Graduate School of Theology

Welcome to the online home of FHU’s Graduate School of Theology. Freed-Hardeman University offers six graduate degrees. Whether you are a preacher, Bible teacher, church leader, or are simply seeking a deeper knowledge of God’s Word, we have a program to meet your academic and spiritual goals. Please let us help!

 

Justin M. Rogers, Ph.D.
Director, Graduate School of Theology

Office: 731-989-6622
Fax: 731-989-6400
grad-theology@fhu.edu

 

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In addition to the master's degree programs currently offered by the Graduate School of Theology, Freed-Hardeman will launch a new Doctor of Ministry program starting in Fall 2022. The service-oriented terminal degree in ministry will not sacrifice scholarship, but research will be directed in a practical way to not only enhance the skills and knowledge of those practicing in ministry, but also to provide meaningful and applicable research for church leaders and congregations. 

 

The Graduate School of Theology is accredited by the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools, 10 Summit Park Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15275-1110; (412) 788-6506, ext. 226. The following degree programs are approved by the Commission on Accrediting: The Master of Arts in Ministry, the Master of Arts (New Testament), and the Master of Divinity.

 

Commission on Accrediting of The Association of Theological Schools

 

MASTER OF ARTS IN MINISTRY

Master of arts in NEW TESTAMENT

Master of arts in OLD TESTAMENT

MASTER OF ARTS IN PASTORAL CARE AND COUNSELING

MASTER OF DIVINITY (M.Div.)

Doctor of ministry (d.min.)

 

 

 

Theology Faculty and Staff

 

Justin M. Rogers, B.A., M.A., M.Phil., Ph.D.
Director, Graduate School of Theology; Associate Professor of Bible

GC 102A
731-989-6168
jrogers@fhu.edu
https://www.fhu.edu/faculty/jrogers

Justin Rogers is the director of the FHU Graduate School of Theology.  He is a graduate of both FHU and Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion from which he holds degrees in Biblical Studies, New Testament, Philosophy, and Judaic Studies.  His current research centers on Philo of Alexandria, and he preaches for the Broad Street Church of Christ in Lexington, TN.

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Mark A. Blackwelder, B.A., M.Min., Ph.D
Dean of the College of Biblical Studies; Professor of Bible and of Missions

GC 108E
731-989-6624
mblackwelder@fhu.edu
https://www.fhu.edu/faculty/mblackwelder

Dr. Blackwelder serves as the Dean of the College of Biblical Studies. He is a graduate of FHU. He has been active in ministry including serving from 1992 to 1997 as a full-time missionary in Bratislava, Slovakia. Since that time he has served as a full-time member of the faculty in FHU’s School of Biblical Studies.

He also teaches courses in New Testament and in Missions and Intercultural Communication at the undergraduate level. He sponsors missions clubs and serves as a member of the Chapel Committee and the Annual Bible Lectureship Committee. Dr. Blackwelder is a minister for the Estes church of Christ. He conducts a number of Gospel Meetings each year and presents seminars on missions and cross-cultural ministry.

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Richard (Rick) Brumback, B.S., M.E., Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Bible

GC 102B
731-989-6658
rbumback@fhu.edu
https://www.fhu.edu/faculty/rbrumback

Dr. Brumback specializes in early church history, especially third- and fourth-century Trinitarian controversies, and early Christian literature and history.

Prior to 2017, he served as Director and professor at the Southwest School of Bible Studies. He has preached for a number of congregations in central Texas.

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Doug Burleson, B.A., M.A., M.Div., M.Th., Ph.D.
Assistant Dean, College of Biblical Studies; Associate Professor of Bible;

GC 108F
731-989-6629
dburleson@fhu.edu
https://www.fhu.edu/faculty/dburleson

Doug Burleson serves as an Associate Professor in Bible at Freed-Hardeman University where he also is the Assistant Dean of the College of Biblical Studies and the Director of the Annual Bible Lectureship.  He is married to Kristi Johnson Burleson and they have four children.  Doug is a graduate of Freed-Hardeman (1999) and has Master's degrees from Freed-Hardeman (2001), Lipscomb (2003), and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (2007).  Doug also has a PhD in New Testament and Greek from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (2012).  Doug began serving as one of the preachers at the Estes Church of Christ in Henderson, TN in August 2016.

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Matt Cook, B.A., M.A., M.Div., Th.M., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Bible

GC 211B
731-989-6233
mcook@fhu.edu

Matt Cook received his B.A., M.A. in New Testament, and M.Div. from FHU and the Th.M. and Ph.D. in Missions and World Religions from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.  In addition to teaching at FHU, Matt preaches for the Stantonville Church of Christ.  Prior to coming to FHU, he was part of a church planting team in Cusco, Peru.
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Donnie DeBord, B.A., M.A., M.Div., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor

GC 108B
731-989-6677
ddebord@fhu.edu

Donnie DeBord received his B.A., M.A., and M.Div. degrees from Freed-Hardeman University.  Donnie has also completed the ThM and Ph.D. in Systematic Theology from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.  His dissertation is titled:  "A Chalcedonian Critique of Neo-Apollinarianism."  Dr. DeBord and his wife Jessie have three children.
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Ryan Fraser, B.A., M.Min., M.Div., Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Bible

GC 108A
731-989-6646
rfraser@fhu.edu

Ryan Fraser earned his B.A. in Bible and M.A. in Ministry from FHU, M.Div. from ACU, and Ph.D. in Pastoral Theology and Pastoral Counseling from Brite Divinity School (at Texas Christian university).  Ryan directs the undergraduate program in Youth and Family Ministry.  He also coordinates the M.A. in Pastoral Care & Counseling.  He is a Licensed Clinical Pastoral Therapist and serves as the Vice-President for the Tennessee Association of Pastoral Therapists (TNAPT).  In addition to his work at FHU, Ryan preaches and serves as an elder for the Bethel Springs Church of Christ.
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Josh Ketchum, B.S., B.S., M.Min., M.Div., D.Min.
Assistant Professor

GC 211A
731-989-6623
jketchum@fhu.edu

Josh Ketchum received his B.S., M.A. in Ministry, and M.Div. degrees from Freed-Hardeman University.  He received his Doctor of Ministry in Church Leadership from Southern Baptist Theological Seminar in Louisville, KY.  He preaches for the Beacon Church of Christ in Parsons, TN.
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Kevin L. Moore, B.S., M.A., Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Bible and Missions

GC 211
731-989-6788
kmoore@fhu.edu
https://www.fhu.edu/faculty/kmoore

Kevin Moore holds the B.B.S. degree from Southeast Institute of Biblical Studies, B.S. and M.A. in New Testament from FHU, and Ph.D. in Religious Studies from Victoria University in Wellington.  Having worked as an evangelist in New Zealand for a combined total of 16 years and three terms as FHU's missionary-in-residence, he now teaches Bible and missions courses ii the College of Biblical Studies and the Graduate School of Theology.  He also serves in the eldership of the Estes church in Henderson, TN.

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Wade E. Osburn, B.A., M.L.I.S., M.Div.
Library Director; Assistant Professor

LDL Library
731-989-6936
wosburn@fhu.edu

Mr. Osburn teaches our Introduction to Graduate Studies course. Because of the emphasis in this class on research, Osburn's library experience makes him a good instructor for this material.

 

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Matthew Sokoloski, B.S., M.A., M.A., Ph.D.
Associate Professor

GC 108D
731-989-6630
msokoloski@fhu.edu