Department of Religion and Philosophy


Faculty
	Dr. Philip LeMasters Professor of Religion, Director of the Honors Program Phone: (325) 793-3898 Email: plemasters @ mcm.edu Listen to Dr. LeMasters lecture on Acts (from his online Introduction to Christianity class) Ph.D., Duke University M.A., Rice University B.A., Baylor University Dr. LeMasters’ teaching and research focus on Christian theology and ethics. He is particularly interested in helping his students grow intellectually and spiritually through the study of classic texts in the Christian tradition. His courses require critical thinking, informed discussion, and research on perennial faith issues. Dr. LeMasters’ books, essays, and reviews address a variety of topics in moral theology, including biomedical, political, and sexual ethics. His fourth book, Toward a Eucharistic Vision of Church, Family, Marriage, and Sex, was published in 2004. Dr. LeMasters joined the McMurry faculty in 1995 after teaching at Wake Forest University and Northeast Missouri State University. A member of Phi Beta Kappa, the American Academy of Religion, and the Society of Christian Ethics, Dr. LeMasters has served on the Board of Directors of the Southwest Commission on Religious Studies. He received the Bennett Award for Excellence in Teaching, Service, and Leadership in 2000, has held the Turner Distinguished Chair in Religion, and has chaired McMurry's Curriculum Committee. Since 1998, he has served as the Director of the Honors Program.
	Dr. Jeffery Kinlaw Professor of Religion and Philosophy Phone: (325) 793-3897 Email: jkinlaw @ mcm.edu Dr. Kinlaw discusses the purpose of government on the KWKC radio program “The Professors” Ph.D., University of Virginia M.Div., Southern Baptist Seminary B.A., Wake Forest University McMurry’s philosophy program is anchored by Dr. Jeffery Kinlaw. His expertise is wide-ranging, for he has taught classes from ancient to modern philosophy, from Socrates to Heidegger. He regularly teaches courses on political philosophy and free will. Kinlaw is particularly interested in German philosophy of the late 18th and early 19th centuries — Kant, Hegel, Fichte, Schleiermacher. His active scholarship is demonstrated in his numerous articles and conference papers. Most recently, he co-edited The State of Schleiermacher Scholarship Today: Selected Essays.
	Dr. John B. Miller Assistant Professor of Religion Phone: (325) 793-3896 Email: jbmiller @ mcm.edu M.Div., Ph.D., Princeton Theological Seminary B.A., University of California, Berkeley Dr. Miller’s teaching focuses on biblical studies and Koiné Greek. His courses introduce students to critical analysis of the Bible and to the realm of Biblical theology, in which questions of “dogma” and “doctrine” give way to an appreciation of the remarkable diversity of the biblical witness and the implications of this diversity for theological reflection. Dr. Miller’s current research focuses on dreams and visions in the Bible and in other ancient literature, including considerations of religious experience and the rhetoric of revelation. His first monograph, *Convinced That God Called Us: Dreams, Visions, and the Perception of God’s Will in Luke-Acts*, was published in 2007. Dr. Miller joined the McMurry faculty in 2004 after teaching at Princeton Theological Seminary. A member of Phi Beta Kappa and a Fulbright recipient, Dr. Miller participates actively in the Society of Biblical Literature and the Southwest Commission on Religious Studies. He is the advisor for the McMurry pre-ministerial program.
	Rev. Bill Libby Assistant Professor of Religion and History and A.D. Phone: (325) 793-4637 Email: blibby @ mcm.edu M.A., Kansas State University M.Div., Drew University B.A., Texas A&M University Mr. Libby teaches Old Testament and is especially interested in its relevance and application in the modern world. After graduation from Texas A&M and Drew Theological School, Libby was Ordained in the United Methodist Church and served as a Chaplain in the US Army. His service included assignments in Europe, Asia, and the United States. During those years he also completed a degree in American Diplomatic History (Kansas State) and was admitted to the doctoral program in American Studies at the University of Maryland. Later he completed the US Army’s program in Organizational Behavior and the Executive Program in Human Resources Management at Columbia University. He concluded his military service by serving on the faculty of the National Defense University. Mr. Libby has been at McMurry University since 1996. He began and coached the Cross-country teams (1996-2003) and is involved in ongoing summer archaeological work in Jordan.
	Ms. Kelli Bryant Visiting Instructor of Religion Phone: (325) 793-3899 Email: bryant.kelli @ mcm.edu M.Div., Abilene Christian University B.A., Abilene Christian University The religion faculty is rounded out by Ms. Kelli Bryant, who is teaching various classes in the 2008-2009 academic year as a visiting lecturer. Ms. Bryant recently completed her Master of Divinity degree at A.C.U. and plans to continue work towrad a Ph.D. degree with a research interest in the early Syrian Christian church. In her classroom teaching, she strives to find connections between the course material and the lives of her students, encouraging them to integrate their faith with their growing knowledge of the world around them.

Home | Campus Calendar | Campus Map | Contact Us | Discover McMurry | Library | Search
Copyright © 1995-2007 McMurry University, All rights Reserved.
McMurry University - Abilene, Texas 79697 | Campus Operator 325-793-3800