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MILLIGAN COLLEGE , TN (November 2, 2004) — Milligan will inaugurate the Henry and Emerald Webb “In Search of Christian Unity” lecture series next week. It is the second new lecture series established at the college in the past year to discuss the heritage of the churches with which Milligan is affiliated.
Dr. Henry Webb, professor emeritus of church history at Milligan College and one of the leading Restoration Movement church historians, and Dr. Robert Hull, dean and professor of New Testament at Emmanuel School of Religion, will be this year’s keynote speakers.
Webb will present “The Historical Significance of the Scriptures for the Restoration Movement” lecture on Tuesday, Nov. 9, and Hull will speak on “The Importance of the Scriptures in the Christian Churches Today” on Thursday, Nov. 11. Both lectures are at 11 a.m. in Seeger Memorial Chapel and are free and open to the public.
“Throughout its history, Milligan has maintained an active relationship with the church. The purpose of the lectures is to build up the church by focusing on topics, ideas and issues that impact the church,” said Milligan College President Don Jeanes.
The churches with which Milligan is affiliated share a common heritage in what is often called “The Restoration Movement.” This 19th-century unity and restoration effort by Barton W. Stone and Thomas and Alexander Campbell has generated the Churches of Christ, the Christian Churches, and the Disciples of Christ.
Webb has spent his life helping students, ministers and lay people understand the guiding principles of Christian unity, explained Jeanes.
“Funded by Webb’s children, this lecture series is designed to promote a better understanding of the restoration heritage,” said Jeanes.
Webb served as professor and area chair of Bible at Milligan College for over 40 years and has also taught at Emmanuel School of Religion. Throughout his education and career, Webb has led church ministries at several local congregations, including First Christian Church of Erwin, Tenn. He holds a degree in Bible from Cincinnati Bible Seminary, a Ph.B. in philosophy from Xavier University , a bachelor of divinity degree in theology and a doctorate in theology from Southern Baptist Theology Seminary.
Hull was the first National Merit Scholar to study at Milligan College, where he was much influenced by New Testament Professor Beauford Bryant, who encouraged him to become a college teacher. Hull went on to earn a master of divinity degree from Emmanuel School of Religion and Ph.D. in biblical studies degree from Princeton Theological Seminary. He returned to Emmanuel, where he has taught for nearly 27 years.
Hull has been a visiting scholar at Duke University, The University of Tübingen in Germany, Emory University, Macquarie University in Australia, and The Institute for Ecumenical and Cultural Research at St. John’s University in Minnesota. He has served in ministry with churches in Kentucky and Maryland.
“We are grateful for the passion that Dr. Webb and Dr. Hull both share for our heritage and we are thankful to the Webb family for making this lecture series possible,” said Jeanes.
For more information, please contact the President’s Office at 423.461.8710.