Heritage Christian University
Encyclopedia
Heritage Christian University is a primarily undergraduate university in Florence
, Alabama
. It is affiliated with churches of Christ.
The university is governed by a Board of Directors, all of whom must be active members of the churches of Christ.
to become the school’s first president.
Coil soon persuaded Basil Overton, a well-known preacher in the churches of Christ, to become the school’s Vice President. Together, Coil and Overton established The World Evangelist, a monthly newsletter for churches. At the height of publication, The World Evangelist had more subscribers than any other paper in churches of Christ.
Coil remained the university’s president until a decline in health forced his retirement. Dennis Jones became the school’s second president on January 1, 1990. Under Jones’ leadership, the school added a graduate program and changed its name from International Bible College to Heritage Christian University.
Accelerated College Education program options are available for those with accredited degrees. It is typically a 33-hour program that relies on the general education requirements of the degree already earned.
In the graduate program, the university offers a 36-hour curriculum leading to either the of Arts
or the Master of Ministry. Students enrolled in the MA program may choose a major in one of three categories: Old Testament/Hebrew Bible and Early Judaism, History of Biblical Interpretation and Theology, or New Testament and Early Christian Literature. Master of Ministry students have the option of choosing majoring in Ministerial Counseling, Homiletics/Ministerial Care, History of Biblical Interpretation and Theology, and Biblical Studies. Instead of a thesis, MMin students participate in a practicum “that specifically addresses the needs of a Christian community.” On June 27, 2011, Heritage Christian University announced that the school had been approved to offer the Master of Divinity
degree.
Heritage Christian University is accredited by the Association for Biblical Higher Education. The ABHE is a member of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation
(CHEA) and is recognized as a national institutional accrediting agency for Bible colleges and universities.
The Alabama State Department of Education licenses Heritage Christian University as a private university.
The United States Office of Education Register lists the university, making Heritage Christian University students eligible for grants and federal loans.
The Alabama State Approving Agency recognizes Heritage Christian University for educational benefits to veterans.
Heritage Christian University meets the U.S. Department of Immigration and Naturalization's requirements for eligibility to enroll foreign students.
In October 2005, the McMeans Family Reading Area was created in honor of William Delona and Othella Tuten McMeans. The Heritage Marriage and Family Resource Center was created within OML in April 2006 through a grant from the Alabama Marriage and Family Project. In June 2008, the Bagents Family Resource Center was created, honoring the Bagents Family.
The library hosts the Charles Coil Lecture each spring semester. The lecture, in memory of HCU’s founding president Charles Coil, is “designed to enrich the intellectual climate of Heritage Christian University, its constituency, and the great academic community.” Dr. Frederick William Danker, Professor Emeritus of New Testament, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
, spoke at the inaugural lecture in 2010. Dr. Richard Bauckham
, a Senior Scholar at Ridley Hall, Cambridge
, spoke at the second Coil Lecture. The Third Annual Charles Coil lecture is scheduled for Friday, February 24, 2012, and Dr. Patrick Graham from Emory University
will be speaking.
and undergraduate classes are offered both on campus and online. This option in learning permits students to fulfill other commitments while pursuing a ministry degree.
building owned by the university provides living space for up to thirty-two students. Each apartment is complete with living room, bedrooms, bath, and kitchen.
Two buildings located on campus contain both one- and two-bedroom apartments that are available to qualifying students.
The Alexander Activities Building, erected in 1978, has a gymnasium for students. The Overton Memorial Library, faculty offices, and a recording studio are also housed here.
The Dr. John Kerr Student Center provides a kitchen, recreation room, television room, and laundry for students living on campus.
Chapel is held from 9:30 to 10:00 am Tuesday through Friday.
Each student is required to participate in two hours of a Christian service project each week. Students may select from fourteen different ministries including preaching, chaplaincy, Bible class teaching, and youth ministry.
Each year the university hosts the Spiritual Enrichment Conference. This conference typically focuses on helping ministers and churches be more evangelistic.
