Beeson Divinity School
The Beeson Divinity School of Samford University is an interdenominational evangelical divinity school that was established in 1988. It is located on the Samford campus at 800 Lakeshore Drive in Homewood. The current dean is Doug Sweeney, who replaced founding dean Timothy George on July 1, 2019.
The school offers the Master of Divinity degree and the Master of Arts in Theological Studies degree. From 1993 until 2020 it also offered the Doctor of Ministry degree.
Hodges Chapel
The Hodges Chapel was dedicated in 1995 and named in honor of Andrew Gerow Hodges in 2002. Though an original design, it was inspired by a chapel in Venice designed by Andrea Palladio. The interior of the dome contains paintings of prominent figures from Christian history and was inspired by a passage in Hebrews chapter 12. It was painted by a modern Romanian fresco master named Petru Botezatu. The chapel also includes busts commemorating one 20th-century Christian martyr from each of the six inhabited continents.
History
Beeson Divinity was established on February 9, 1988. It is named for Ralph Waldo Beeson, who gave a $70 million donation to create the first divinity school at a Baptist college in the USA, and for his father, John Wesley Beeson. Ralph Beeson wanted the donation to remain anonymous, but relented to the naming of the school after his father as well at the suggestion of Samford's board of trustees.
Deans
- Timothy George, 1988-2019
- Doug Sweeney, 2019-present
External Links
- Beeson Divinity School website