By Scarlett Birge, student news writer, Office of University Communications
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – As part of Campbellsville University’s Baptist Lecture Series, Dr. Steven R. Harmon, professor of historical theology of the Gardner-Webb University School of Divinity, will host a lecture titled “Baptist Ecumenical Trailblazers” via Zoom on March 17 at 6 p.m. All are invited to attend.
Harmon began teaching in the School of Divinity in 2010. He teaches Christian Theology and Christian History, and he has also taught Christian Ethics, Introduction to Theological Education for Ministry, Theory and Practice of Ministry, Capstone Seminar, elective courses in ecumenism and Baptist studies and the Doctor of Ministry seminar “Educating the Church through Christian Spirituality.”
He is the author of several books including: “Every Knee Should Bow: Biblical Rationales for Universal Salvation in Early Christian Thought,” “Towards Baptist Catholicity: Essays on Tradition and the Baptist Vision,” “Ecumenism Means You, Too: Ordinary Christians and the Quest for Christian Unity,” “Baptist Identity and the Ecumenical Future: Story, Tradition, and the Recovery of Community” and his upcoming book “Baptists, Catholics, and the Whole Church: Partners in the Pilgrimage to Unity,” as well serving as co-editor with Amy L. Chilton of “Sources of Light: Resources for Baptist Churches Practicing Theology.”
Harmon has published numerous journal articles, chapters in multi-author books and general readership publications. He is book review editor for “Perspectives in Religious Studies” and former associate editor of “Review and Expositor.”
He serves on the editorial boards of “Pacific Journal of Baptist Research,” the “Journal of Baptist Theology in Context” and the Centre for Baptist Studies in Oxford Publications series.
Prior to teaching in the School of Divinity, Harmon was associate professor of Christian Theology at Campbell University Divinity School in Buies Creek, N.C., and associate professor of Divinity at Samford University’s Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, Ala. He has served as a visiting professor at Duke University Divinity School in Durham, N.C., and Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, S.C.
Harmon has served as pastor of three churches in Texas, interim pastor of churches in North Carolina and guest preacher and teacher in numerous congregations in Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Maryland and Virginia.
He is a member of the First Baptist Church of Forest City, N.C., and is an active member of the Commission on Doctrine and Christian Unity of the Baptist World Alliance. He has represented in ecumenical dialogues with the Anglican Communion, the Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox churches and as a plenary member of the World Council of Churches Commission on Faith and Order.
Harmon holds a Bachelor of Arts from Howard Payne University and a Master of Divinity and Ph.D. from the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has attended and studied at several universities across the United States and in Germany.
He is married to Kheresa Wedding Harmon, director of admissions for the School of Divinity, and they have a son, Timothy.
Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university that has enrolled up to 12,000 students yearly. The university offers over 100 programs of study including doctoral, masters, bachelors, associate and certification programs. The website for complete information is www.campbellsville.edu.