2011 Bradley George Johnson (1999) and Ronya Joy Johnson (2000)
2010 Sara Kathryn Lyne Goldman (2000)
2009 James Robert Hall (1979)
2008 James Waverly “Sonny” Owens (1988)
2007 Nigel Murray Milo (1998)
2006 Myra Wade Underwood (1978)
2005 P. Edmund Cagle (1988)
2004 Jerry Bell (1988)
2003 Steve Vice (1992)
2002 Stanley Hubbard (1992)
2001 Austin Vimba (1995)
2000 Tom Leavins (1977)
1999 David R. Short (1979)
1998 Steven Worley (1984)
1997 Phillip Hines (1976)
1996 Randy English (1989)
1995 Gary Marshall (1979)
1994 Chris Ward (1984)
1993 Bobby South (1986)
1992 Daniel Frithjof Steinhauer (1988)
1991 Thomas L. Holiday (1985)
1990 C. Wayne Kilpatrick (1974)
1989 Charles Thompson (1972)
1988 Herschel L. McFarlen (1975)
1987 Glenn Russell Nichols (1977)
1986 Subin Panboon (1973)
1985 John Henry (1973)
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. It is affiliated with churches of Christ.
The university is governed by a Board of Directors, all of whom must be active members of the churches of Christ.
History
Heritage Christian University was founded in 1971 as International Bible College when the newly-formed Board of Directors asked Charles CoilCharles Coil
Charles Raymond Coil , was a leading evangelist among churches of Christ and the founding president of Heritage Christian University.Coil had been battling cancer when he died at the age of 64 in 1994.-Early Life:...
to become the school’s first president.
Coil soon persuaded Basil Overton, a well-known preacher in the churches of Christ, to become the school’s Vice President. Together, Coil and Overton established The World Evangelist, a monthly newsletter for churches. At the height of publication, The World Evangelist had more subscribers than any other paper in churches of Christ.
Coil remained the university’s president until a decline in health forced his retirement. Dennis Jones became the school’s second president on January 1, 1990. Under Jones’ leadership, the school added a graduate program and changed its name from International Bible College to Heritage Christian University.
Academics
Heritage Christian University offers a 128-hour undergraduate program leading to a bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies. All students major in Bible and may choose a minor in Biblical History, Biblical Languages, Counseling, Family Life (Youth) Ministry, New Testament, or Old Testament.Accelerated College Education program options are available for those with accredited degrees. It is typically a 33-hour program that relies on the general education requirements of the degree already earned.
In the graduate program, the university offers a 36-hour curriculum leading to either the of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
or the Master of Ministry. Students enrolled in the MA program may choose a major in one of three categories: Old Testament/Hebrew Bible and Early Judaism, History of Biblical Interpretation and Theology, or New Testament and Early Christian Literature. Master of Ministry students have the option of choosing majoring in Ministerial Counseling, Homiletics/Ministerial Care, History of Biblical Interpretation and Theology, and Biblical Studies. Instead of a thesis, MMin students participate in a practicum “that specifically addresses the needs of a Christian community.” On June 27, 2011, Heritage Christian University announced that the school had been approved to offer the Master of Divinity
Master of Divinity
In the academic study of theology, the Master of Divinity is the first professional degree of the pastoral profession in North America...
degree.
Heritage Christian University is accredited by the Association for Biblical Higher Education. The ABHE is a member of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation
Council for Higher Education Accreditation
The Council for Higher Education Accreditation is a United States organization of degree-granting colleges and universities. It identifies its purpose as providing national advocacy for self-regulation of academic quality through accreditation in order to certify the quality of higher education...
(CHEA) and is recognized as a national institutional accrediting agency for Bible colleges and universities.
The Alabama State Department of Education licenses Heritage Christian University as a private university.
The United States Office of Education Register lists the university, making Heritage Christian University students eligible for grants and federal loans.
The Alabama State Approving Agency recognizes Heritage Christian University for educational benefits to veterans.
Heritage Christian University meets the U.S. Department of Immigration and Naturalization's requirements for eligibility to enroll foreign students.
Library
The Overton Memorial Library services the undergraduate and graduate students, as well as faculty and staff. The library was dedicated in November 1986 in honor of Basil and Margie Overton and in memory of their son Timothy, who died in 1974. Library holdings exceed 90,000 volumes.In October 2005, the McMeans Family Reading Area was created in honor of William Delona and Othella Tuten McMeans. The Heritage Marriage and Family Resource Center was created within OML in April 2006 through a grant from the Alabama Marriage and Family Project. In June 2008, the Bagents Family Resource Center was created, honoring the Bagents Family.
