Jan. 10, 2014

For Immediate Release

By Kevin Thomas, student news writer

CAMPBELLSVILLE, KY. — Campbellsville University will celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with guest speaker Dr. Forrest E. Harris, president of American Baptist College, at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22 at Ransdell Chapel at 401 N. Hoskins Ave., Campbellsville.

Greater Campbellsville United is a co-sponsor of the event, and Joshua Percell and Courageous will perform.

Harris is nationally recognized as being one of the most progressive scholars, theological educators and visionaries in the black church tradition, according to John Chowning, vice president for church and external relations and executive assistant to the president at CU.

“We are very fortunate to have Dr. Harris as our guest preacher for the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Worship Celebration at Campbellsville University.

“The legacy and dream of Dr. King remain alive in 2014, work remains to be done to achieve what Dr. King lived and died for, and we move forward in the pursuit of a culture in which people are judged not by the ‘color of their skin but by the content of their character,'” Chowning said.

Harris holds a bachelor of arts degree from Knoxville College, a bachelor of theology degree from American Baptist College and master of divinity and doctor of ministry degrees from Vanderbilt University Divinity School where he was a Benjamin E. Mayes Fellow and recipient of the Florence Conwell prize for preaching.

Over the past 30 years as a former pastor, branch president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), leader of numerous community activist projects, director of black church studies at a major university, a respected preacher, teacher and lecturer, Harris is accredited with the distinction of making a significant contribution to the academy and the church by bridging academic theology with the practical ministry needs of the church.

“The entire CU community of faculty, staff, coaches, and students, as well as the community at large, are encouraged to join us at 7 p.m. in the Ransdell Chapel for this evening of worship and commitment to continue serving our community and nation in the pursuit of fulfilling Dr. King's dream.”

Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 3,600 students offering 63 undergraduate options, 17 master's degrees, five postgraduate areas and eight pre-professional programs. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.