1983
& 2007 Perkins Lecturer
Our 1983
& 2007 Perkins Lecturer was Dr. Fred B. Craddock,
who is minister emeritus of Cherry Log Christian Church in Cherry Log, Georgia
and Bandy Distinguished Professor of Preaching and New Testament, Emeritus,
in the Candler School of Theology, Emory University. An ordained minister of
the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Dr. Craddock has also served pastorates
in Tennessee and Oklahoma. Much sought after as a lecturer, he has delivered
the Lyman Beecher Lectures at Yale, the Scott Lectures at Claremont School of
Theology, the Adams Lectures at Southeastern Baptist Seminary, the Schaff Lectures
at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, the Cole Lectures at Vanderbilt, the Westervelt
Lectures at Austin Presbyterian Seminary, the Mullins Lectures at Southern Seminary,
Earl Lectures at Pacific School of Religion, and even the Perkins Lectures here
at FUMC in 1983.
Reported in Newsweek
as one of America’s top preachers, Mr. Craddock, reared in rural Tennessee,
speaks the folk idiom with prophetic authenticity.
Dr. Craddock
has written a number of books, including The
Pre-Existence of Christ in the New Testament
(1968), As
One Without Authority 
(1971,
rev. 1974, 1979, 2001), Overhearing
the Gospel 
(1978,
rev. 2002), The
Gospels: Interpreting Biblical Texts
(1981), Preaching
(1985,
rev. 1990), Craddock
Stories (2001),
and The
Cherry Log Sermons
(2001). In addition, he has written Bible commentaries on John
(Knox Preaching Guides)
(1982), Philippians
(Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching) 
(1985),
Luke
(Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching) (1991),
and First
and Second Peter and Jude (Westminster Bible Companion) 
(1995).
In 2004, he also co-authored The
People's New Testament Commentary
with M. Eugene Boring. Dr. Craddock has also contributed articles to various
journals. (To order any of the above mentioned books, just click the title of
the book).
A native
of Humbolt, Tennessee, Dr. Craddock is married to the former Nettie Dungan.
They have a daughter and a son.
If you would
like to order audio CDs or cassettes of the 1983 Lectures
OR
CDs, cassettes, VHS tapes, and /or DVDs of the 2007 Lectures,
click HERE
for the Order Form.
For more information,
call John Dillard, Associate Pastor, at (940) 766-4231, ext. 227.
Perkins
Lecture Series have been one of the most significant events at FUMC since 1943.
Paul E. Martin, beloved former pastor of FUMC, conceived the idea for the Perkins
Lectures. Mr. and Mrs. J. J. (Lois) Perkins founded the Lectureship in 1943.
Research indicates that this is the first lecture series of its kind nationwide,
established in a local church. The Lectureship's purpose is stated in its original
charter, drafted in 1943: "To bring consecrated, capable speakers of note
to deliver in said First Methodist Church, talks or lectures pertaining to and
in furtherance of the Christian Religion . . . for the benefit of the members
of said Church, for the benefit of Methodism generally, and for the benefit
of the public at large."
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