The library hosts the Charles Coil Lecture each spring semester. The lecture, in memory of HCU’s founding president Charles Coil, is “designed to enrich the intellectual climate of Heritage Christian University, its constituency, and the great academic community.” Dr. Frederick William Danker, Professor Emeritus of New Testament, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
The Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago is a seminary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Its degree programs include Master of Divinity, Master of Arts, Master of Theology, Doctor of Ministry, and Doctor of Philosophy. It offers concentrations in urban ministry, Bible, environment,...
, spoke at the inaugural lecture in 2010. Dr. Richard Bauckham
Richard Bauckham
Richard Bauckham is a widely published scholar in theology, historical theology and New Testament. He is currently working on New Testament Christology and the Gospel of John as a Senior Scholar at Ridley Hall, Cambridge....
, a Senior Scholar at Ridley Hall, Cambridge
Ridley Hall, Cambridge
Ridley Hall is a theological college located in Sidgwick Avenue in Cambridge in the United Kingdom, which trains intending ministers for the Church of England and other churches. It was founded in 1881 and named in memory of Nicholas Ridley, a leading protestant theologian of the sixteenth century...
, spoke at the second Coil Lecture. The Third Annual Charles Coil lecture is scheduled for Friday, February 24, 2012, and Dr. Patrick Graham from Emory University
Emory University
Emory University is a private research university in metropolitan Atlanta, located in the Druid Hills section of unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The university was founded as Emory College in 1836 in Oxford, Georgia by a small group of Methodists and was named in honor of...
will be speaking.
Learning Formats
GraduateGraduate school
A graduate school is a school that awards advanced academic degrees with the general requirement that students must have earned a previous undergraduate degree...
and undergraduate classes are offered both on campus and online. This option in learning permits students to fulfill other commitments while pursuing a ministry degree.
Dormitories
One dormitoryDormitory
A dormitory, often shortened to dorm, in the United States is a residence hall consisting of sleeping quarters or entire buildings primarily providing sleeping and residential quarters for large numbers of people, often boarding school, college or university students...
building owned by the university provides living space for up to thirty-two students. Each apartment is complete with living room, bedrooms, bath, and kitchen.
Two buildings located on campus contain both one- and two-bedroom apartments that are available to qualifying students.
Campus Facilities
The Bible Building was constructed in 1977. This 27000 square feet (2,508.4 m²) academic building contains administrative and faculty offices, classrooms, and auditorium, and a cafeteria.The Alexander Activities Building, erected in 1978, has a gymnasium for students. The Overton Memorial Library, faculty offices, and a recording studio are also housed here.
The Dr. John Kerr Student Center provides a kitchen, recreation room, television room, and laundry for students living on campus.
Spiritual Formation
Spiritual formation plays an important role on the campus of Heritage Christian University.Chapel is held from 9:30 to 10:00 am Tuesday through Friday.
Each student is required to participate in two hours of a Christian service project each week. Students may select from fourteen different ministries including preaching, chaplaincy, Bible class teaching, and youth ministry.
Each year the university hosts the Spiritual Enrichment Conference. This conference typically focuses on helping ministers and churches be more evangelistic.
Notable Alumni
Beginning in 1985, the University's Alumni Association began to award an annual "Alumnus of the Year" Award. The following individuals have been named "Alumnus of the Year":2011 Bradley George Johnson (1999) and Ronya Joy Johnson (2000)
2010 Sara Kathryn Lyne Goldman (2000)
2009 James Robert Hall (1979)
2008 James Waverly “Sonny” Owens (1988)
2007 Nigel Murray Milo (1998)
2006 Myra Wade Underwood (1978)
2005 P. Edmund Cagle (1988)
2004 Jerry Bell (1988)
2003 Steve Vice (1992)
2002 Stanley Hubbard (1992)
2001 Austin Vimba (1995)
2000 Tom Leavins (1977)
1999 David R. Short (1979)
1998 Steven Worley (1984)
1997 Phillip Hines (1976)
1996 Randy English (1989)
1995 Gary Marshall (1979)
1994 Chris Ward (1984)
1993 Bobby South (1986)
1992 Daniel Frithjof Steinhauer (1988)
1991 Thomas L. Holiday (1985)
1990 C. Wayne Kilpatrick (1974)
1989 Charles Thompson (1972)
1988 Herschel L. McFarlen (1975)
1987 Glenn Russell Nichols (1977)
1986 Subin Panboon (1973)
1985 John Henry (1973)
See also
- Churches of Christ