Longtime pastor named to theology school faculty

ATLANTA — A veteran pastor and former seminary professor has been named to the faculty of Mercer University’s McAfee School of Theology.

Peter Rhea Jones announced his resignation March 26 after more than 20 years as pastor of First Baptist Church, Decatur, Ga. He intends to become professor of preaching and theology at McAfee school July 1, officials at the school in Atlanta announced March 27.

Jones, 62, taught New Testament interpretation at Southern Seminary in Louisville, Ky., 11 years before coming to the suburban Atlanta congregation in 1979. He chaired Southern’s New Testament department from 1972 until 1974.

He is widely regarded as an expert on the parables of Jesus. He has written two books on the subject: “The Teaching of the Parables,” published by Broadman Press in 1982, and “Studying the Parables of Jesus,” by Smyth and Helwys last year.

Jones’ appointment comes on the heels of a sudden resignation by another McAfee professor Jan. 31. Paul Duke, professor of preaching and worship for three years, stepped down for “personal reasons,” according to Mercer officials, who refused to further comment.

A native of Dyersburg, Tenn., Jones is a graduate of Union University with master’s degrees from the University of Mississippi and Princeton Theological Seminary and both a master’s and a doctorate from Southern Seminary.