Local church leaders participate in TBC lectureship

By AMY DAVIS
for TENNESSEE BIBLE COLLEGE

Several local church leaders were among those speaking during Tennessee Bible College's annual Spiritual Renewal Week lectureship held May 4- 7, 2006 on the college's campus in Cookeville.

Malcolm Hill, David Hill, Glenn B. Ramsey, Kerry Duke, and Ron Gilbert, all of Cookeville, each spoke on topics relating to this year's theme, "The Christian Church and the Church of Christ Reunion of 2006." The theme was chosen because of a current effort by the Christian Church to reunite with the church of Christ on the 100th anniversary of their split.

Malcolm L. Hill

Malcolm Hill, president of TBC, said "My appraisal of this year's lecture program is that it was the most balanced program that we have had, and various current problems were addressed which confront the church. It was important because we faced issues which are very much alive in the church today."

Hill, who also serves as a minister and elder at Northeast church of Christ in Cookeville, spoke on "Mistakes Made in the Church of Christ in the Past 30 Years" and moderated an open forum and an elders' panel discussion on apostasy.

Hill is a native of Livingston and has been preaching for 54 years, the past 28 of which have been with the Northeast congregation. He is a 1960 graduate of David Lipscomb University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in religion. He did graduate work at Atlanta University and holds two doctorate degrees. He founded TBC in 1975 and is an instructor of several courses.

David Hill

Also representing the Northeast congregation at the TBC lectureship was David Hill, church elder and TBC's public relations director and business manager. He also teaches at the college. His topic was "Mistakes Made From 1849-1906."

He said of the lectureship, "This year's program was a great program Ð one of the best programs we've had. The interest level was great, and the information was very timely."

David Hill has served at TBC since 1990 and preaches by appointment. He is a 1986 graduate of Tennessee Tech University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in business management, and he is a candidate for a master's degree in Christian doctrine and apologetics from TBC.

Glenn B. Ramsey

Glen Ramsey, vice president of TBC, spoke on "The Difference in Unity and Union."

He said, "The lectureship's emphasis on unity depends upon the individual commitment of all Christians to the authority of God."

Ramsey, who has been with the Bible college since 1980, is a graduate of Tennessee Tech University, where he received a bachelor's degree in math education in 1965 and a master's degree in school administration and supervision in 1971. He also took courses at Freed-Hardeman University and has completed graduate work at TBC. He teaches several courses at the college. He has been preaching for 50 years and currently preaches by appointment.

Kerry Duke

Duke, dean of TBC and minister at West End church of Christ in Livingston, said, "The reason I wanted to see us do this was because so many religious groups are talking about unity and having unity meetings, but too often their way of having unity is to compromise the scriptures."

Duke spoke on the following topics: "Disciples of Christ and the Christian Church" and "Together Again in Christ -- Louisville, KY, 2006."

"Unity is a good thing, but it must be unity that is based upon the Bible," he said.

Duke has been preaching for 25 years, the last eight of which have been with the West End congregation. A graduate of TBC, he earned his bachelor's degree in Bible in 1987 and his master's and Ph.D. degrees in Christian doctrine and apologetics in 1988 and 1992. He has served since 1992 as dean of the college and also teaches several courses.

Ron Gilbert

Gilbert is the director of missions at TBC, having first joined the teaching staff in 1993, and also preaches at Rock Valley church of Christ in Tompkinsville, Ky. His lecture topic was "The Division of 1906."

He said, "This year's lectureship was a very timely subject. Division occurred in 1906, and much more was involved than instrumental music. The real issue is the authority of the Bible. The Christian Church adopted the hermeneutic that silence authorizes, which has led them further and further away from the Bible during the past 100 years."

A native of Pikeville, Gilbert has been preaching since 1972. He is a 1973 graduate of Memphis School of Preaching and also TBC, where he earned his bachelor's degree in Bible in 1982 and his master's and Ph.D. degrees in Christian doctrine and apologetics in 1984 and 1994.

Also taking the podium during this year's lectureship were Ancil Jenkins of Jamestown; James McGill of Nashville; Brant Stubblefield of Lindsey, Okla.; Chad Ramsey of Tupelo, Miss.; Mac Deaver of Denton, Texas; John Houser of Livingston; and Jim Whitmire and John Maner, both of Forest Park, Ga.

Those who were unable to attend the TBC event may listen to all the lectures and discussions online by visiting the TBC website at www.tn-biblecollege.edu. Tape recordings are also available and can be ordered by calling the college at (931) 526-2616.

Malcolm Hill said, "Tennessee Bible College is very happy to have this annual lectureship for the area... There is nothing that helps more than hearing an inspiring lessson from God's word."

TBC, located at 1616 McCulley Road in Cookeville, is dedicated to the training of Bible preachers and Christian workers in the topics of Bible doctrine, apologetics and evangelism. A Distance Learning program and free Bible correspondence courses are also offered. The college is authorized by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission. For more information, call (931) 526- 2616 or e-mail tbc@tn-biblecollege.edu.