Samford University’s Howard College of Arts and Sciences has launched The Living Word Initiative, a new program designed to connect churches with faculty from the Department of Biblical and Religious Studies to provide biblical teaching, theological education and opportunities for congregational engagement.
The initiative expands Samford’s longstanding commitment to Christian service by bringing biblical scholars and theologians beyond the classroom and into churches throughout Birmingham, Alabama, and the Southeast.
Through the program, congregations can invite Samford faculty to lead Sunday school classes, Bible studies, conferences, seminars, special lectures and other teaching opportunities. Churches can arrange guest preaching engagements or extended teaching series tailored to their congregations’ interests and ministry needs.
“The Living Word Initiative reflects our commitment to serving the church by making the knowledge and experience of our faculty accessible to congregations throughout the region,” said Adam Winn, chair and professor of Samford’s Department of Biblical and Religious Studies. “We want to create meaningful opportunities for churches to engage with Scripture, explore important theological questions and grow in their understanding of the Christian faith.”
A central component of the initiative is its emphasis on accessibility. Through financial support from donors and partnering organizations, Samford secured funding to compensate participating faculty, ensuring that churches with limited financial resources can benefit from the program.
By reducing potential financial barriers, the initiative seeks to serve congregations of varying sizes, denominations and ministry contexts, including churches that might otherwise be unable to host university-level biblical scholars.
Participating faculty bring expertise in biblical studies, theology and church history, allowing congregations to explore a broad range of topics grounded in Christian scholarship. Churches can work with the university to identify faculty members whose academic specialties align with their teaching goals, whether for a single gathering or a more extensive educational series.
Beyond providing educational opportunities, The Living Word Initiative seeks to strengthen relationships between Samford and the churches it serves. The program reflects the university’s mission to foster intellectual development, Christian faith and service while supporting pastors and congregations in their ongoing ministries.
Churches interested in hosting a Samford faculty member or learning more about available teaching opportunities can visit The Living Word Initiative webpage for additional information and sample lecture topics.
