Covenant News

Hundreds Attend New Zarley Lecture Series

CHICAGO, IL (November 20, 2000) - Hundreds of students, faculty and guests recently filled Anderson Chapel at North Park University to hear noted biblical scholar James D.G. Dunn present the first annual Kermit Zarley lectures.

Dunn, the Lightfoot Professor of Divinity at Durham University in the United Kingdom, spoke on the quest for the historical Jesus. His lectures were entitled Looking for Jesus: Can We Find Him? and Was Paul the First to Lose Him?

David Nystrom, head of the biblical and theological studies department at North Park University, introduced Dunn as one of the most important scholars in the last 25 years. "It is a honor for us to have a scholar of Dr. James Dunn's stature at North Park University," Nystrom said.

The lectures were made possible by an endowment from two-time PGA tour winner Kermit Zarley. Several years ago Zarley (who now plays on the senior PGA tour) became friends with Scott McKnight, a religion professor at North Park. Besides his interest in golf, Zarley has studied theology for the past 20 years. Given Zarley's personal interest in theological issues, McKnight proposed the lecture series. "We are hoping that our students will be exposed to major scholars throughout the world and learn more about theology and its significance for the church," McKnight observed.

(Editor's note: A feature story about the Zarley-McKnight friendship will be featured in an upcoming issue of The Covenant Companion.)

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