{"id":2930,"date":"2018-05-23T20:35:43","date_gmt":"2018-05-23T20:35:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/?p=2930"},"modified":"2018-05-25T15:08:13","modified_gmt":"2018-05-25T15:08:13","slug":"dr-warren-mcwilliams-42-years-on-bison-hill","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/dr-warren-mcwilliams-42-years-on-bison-hill\/","title":{"rendered":"Dr. Warren McWilliams: 42 Years on Bison Hill"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Lane Castleberry<\/strong><\/p>\n

Legacy and Impact<\/b><\/p>\n

Dr. Warren McWilliams, Auguie Henry professor of Bible, sits in an office half-emptied of belongings, coffee in hand, exuding a spirit of welcoming and intentionality unlike any other. A few boxes here or there, he gradually packs up more things day by day in preparation for his retirement at the end of the spring semester.<\/p>\n

But don\u2019t think for a moment this seasoned professor is finished working. Though he has charitably offered up most of his library of books to his colleagues, McWilliams holds a wealth of knowledge within the library of his mind.<\/p>\n

And the library is vast, along with his impact on thousands of students throughout 42 years of teaching for the Herschel H. Hobbs College of Theology and Ministry. Among those students impacted, Dr. Heath Thomas, \u201998, now serves as dean of the Hobbs College.<\/p>\n

\u201cLike so many others, I can be counted as a former student of Dr. Warren McWilliams,\u201d Thomas said. \u201cHis legacy, I believe, is found in the students whom he trained now serving in churches, leading on the mission field and teaching in universities, seminaries and classrooms in Oklahoma and around the globe. They carry with them something that Dr. McWilliams models: a deep and abiding commitment to Jesus and excellence in the intellectual life. I am honored to be part of his company.\u201d<\/p>\n

Theology, Ethics and Beginnings <\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

McWilliams, a 1968 OBU alumnus, majored in psychology with a minor in philosophy. He became interested in historical theology and systematic theology while attending Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. After earning his M.Div. at Southern, and continuing on to earn both an M.A. and Ph.D. at Vanderbilt, McWilliams taught two years at Stetson University in Florida before returning to Bison Hill to join the faculty at his alma mater. He soon began teaching a course which eventually became known as biblical ethics.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn a theology class you might look at \u2018humans are created in the image of God,\u2019 and what does that mean to be in the image of God?\u201d McWilliams said. \u201cThe ethics side is the practical application of theology: what could we do, empowered by God, not that we\u2019re bringing the kingdom of God by ourselves, but, what could we do to make the world better \u2026 alleviating, lessening poverty, hunger, racial discrimination. I\u2019m not an activist or a crusader, but I\u2019m very interested in the practical application of ethics, and I do what I can.\u201d<\/p>\n

McWilliams received OBU\u2019s Distinguished Teaching Award in 1986 and the OBU Alumni Association\u2019s Profile in Excellence Award in 2010. He currently teaches theology classes and freshman Bible, a full circle to the courses he originally taught when beginning his teaching journey on Bison Hill.<\/p>\n

M*A*S*H, Anyone? (Theology of Pop Culture)<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Many former students and colleagues are quick to remember McWilliams\u2019 nearly-trademarked affinity for the TV show \u201cM*A*S*H,\u201d which he often uses for teaching illustrations. However, his enjoyment of popular culture predates and extends beyond the 11-season run of his favorite series.<\/p>\n

He grew up reading the comic strips in newspapers and watching Saturday morning TV shows. And though he claims to have a \u201cblind spot for contemporary music,\u201d McWilliams said he has come to appreciate music through his family\u2019s musical talents.<\/p>\n

\u201cAcross the years, I\u2019ve dabbled in what I would call the theology of popular culture,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Along the lines of Robert Short\u2019s \u201cThe Gospel According to Peanuts\u201d and \u201cThe Parables of Peanuts,\u201d a book on sermon illustrations from Dr. Seuss became one of McWilliams\u2019 first publications. He later became interested in \u201cM*A*S*H\u201d and wrote papers on the ethics and theology of the show. One article reached a national publication.<\/p>\n

\u201c[In] the old idea of apologetics there are questions, concerns or objections, and then Christianity offers the answers. I\u2019ve found that pop culture offers a very good statement, a concern or an issue.\u201d<\/p>\n

Photo Gallery<\/strong><\/p>\n