Published on August 29, 2018 by Andrew Russell  
Hodges Chapel

Beeson Divinity School’s Lay Academy of Theology at Samford University has announced new courses for Fall 2018. Centered around the theme, “A Journey of Faith,” students will be encouraged to live out Paul’s instruction to “walk in Christ” (Col 2:6).

Since 2001, Beeson’s Lay Academy offers non-credit courses taught by Beeson faculty for interested laity as well as ministers desiring continuing education.

Evening classes will begin Sept. 24 with a course called, The Psalms and Christian Existence Today, taught by Mark Gignilliat, professor of divinity. With the understanding that the Psalter is the prayerbook of the church, Gignilliat will lead students deeper into the Psalms and consider their relationship to contemporary Christian life.

Beginning Sept. 25, Sydney Park, associate professor of divinity, will teach an evening course called, 1 Peter: The Character of Heirs Amid Persecution, which will examine the privilege and burden of Christian calling, especially with regard to persecution of Christians in the first century.

Beginning Sept. 26, Piotr Małysz, associate professor of divinity, will teach an evening course called, The Holy Spirit. Students will be led through the biblical foundations of the doctrine of the Holy Spirit and then move to the development of the doctrine of the Spirit throughout church history. Małysz will end the class with some contemporary theological reflection.

Beeson’s Lay Academy also offers weekday courses taught by Gerald Bray. The God of Love: Studies in the Epistles of John begins Sept. 27. In this course, Bray will offer extended exegetical and theological reflection on each of John’s short epistles. Beginning Jan. 23, 2019, Bray will teach The English Reformation, which will examine the greatest single event in England’s history and one that continues to shape the English-speaking world.

The cost of each course is $89 if registered prior to the third week in September and $115 thereafter. Visit Lay Academy’s webpage for more information and to register for a course.

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 6,101 students from 45 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.