Lynn McMillon, distinguished professor of Bible at Oklahoma Christian
University, has been named the first recipient of an endowed position
named in his honor.
An anonymous donor gave $1.5 million to create an endowed chair in
the college of biblical studies in honor of McMillon’s years of service
to the university. The endowment funds a full-time salary and provides
release time and a working fund for research and scholarship.
"Lynn is most deserving of this additional honor for his many years
of distinguished service to the university and its students,” said Mike
O’Neal, president of Oklahoma Christian. "We are pleased that not only
is the chair named in his and Joy’s honor, but that he will be its first
recipient.”
Alan Martin, who succeeded McMillon as dean of the college of
biblical studies in May, Vice President for Academic Affairs Allison
Garrett and the faculty from biblical studies recommended McMillion as
the first recipient.
"Lynn is one of the real treasures of Oklahoma Christian and has made
a positive impact on thousands of students,” said Garrett. "He is very
deserving of this honor.”
According to Martin, McMillon was very humble when asked to be the
first recipient of the new chair.
"We were all convinced that Lynn was the most deserving choice as the
initial recipient,” said Martin. "Of course he was a little hesitant
accepting something named in his honor, but he is worthy of it.”
McMillon will use his time in the new position to do academic
research.
"Oklahoma Christian has been greatly blessed by the generosity that
established an endowed teaching and research chair in the college of
biblical studies,” said McMillon. "I am honored to be the first
appointee to this position, which will allow me to continue research
into the 18th and 19th century Scottish roots of the restoration
ideal—an effort to return to the authority of the Bible.
"My study will involve Scottish documents recently available at the
University of Dundee. I hope to produce articles showing how the
restoration concept influenced religion in America during the 19th and
20th centuries.”
This is the latest of a long list of accomplishments in McMillon’s
career of four and a half decades.
Under McMillon’s leadership, the endowment for the college of biblical
studies and its students has now grown to more than $2.6 million.
Additionally, the college added nine faculty members, a master of
divinity degree to the graduate program and more than 11,000
Bible-related volumes to the library. McMillon revised the curriculum
twice, increased scholarship offerings, increased the number of Bible
majors, developed an experienced corps of adjunct professors, oversaw
the refurbishment of the Williams-Branch center for biblical studies and
promoted service to the churches of Christ worldwide.
A 1963 OC alumnus, McMillon also serves as CEO and editor of The
Christian Chronicle, with a circulation of nearly a quarter of a
million. Under his leadership, the Chronicle has become financially
stable. McMillon holds a Ph.D. in religion from Baylor University. He
has completed post-doctoral study at the Menninger School of Psychiatry
in Marriage and Family Therapy and is a Licensed Marital and Family
Therapist. He has published three books and numerous articles.
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