Rashional Thoughts: Beeson Divinity School’s incoming dean has Baptist roots, also feels at home in school’s academic culture, approach

Timothy George and Beeson Divinity School are one and the same for me. 

As an alumna of Beeson, I have had the highest respect for Dean George since first meeting him in 1996. 

Imagining Beeson without Dean George leading the school is difficult but I also admire him for determining the right time to transition from the dean role to a research and faculty position.

Beeson’s interdenominational set up and strength of theological training allows the school to maintain an elite position among divinity schools. 

Newly elected dean, Doug Sweeney, describes Beeson as “the best-conceived and cultivated divinity school in all of North America” (see https://thealabamabaptist.org/doug-sweeney-named-new-dean-of-samfords-beeson-divinity-school/).

In the coming days, you will hear much about Doug Sweeney’s seasoned experience as an academic leader and his reputation among top evangelical scholars. 

You will discover he is indeed among those who are able to sit with theologians and thinkers like our own beloved Dean George and contribute at a high level. 

Getting to know him

There’s no question that Dean Sweeney will represent Beeson well among top evangelical scholars, but I also believe he will quickly win the hearts of Beeson and Samford faculty, staff and students as well as churchgoers across the state and nation.

 Alabama Baptists will want to know more about his previous experience in Baptist life and what led him to migrate to an evangelical Lutheran denomination. The Alabama Baptist will be sharing more about that soon.

 Along with Dr. Sweeney’s scholarship and leadership qualities, he also brings a steady confidence and peace about himself and the role to which God has called him at this time. 

He understands the need for fundraising and the importance of relationships when leading an interdenominational Christian seminary that is one of 10 schools on a Baptist college campus in the South.

 Dr. Sweeney is a solid evangelical and theologically sound leader who is ready to tell the world why students interested in seminary should consider Beeson first.