Published on March 1, 2016 by Jack Brymer  
Cameron Jorgenson

Cameron Jorgenson, assistant professor of Christian theology at Campbell University Divinity School, will lead Samford University’s annual Auchmuty Lectures March 9–10. His research explores the intersections between theology and spirituality, religion and the arts, and ancient tradition and contemporary church life.

The first of four lectures, “Why Theology? Must Faith Seek Understanding?” will be 3–4 p.m. Wednesday, March 9, in Reid Chapel. Convocation credit is available. A second lecture, “The Heart of the Matter: Theology Rooted in Faith, Hope and Love,” will be presented at Birmingham’s Shades Crest Baptist Church at 6 p.m. Both lectures are open to the public.

The concluding lecture, “Bias vs. Bios: Objectivity, Convictions and the Quest to Live the Truth,” will be at a luncheon with faculty, area clergy and the Auchmuty Committee. 

Jorgenson also will lead a March 10 roundtable with University Fellows, Samford’s undergraduate honors students, entitled “Virtues, Vices and the Intellectual Life.”

Although his doctoral research delved into the nature and role of tradition in Baptist theology — and therefore, the importance of Christian thinkers of the past for Christian life today — his research and presentations often explore the nooks and crannies of popular culture to engage the theology one can find in unexpected places such as literature, television, films and popular music.

Jorgenson graduated summa cum laude from Grand Canyon University and earned his Master of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary. He was a Presidential Doctoral Scholar at Baylor University, where he earned his Ph.D. Jorgeson’s wife, Kelly, is the Divinity School’s director of admission.

The Auchmuty Lectures was established in 2004 by Shades Crest Baptist Church in partnership with Samford’s Center for Congregational Resources. It honors James Auchmuty, retired former pastor of Shades Crest Baptist Church and a Samford graduate. The Center for Congregational Resources sponsors lectures, seminars, workshops, sabbaticals and study leaves for pastors and congregation leaders.
 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 5,791 students from 49 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.