Harding School of Theology: a seminary in Memphis

It’s not too late to join the great group of students who will be starting their studies at HST this fall. HST offers masters degrees in ministry, theology, and counseling as well as the Doctor of Ministry degree.

Our students are men and women from all walks of life, with a variety of undergraduate majors from more than 50 universities and colleges. With residential and distance programs available, current HST students live in more than 20 states.

Our faculty are world class scholars who blend a passion for academic excellence with a love for the church. It’s academic, but it’s not just academic – the things we study are of eternal significance.

Apply today to become a part of the community at HST. Tuition grant money is available for qualified students. Complete your admission and scholarship application online for quickest response time.

At the Spiritual Growth Workshop in Orlando, FL, this weekend, several people visited our table and mentioned articles from the most recent Bridge. We always appreciate hearing from readers and we pray that this issue is a blessing as well.

The Spring 2012 issue of The Bridge is now available online. This issue features information about the new Master of Arts in Ministerial Counseling degree, Alumnus of the Year Ed Short, counseling alum Marisol Rosas-Biser, and other news and articles about life on campus. Read it here.

The HST Student Association fundraiser is back! Order drink ware, apparel and more to show your school spirit. Orders will be taken through August 3rd and delivered the week of August 20th. You may order online or download a printable form to order in person or by mail.

Ed Short, 2012 Alumnus of the Year

Lewis Edward (Ed) Short has been named the 2012 Alumnus of the Year. This award was presented at the annual Advancement Council luncheon on the campus of Harding School of Theology, April 24, 2012. Ed earned his M.A. from Harding School of Theology, formerly Harding University Graduate School of Religion, in 1976. He received a Certificate in Mandarin Chinese from the Taipei Language Institute in 1969 and a special study (Chinese) from Vanderbilt University Graduate School in 1970.

Ed began his career teaching freshman Bible and senior speech at David Lipscomb High School. He was a missionary to Taiwan for 16 years, with 13 years of physical residence. He has served as pulpit minister of Paragon Mills Church of Christ in Nashville, Tenn. Ed is currently a writer/producer for World Christian Broadcasting, and has written several hundred scripts since 1985 and numerous other articles, mostly in Chinese.

Ed married Sharon Clemons in 1966 and they have two children, Alethea and Lewis, both graduates of Harding University. Alethea has two children and lives in Troy, Mich. Lewis, a missionary in Italy for 13 years, is married to Tamara Reese Short, with whom he has three children. Lewis is a student at Harding School of Theology.

Jimmy Moffett (left) and Ed Short

Ed joins a distinguished list of Alumni of the Year, from Jimmy Moffett, the first Alumnus of the Year in 1979, to Dwight Albright, the 2011 Alumnus of the Year. We often say that your return on investment in a student at HST is more than the diploma they receive. The return is all the student accomplishes after graduation. Ed is a perfect example of a servant who is worth more than the investment. We are proud of you, Ed!

This article appears in the forthcoming Spring 2012 Issue of The Bridge

Quintin Baker in the HST Theological Library

Quintin Baker, HST student, died Thursday morning in Clarksville, AR. Baker, 26, was home for the summer and died from complications related to an on-going illness. He almost always had a smile on his face, and was known for his gentle spirit and excellent scholarship.

Visitation will be at the Hardwicke Funeral Home in Clarksville this Sunday from 4:00 to 6:00. The funeral will be at 10:00 Monday at the Church of Christ, 2211 West Main Street in Clarksville.

Please join with the HST community in grieving Quintin’s loss and praying for his family.

On May 18-19th, twelve scholars gathered at Harding School of Theology to
discuss “Ephesus As a Religious Center under the Principate” (roughly the first three centuries of the Roman empire). The speakers included archaeologists and New Testament scholars from: Austria, New Zealand, and various parts of the United States. They gathered to present papers ranging from recent archaeological discoveries in Ephesus to various cultural features connected with Ephesus that illuminate elements of early Christianity.

The presenters and over 200 attendees gathered in honor of Dr. Richard Oster on the occasion of his 65th birthday. Oster, who has taught New Testament at Harding School of Theology since 1978, has focused much of his academic energies and publishing on materials related to Ephesus and authored the internationally acclaimed article from which the conference got its title. The proceedings of the conference are to be published in a book.

To honor Dr. Oster for his 65th birthday, you may donate a book to the Graves Memorial Library at HST in his honor. Click to order.

HST is preparing to welcome visitors from around the world to the Ephesus Conference, honoring Professor Richard Oster on the occasion of his 65th birthday.

Information for Visitors to our Campus

• Campus Map
• Conference staff will be available throughout the conference at the concierge table in the Dr. W.B. West, Jr. Center to help make your HST experience complete. Conference programs, lists of local restaurants, and other helpful items are available at the table.
• All conference presentations will be in the auditorium in the Dr. W.B. West, Jr. Center. Please feel free to visit the rest of our campus as well.
• Refreshments will be served during breaks in the Student Lounge, which is just outside the auditorium.
• The official Twitter hashtag for the Ephesus Conference is #EphCon. Use it wisely!
• The L.M. Graves Memorial Library will be hosting a reception at 3:00 pm on Friday. Enjoy the Ephesus display, our restoration collection, and the Thomas Kinkade art collection, “Impressions of Israel”. Wi-fi is available in the library along with computers for public use. If you would like a tour, just ask.
• There is ample parking on our campus. There is a small lot off the driveway as you enter from Cherry Road, and a larger lot behind the E. H. Ijams Administration Building (a.k.a. the mansion). Please respect reserved spaces.

Some of our photos from Gradutaion 2012 are now available in our photo archives. Enjoy!

Photo Archive

Congratulations to the Harding School of Theology Class of 2012. You’ve worked so hard to come to this day, and we’re proud of you! We’re excited to see how God will continue to use you to bless Christians and churches around the world.

Master of Arts

Jeremy Adam Anguish – East Texas Christian Academy
David M. Chalenburg – Vocational Ministry
William Stewart Denman, Jr. – Preaching/Teaching
Keith Elwin Gant – Sunset International Bible Institute, Singapore

Master of Arts in Christian Ministry

Winston Batino – Congregational Ministry
Robert C. Bliss, Jr. – Congregational Ministry
James H. Grose - Congregational Ministry
Kevin Eugene Holland - Congregational Ministry
Neil Landon Reynolds – Youth Ministry
Jason Andrew Swick – Campus Ministry

Master of Arts in Counseling

Fredrick Gillam, Jr.

Master of Divinity

David Clint Burnett – PhD Study
Jason Brett Dougherty – Dean of Students, OVU
Edgar Taylor Francis, Jr. – Southern Christian Home, Morrilton, AR
Eric Allen Hallett – Preaching Ministry
James Ray Mitchell – Library Science/Ministry
Keith Edwin Sheets, Jr. – Missions, Northern Scotland
Jonathan David Strasser – Missions, Tanzania
Cynthia Marie Turner – Military Chaplaincy
Chadwick Adrian Wagner – Missions, Tanzania

Doctor of Ministry

Clifford Lee Holladay – Congregational Ministry
Mark Kelcy Parker – Young Adult Ministry

The 54th Annual Commencement of Harding School of Theology will be held Saturday, May 12, at 10:00 in the W.B. West, Jr. center auditorium. The commencement speaker will be Bobby Lawson, minister with the Park Forest Church of Christ in Matteson, IL. We will celebrate with 22 graduates who are prepared for a variety of ministries including preaching, missions, counseling, education, military chaplaincy, and youth, campus, and young adult ministry. Congratulations to our graduates and their families!