Braxton Accepts Endowed Chair at Southern Methodist University
01-31-2012
By Michele Edwards
The Reverend Dr. Brad R. Braxton has accepted an invitation from Southern Methodist University to serve as the Lois Craddock Perkins Professor of Homiletics at Perkins School of Theology in Dallas, effective June 1, 2012. This appointment makes Dr. Braxton the first African American with an appointment to an endowed chair at Southern.
Dr. Braxton joined McCormick Theological Seminary as Distinguished Visiting Scholar during the 2010-2011 school year. In this capacity he not only taught New Testament and Homiletics courses, Dr. Braxton also preached within and outside of the McCormick community, led scholarly discussions and represented the Seminary in local and national forums.
Upon learning of Dr. Braxton‘s appointment Frank M. Yamada, president of McCormick Theological Seminary said, "Though Dr. Braxton became a visiting distinguished professor at McCormick to renew himself and his family, he has, in the process, reinvigorated our commitment to scholarly excellence and cross-cultural rigor. He has been a wonderful partner in our vision, even in the brief time that he has spent with us. We look forward to our future collaborations, of which I am sure there will be many. We wish only the best for him and his family as they continue to pursue a ministry that seeks to transform theological education and the church."
A Jefferson Scholar at the University of Virginia and a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University, Dr. Braxton received his Ph.D. in New Testament Studies from Emory University, quickly gaining a reputation as a top-tier Biblical scholar in the classroom and a captivating, sought-after preacher in the pulpit.
Prior to coming to McCormick, Dr. Braxton served in both academic and parish settings. He was senior minister at The Riverside Church in New York City in 2008 and from 1995 to 2000 was senior pastor of Douglas Memorial Community Church in Baltimore, Maryland. He also served as Jessie Ball duPont Assistant Professor of Homiletics and Biblical Studies at Wake Forest University Divinity School, and then joined Vanderbilt University Divinity School’s faculty as associate professor of Homiletics and New Testament.
Dr. Braxton is the author of three books, Preaching Paul (2004); No Longer Slaves: Galatians and African American Experience (2002); and The Tyranny of Resolution: I Corinthians 7:17-24 (2000); as well as numerous articles, published sermons and lectures.
McCormick’s Dean of Faculty Dr. Luis Rivera said, “We are grateful for the last two years that Dr. Braxton has spent with McCormick. His contributions to the community are many, including his energizing and scholarly classes and presentations, his insightful and inspiring sermons and conversations and his gracious and supportive relationships with peers and students. We look forward to continued colleagueship and collaboration.”
An important part of Chicago’s religious life since its move to the city in 1859, McCormick Theological Seminary prepares women and men for Christian ministry, advancing a model of education that is urban, cross-cultural, ecumenical and Reformed. McCormick is one of 12 schools related to the Presbyterian Church (USA) and is an accredited member of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS) and is affiliated with the University of Chicago, the Hyde Park Cluster of Theological Schools and the Association of Chicago Theological Schools (ACTS).