Theology school welcomes new dean
The Perkins School of Theology has seen a lot of cosmetic changes in the last few years, including renovations of Bridwell Library and Perkins Chapel. A different kind of change took place on Aug. 1 when William Lawrence took over as dean.
Lawrence is replacing Robin Lovin, who was appointed as the Cary M. Maguire University Professor of Ethics in May.
Lawrence has spent the past 30 years working within the Methodist ministry in many different capacities. He knew as early as junior high what he wanted to be when he grew up, he said.
“I’m one of those people who felt called to ministry while young,” Lawrence said. “Our lives were never without a church connection. As long as I can remember, I had a sense of God’s personal call leading me to be a minister.”
The new dean comes from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta where he was an associate dean for development and church relations. Before his work there, Lawrence taught at Duke University and Wesley Theological Seminary.
In addition to his teaching and administrative responsibilities at the universities, Lawrence has also been a pastor at United Methodist churches in New York and Pennsylvania.
“I’ve served in almost every kind of position someone ordained can serve in,” Lawrence said. “I’ve been a pastor in small and large communities and in rural and city settings. I have a variety of local church experience and try to relate to students, graduates and others in every way involved.”
At Perkins, Lawrence has identified three main areas for his attention. The first is to continue to improve the school’s facilities by building upon the renovations of Perkins Chapel and Bridwell Library.
“Perkins has done an outstanding job with two facilities,” Lawrence said. “Now I want to give attention to the principal buildings on the other side, Kirby and Selecman Halls.”
Another concern is the school’s staff.
“The faculty at Perkins has significantly changed over the years,” Lawrence said. “Younger scholars have been recruited. Part of the academic process is to help shape the careers of the young and work with the staff’s collective lives.”
Lawrence’s third area of interest is continuing to build Perkins’ financial strength.
“I want to build upon the outstanding record of my predecessor,” Lawrence said. “I want to be a leader at the university and in the Methodist church.”
According to Gary MacDonald, Perkin’s director of continuing education and public affairs, the school began looking for Lovin’s replacement last August. A search committee evaluated applicants and university Provost Ross Murfin made the final decision.
In addition to the areas he mentioned, Lawrence will be responsible for leading the school into new frontiers of evangelism.
“I think Perkins is seeking to establish itself as cutting edge in three areas of ministry: evangelism, Hispanic ministries and urban ministries,” said Perkins School of Theology student Owen Ross. “Each of these three areas is hands-on and requires faculty and students to become physically engaged in such ministries in order to learn about them. Therefore, I see one of Dr. Lawrence’s first priorities to be to continue to seek creative and effective ways of taking the Perkins community into the greater community for practical learning, research and teaching.”
Lawrence plans to preach whenever possible in addition to his faculty duties. Picking a favorite task is hard for him though.
“It depends on what day,” Lawrence said. “I love teaching. I also love it when I’m engaging an individual as a minister, and I enjoy administration. I enjoy the diversity of the job.”
