Steven McKinion Named Director of PhD Program at Southeastern
Chad Burchett | April 08, 2024
Earlier this month, Southeastern Seminary announced Steven McKinion, professor of theology and patristic studies and John Leadley Dagg Chair of systematic theology at Southeastern, as the new director of its PhD program. McKinion, who has taught at Southeastern for more than 25 years, brings to the role a vision for advanced research and scholarship in service to the Great Commission.
Excited about the announcement, President Danny Akin shared that McKinion faithfully embodies the ethos of the seminary and its Great Commission approach to theological education.
“I know Dr. McKinion will serve our PhD students well,” Akin commented, “because he combines a personal commitment to excellence in scholarship with a passion for local church ministry and the mission of Southeastern.”
“I am delighted that he will be serving as the director of our PhD program,” Akin added. “He is a wonderful colleague, a beloved professor, and an excellent scholar who loves Southeastern and has served our school faithfully for more than 25 years.”
A local church pastor and longtime professor, McKinion has distinguished himself as a respected scholar who is deeply invested in the local church and passionate about making disciples. For McKinion, the new role is an exciting opportunity to continue that investment by equipping students as scholars who will serve the Church and its mission.
“I am especially excited to work with faculty to equip students to be scholars who serve the local church,” noted McKinion. “The Southeastern PhD program is a community of scholars researching and writing to shape ministers for the good of the Church. The Church deserves pastors, teachers, and missionaries who think deeply about the things of God, write convincingly about the faith, and teach others the great truths of the gospel.”
The Southeastern PhD program is a community of scholars researching and writing to shape ministers for the good of the Church.
McKinion believes that it is this community and intentional investment in students that makes Southeastern’s PhD program an ideal space for advanced study. Students in the program uniquely benefit from personal, one-on-one mentoring relationships with faculty who help their students develop not only the dispositions and skills of a scholar but also the heart of a minister who loves and serves the local church.
“The heart of the Southeastern PhD Program is mentorship,” commented McKinion. “Our program weds seminars with faculty mentorship in which professors guide students through reading and research. Access to a faculty mentor throughout the program makes the Southeastern PhD an ideal space to pursue research and advanced training for ministry. All our faculty mentors are both experts in their academic field and committed to equipping students for ministry to and in the church.”
Originally from Mobile, Alabama, McKinion holds a Bachelor of Arts from Mississippi College, a Master of Arts in theological studies from the University of Mobile, and a PhD in systematic theology from King’s College at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. McKinion has published in the areas of patristics, church history, and evangelism and is currently drafting two books on Christology and a one-volume systematic theology.
McKinion and his wife Ginger moved to Wake Forest, North Carolina, in 1998 when he joined Southeastern’s faculty as assistant professor of Church history and patristics. Over the years McKinion has pastored in several local churches and currently serves as pastor of preaching and vision at Woodland Baptist Church in Wake Forest.
For Provost Scott Pace, McKinion’s extensive research and teaching experience as well as his passion for missions and ministry experience make him an excellent fit for the role.
“The director of the PhD program requires a unique blend of administrative leadership and premier scholarship that Dr. McKinion epitomizes,” commented Pace. “As an accomplished patristic scholar and theologian, he certainly will elevate the profile of our program and preserve its strong academic reputation. As a ministry leader with years of experience, he will also care for our students and equip them to serve local churches and fulfill the Great Commission. His passion for global missions and local church ministry, along with his many years of faithful service at Southeastern, make him the perfect choice to serve our school in this strategic role.”
To learn more about how Southeastern’s PhD program and how it equips students to engage the academy, serve the Church, and fulfill the Great Commission, visit sebts.edu/phd.