By Linda Waggener, assistant director of university communications
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – “Baptist Christians who want to know more about their heritage and history will be excited to learn that Campbellsville University has a world-class Baptist historian returning as Scholar in Residence,” said Dr. John Hurtgen, dean of the School of Theology at CU, speaking of Dr. Morgan Patterson.
Patterson is an historian whose specialty is Baptist history. He has written for the Encyclopedia of Southern Baptists, Baptist History and Heritage and a number of other publications that focus on either church history or Baptist history in particular.
“We are honored to have Dr. Patterson and his wife rejoin the Campbellsville University family,” said Dr. Michael V. Carter, president. “Dr. Patterson is a great Baptist historian, and his teachings add to the depth of our School of Theology academic offerings.”
CU’s course “Baptist Heritage and History” will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2 p.m. until 3:15 p.m. Patterson will also be teaching church history at both undergraduate and graduate levels.
In 2006, Patterson delivered the first two lectures of the Baptist Heritage Series at Campbellsville University. He has preached in 120 Baptist churches in Kentucky, has served as pastor of two churches and as an interim pastor of several churches in Louisiana, Kentucky, Indiana and California.
Patterson is listed in “Who’s Who in America” and is a contributor to the Baptist World Alliance Centennial volume published in 2005 and “Pilgrim Pathways” published by Mercer University Press in 1999.
He taught church history at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville. He also served as academic dean and senior professor of church history at Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in San Francisco, Calif.
Patterson was president of Georgetown College for seven years, a professor of church history and the Baptist Heritage at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville for 17 years, was academic dean and senior professor of church history at Golden Gate Baptist Seminary in San Francisco, Calif. and taught at New Orleans Baptist Seminary before coming to Kentucky.
Patterson served as the president of Georgetown College from 1984 to 1991. During his tenure as president, Georgetown reached its highest enrollment, up until that time, and doubled its endowment. Since retiring from Georgetown College, Patterson has taught at three seminaries and four Baptist colleges and universities.
He received his bachelor’s degree from Stetson University in Deland, Fla. and his master of divinity and doctor of theology degrees from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
Patterson and his wife, Ernestine, live in Campbellsville while teaching at CU. Prior to coming to Kentucky they lived in Novato, Calif. where their two grown sons still live. He is a native of New Orleans, La.
Campbellsville University is a private, comprehensive institution located in South Central Kentucky. Founded in 1906, Campbellsville University is affiliated with the Kentucky Baptist Convention and has an enrollment of 2,405 students who represent 98 Kentucky counties, 25 states and 29 foreign nations. Listed in U.S.News & World Report’s 2008 “America’s Best Colleges,” CU is ranked 22nd in “Best Baccalaureate Colleges” in the South and eighth in the South for “Great Schools, Great Prices.” CU has been ranked 15 consecutive years with U.S.News & World Report. The university has also been named to America’s Best Christian Colleges®. Campbellsville University is located 82 miles southwest of Lexington, Ky., and 80 miles southeast of Louisville, Ky. Dr. Michael V. Carter is in his ninth year as president.