Michael Duduit, founding editor of Preaching magazine, has been named dean of the new graduate school of Christian ministry at Anderson University.
Michael DuduitAnderson University president Evans Whitaker announced the appointment at a recent meeting of the university’s faculty. He indicated that Duduit will also serve as professor of Christian ministry as a member of the university faculty.
The Anderson University board of trustees approved the creation of the new program last October. Duduit will spend his first year finalizing the development of the graduate program, teaching undergraduates, enhancing the theological collection of Thrift Library, and planning for the initiation of classes in fall 2009. His teaching focus after 2009 will shift to graduate students.
Duduit established Preaching magazine in 1985 and will continue to serve as executive editor of the publication after assuming his duties at Anderson. In addition to the bi-monthly publication for pastors, he also writes PreachingNow, an e-mail newsletter read weekly by more than 20,000 pastors and church leaders. He is founder and director of the annual National Conference on Preaching and the International Congress on Preaching, which meets in Britain every five years.
Commenting on the new school and the appointment, Whitaker said, “The establishment of this new professional degree program is a natural outgrowth of the university’s expansion into graduate programs that are consistent with the university’s mission and the institution’s desire to be of greater service to the church in educating and equipping pastors, staff members, and lay persons for ministry and leadership in the 21st century. We could not have found anyone more passionate about equipping ministers nor a more qualified individual to lead this new program than Michael Duduit. He has a heart for ministry and ministers, as does Anderson University.”
The new Anderson dean has taught at and served on the administrative staff of several Baptist institutions, including Samford University, Southern Baptist Seminary, Palm Beach Atlantic University and Union University, where he served from 1996 until 2002 as executive vice president and associate professor of communication arts and Christian studies. A graduate of Stetson University and Southern Baptist Seminary, he earned a Ph.D. in humanities at Florida State University, where his research was on the history of American preaching.
He is author and editor of several books, including “The Handbook of Contemporary Preaching,” “Joy in Ministry,” “Communicate with Power,” and “Preaching with Power.” From 1996 until 2000, he served as editor of the Abingdon Preaching Annual series. Duduit is a former president of the Baptist Communicators Association, and is listed in Who’s Who in Religion and Who’s Who in America. He has been a pastor and associate pastor, and has served several churches as interim pastor. He and his wife Laura have two sons.
The new dean will assume duties in June and launch plans for the new graduate school of Christian ministry, which will welcome its first master’s-level students in August 2009.