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Dr. Ed Hindson retires as Dean of the John W. Rawlings School of Divinity at Liberty University

Dr. Ed Hindson, founding dean of the Liberty University John W. Rawlings School of Divinity, officially retired as dean on Dec. 1. He has assumed the role and title of Dean Emeritus and Distinguished Professor of Religion and Biblical Studies and will continue to teach over the next several years as well as provide continued counsel to the administrative team.

Dr. Hindson began his career at Liberty University in 1974, making significant contributions to the early development of the University. He is credited with developing the first distance learning course (1985). This pioneering innovation contributed to the advent of online education at Liberty University. In his 35 years of faithful service to the university, Dr. Hindson is known as a well-respected scholar, prolific author, engaging conference speaker, and one of Liberty University’s most popular professors. Dr. Hindson also serves as the bible teacher on The King Is Coming telecast.

He holds the Master of Arts (M.A.) from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and the Master of Theology (Th.M.) from Grace Theological Seminary. He also holds the Doctor of Theology (Th.D.) from Trinity Graduate School, the Doctor of Ministry (D. Min.) from Westminster Theological Seminary, and the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) from the University of South Africa. He was named Distinguished Professor of Religion and Biblical Studies in 2005.

Since 2013, Dr. Hindson has led the School of Divinity through the merger of the former School of Religion and the Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, establishing the School of Divinity as the largest of its kind. His tenure as dean included the establishment of the Center for Apologetics & Cultural Engagement and the addition and growth of the doctoral degree programs with over 1,000 students enrolled. In 2018, he led the school in establishing a central presence on campus in the new John W. Rawlings School of Divinity and Freedom Tower. More recently, Dr. Hindson led the school through the initial phases of an additional accreditation from The Association of Theological Schools.

“Dr. Hindson stood in the gap while the School of Divinity navigated both exciting opportunities and difficult decisions,” Liberty University Provost Scott Hicks said. “He has always been faithful to the founder’s vision for Liberty University. He has left a legacy of Christian leadership for all of us to follow.”

Liberty University President Jerry Falwell said, “Dr. Hindson’s impact on Liberty University and the lives of the young men and women during his decades of service is legendary. He has been a trusted leader for the School of Divinity and has impacted several generations of LU alumni, including me in the early 1980s. I have been richly blessed to have him both as a professor and also a friend of my family.”

Dr. Troy Temple has been appointed Interim Dean. Dr. Temple currently serves as an Associate Dean of the Divinity School. He has a passion for training pastors and Christian workers.

Dr. Temple’s calling to the Gospel ministry fueled the trajectory of his own ministry, in both higher education and the local church. He began his academic career 26 years ago at Liberty University, serving as a GSA in the department of Church Ministries, where he learned to become an innovator and a mentor to hundreds of Christian leaders.

Dr. Temple holds the B.S. in Church Ministries and the M.A. in Religious Studies from Liberty University, as well as the Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky. He served as a faculty member at Liberty from 1996 until 1999. He then served at Boyce College and the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in various faculty roles, eventually becoming the Associate Dean for Master’s Studies, Associate Professor of Youth & Family Ministry, and Executive Director of the International Center for Youth & Family Ministry.

Dr. Temple’s strong commitment to the local church is evidenced by his faithful involvement in local church ministry and leadership. For over 28 years, he has served as a pastor, trainer, and speaker in addition to his academic responsibilities. From 2004 to 2018, he served as a trainer and board member with Youth Ministry International, contributing to the establishment of youth ministry training programs at seminaries in Africa, Mexico, Ukraine, Nepal, and several countries in East Asia. He also continues to serve as a seminar presenter with HomeWard, an organization founded to strengthen marriages and equip parents to raise families who love God and serve His mission.

Troy and his wife, Karla, have two daughters, Maddie and Katy.

“Troy is faithful, focused, energetic, and determined,” said Hindson. “He understands the balance between academics and practical ministry. His focus on training pastors and Christian workers is aimed at empowering students to become the leaders of the next generation.”

“I’ve had the opportunity to work closely with Dr. Troy Temple for several years and have seen him take on increasing leadership and operational responsibilities — all with a desire to serve others to the best of his ability,” said Hicks. “Troy’s administrative and leadership giftedness will benefit the John W. Rawlings School of Divinity as it continues to Train Champions for Christ.”

President Falwell said, “Dr. Temple has a passion for instructing the hearts and minds of our students with strong biblical values. We are excited to have Troy in this position during this pivotal time in the life of our university and School of Divinity.”

 

 

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