Friday, April 28, 2006
- NTS News
Dr. K. Steve McCormick was installed in the William M. Greathouse Chair of Wesleyan-Holiness Theology on Tuesday, April 25. Dr. McCormick, NTS Professor of Historical Theology, has been a part of the NTS community since fall 2004.
The installation chapel celebrated the life and legacy of Dr. William Greathouse. It was with the intent of honoring his heritage, that the William M. Greathouse Chair of Wesleyan-Holiness Theology was established at NTS. Dr. Greathouse served as NTS President and Professor of Theology from 1968 – 1976, at which time he was elected General Superintendent in the Church of the Nazarene. Prior to his ministry at NTS, Dr. Greathouse had served as a Nazarene pastor in Tennessee and as Professor, Dean of Religion, and President of Trevecca Nazarene College (now University). His long and distinguished publishing ministry includes books such as Wholeness in Christ, Love Made Perfect, and The Fullness of the Sprit; many articles in The Preacher’s Magazine, Holiness Today, and the Wesleyan Theological Journal; commentaries on Romans in the Beacon Bible commentary and Beacon Bible Expositions; and years of contribution to adult Sunday school literature. A model preacher, leader, churchman, author, and scholar, Dr. Greathouse’s life and influence continues to inspire thousands of clergy and laity who have been touched by his ministry and his passionate service to Christ and the Church.
The NTS Community owes a debt of gratitude to Dr. Gordon Wetmore, NTS President Emeritus, for his initiation of this faculty chair and his work to fully fund it over the past decade. In the installation chapel, Dr. Ron Benefiel thanked Dr. Wetmore for his continued diligence in working to find funding for the chair even after his retirement. To fully fund a faculty chair, $1.5 million is needed. To date, NTS has received gifts and pledges totaling about $1.37 million. Friends of NTS as well as that of Dr. Greathouse are encouraged to assist in the remaining $130,000 needed to fully fund the chair by making tax-deductible contributions. Online gifts may be made at anytime here on the NTS website.
You may listen to Dr. McCormick’s installation addresstitled, “Easter Faith and Entire Sanctification” here on the NTS website. Dr. McCormick earned his Ph.D. in Historical Theology from Drew University in 1984 with his dissertation on John Wesley’s Use of John Chrysostom on Christian Life. Dr. McCormick has published articles in many academic journals including the Wesleyan Theological Journal, Quarterly Review, St. Vladimir’s Theological Journal, Theology Today, and Asbury Theology Journal. He also has contributed to the Encyclopedia of Protestantism. He recently gave the Rothwell Holiness Lectures at Southern Nazarene University and presented papers at the Tenth and the Eleventh Oxford Institutes for Methodist Theological Studies. Dr. McCormick is an active member in the Eastern Orthodox Study Group and Wesleyan Studies Group of the American Academy of Religion, serving as the Chair of Wesleyan Studies Group (2001-2007). He also chairs the Theology Section of the Wesleyan Theological Society, of which he previously served as president (2000-2001). McCormick is an ordained elder in the Church of the Nazarene and has spoken at revivals, camp meetings, pastors & mates retreats, and worship seminars, as well as serving in interim pastoral roles.
Also included with the chapel audio are the remarks shared by Dr. Greathouse and NTS President Benefiel, as well as the special tribute presented by Dr. Paul Bassett (NTS Professor Emeritus of the History of Christianity).
The Litany and Prayer of Installation that was read by the NTS community (also available on the chapel audio) is as follows:
Dean Hahn: William M. Greathouse served as President and Professor of Theology at Nazarene Theological Seminary from 1968-1976. His classes in Romans and Wesleyan Theology were very influential in the Seminary community and in the Church at large. To honor his heritage and to perpetuate his ministry, the William M. Greathouse Chair of Wesleyan-Holiness Theology has been established at NTS. Kelley Steve McCormick, through the process established by the Faculty Handbook, you have been nominated and elected to serve as the first William M. Greathouse Professor of Wesleyan-Holiness Theology. I charge you today to model scholarship and churchmanship in the tradition of Dr. Greathouse. I charge you to give Wesleyan-Holiness Theology a clear and prominent voice in the curriculum of Nazarene Theological Seminary as long as you occupy this chair.
Faculty: Dr. McCormick, we welcome you to the William M. Greathouse Chair of Wesleyan-Holiness Theology. We charge you to serve as a partner with us in preserving, interpreting, and revitalizing the gifts of Wesleyan-Holiness Theology in the Seminary curriculum and community. We invite you to model among us the theological scholarship, the holy churchmanship, and catholic spirit of William M. Greathouse.
Students: Dr. McCormick, the understandings of holiness that we bring to Seminary are as varied as our diverse backgrounds. Teach us Wesleyan Theology, not as a sectarian apologetic, but as a deep and living stream from which we may drink of the Christian faith and understand the Scriptures. Model for us holiness of heart and life so that we may see Wesleyan-Holiness Theology incarnated.
Dr. McCormick: I give thanks to God and to this community for the honor of being elected to the William M. Greathouse Chair of Wesleyan-Holiness Theology. I will give myself to the tradition of scholarship, churchmanship, and passion for ministry demonstrated so graciously and capably by Dr. Greathouse. I will do all within my ability to teach Wesleyan Theology and to model holiness of heart and life.
All: Dr. McCormick, we will pray for you and your wife, Tricia. May God give you wisdom and grace for your ministries among us as the William M. Greathouse Professor of Wesleyan-Holiness Theology. We charge you to love the Lord, to know the Lord, to speak about the Lord, and to walk with the Lord. Help us to do the same.