarland holds degrees from Union College, Union Theological Seminary, The Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, The University of Cambridge and the University of Aberdeen. McFarland’s scholarship is distinguished with various awards, including his election to the American Theological Society in 2011 and fellow of Selwyn College, Cambridge in 2015. He is a contributing author to a breadth of theological journals and the editor and co-author of two books. Notably, he is the sole author of six books including, The Word Made Flesh: A Theology of the Incarnation (Westminster John Knox Press, 2019), From Nothing: A Theology of Creation (Westminster John Knox, 2014) and In Adam's Fall: A Meditation on the Christian Doctrine of Original Sin (Wiley-Blackwell, 2010).
In addition to the Reformation Heritage Lectures, the Robert Smith Jr. Preaching Institute will host a special lunch lecture with McFarland on the topic "Preaching the Resurrection." Lunch is included for those who register.
The Reformation Heritage Lectures schedule is as follows:
Tuesday, Nov. 1
11 a.m.-12 p.m.
"What Jesus Wouldn't Do"
Eph. 1:11-23
Hodges Chapel
Wednesday, Nov. 2
11 a.m.-12 p.m.
"The Lord of Glory"
Divinity Hall N-101
12:15 p.m.-1:15 p.m.
"Preaching the Resurrection"
Divinity Hall N-101
Lunch lecture sponsored by the Robert Smith Jr. Preaching Institute.
Thursday, Nov. 3
11 a.m.-12 p.m.
"The Hope of Glory"
Divinity Hall N-101
Beeson Divinity School sponsors the Reformation Heritage Lectures each year during Reformation Week in recognition of the profound impact of the Protestant Reformation on the global Christian church.
The lectures are free and open to the public.