Board of Directors
Chairman: Nathan Guy
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Nathan Guy (PhD, University of Cambridge) is the preaching minister for the West Side Church of Christ in Searcy, Arkansas. He has also served as an adjunct instructor for Harding University, Heritage Christian University, and St. Louis University. He is the author of Finding Locke's God: The Theological Basis of John Locke's Political Thought (London: Bloomsbury, 2019) and The Mars Hill Story: 150 Years of Love, Mercy, Peace and Truth (Florence, AL: Mars Hill Press, 2020). Nathan received his graduate training in philosophy, theology, New Testament studies, and ethics from the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge, and the London School of Economics & Political Science. For 13 years he taught on the Bible faculty of Harding University, then served for 3 years as the President of Mars Hill Bible School--a Christian academy in Florence, Alabama, with roots stretching back to Mars Hill Academy, founded by T. B. Larimore in 1871. He has served in ministry for over 20 years in 5 states and 2 countries. Nathan and his wife, Katie, have one daughter, Grace, who is the joy of their lives.
Treasurer: Becky Blake Stewart
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Becky earned a BA in Education and Psychology from the University of Iowa and MEd in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Texas at Austin. She is retired from a career in education, having spent decades teaching in elementary and middle school, supervising student teachers, and mentoring faculty. For over 30 years she focused on writing curriculum and teaching students from a Christian perspective at Brentwood Christian School in Austin, Texas. Becky was the first to receive the Texas Christian Schools Association’s Teacher of the Year for outstanding contribution to Christian education. She served on the review committee for the Timeless Psalter project. Becky grew up in Iowa and Nebraska attending small congregations of the Church of Christ. She now attends Brentwood Oaks Church of Christ in Austin where she teaches women’s and children’s classes. Her late husband Bill Stewart was an active supporter of Christian Studies. They have a son and two grandsons.
Allan McNicol
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Allan is originally from Queensland, Australia. An Emeritus Professor of New Testament and Biblical Theology at Austin Graduate School of Theology – Lipscomb University Austin Center, he graduated from Abilene Christian College and Yale University before gaining a PhD in New Testament from Vanderbilt University. A former church elder, Allan is a member of Studiorum Novi Testamenti Societas, an international community of New Testament scholars. His published works include: Beyond the Q Impasse: Luke’s Use of Matthew, co-editor (Bloomsbury, 1996); Preparing for Baptism: Becoming Part of the Story of the People of God (Christian Studies Press, 2001); The Conversion of the Nations in Revelation (T&T Clark, 2011); and The Persistence of God’s Endangered Promises: The Bible’s Unified Story (T&T Clark, 2018). Allan is married to Patricia, a musician, and they are members of Brentwood Oaks Church of Christ in Austin, Texas.
Benny Tabalujan
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Born in Indonesia, Benny is an elder at Belmore Road Church of Christ in Melbourne. He previously worked in corporate law firms, academia, and consulting in Australia, Hong Kong, and Singapore. He read economics and law at Monash University and gained a PhD (Law) from the University of Melbourne – where he continues to be a visiting fellow. He later obtained a Graduate Diploma of Divinity (Australian College of Theology) and MTh (University of Glasgow). He has written and edited several publications, including: Indonesian Company Law: A Translation & Commentary (Sweet & Maxwell Asia, 1996); Leadership and Management Challenges of In-house Legal Counsel (LexisNexis Australia, 2008); Singapore Business Law, 9th ed (BusinessLaw Asia, 2021); and Renewal Through Restoration: An Uncommon Call to Christian Discipleship (Klesis Press, 2021). Benny and his wife, Pauline, have four children.
Secretary: Adam Kelso
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Adam is a software developer in Austin, Texas and received his BA from Oklahoma Christian University. Over the last 14 years he has worked in many industries related to software from bank security to video conferencing. He brings experience with online publishing and other digital systems to the board and an outside perspective to the education goals of CCS. Adam also helps teach adult classes at Brentwood Oaks Church of Christ, primarily for the Young Adults group, and also serves on the tech team that runs and livestreams worship services. He is married to Aimee, who serves on the Women’s committee at Brentwood Oaks. Aimee is also a teacher of physical therapy at the University of St Augustine in Austin and a cofounder of Tesoro Project, a non-profit that organizes medical mission trips to Guatemala.
Keith Stanglin
Keith is the Director of CCS and is Professor of Historical Theology at Harding School of Theology. He previously taught Scripture and historical theology at Harding University and Austin Graduate School of Theology. He received his education at Oklahoma Christian University (BA), Harding School of Theology (MDiv), and Calvin Theological Seminary (PhD). A leading scholar of Jacob Arminius, Keith has written several books including: Jacob Arminius: Theologian of Grace, co-author (Oxford University Press, 2012); The Reformation to the Modern Church: A Reader in Christian Theology (Fortress Press, 2014); The Letter and Spirit of Biblical Interpretation: From the Early Church to Modern Practice (Baker Academic, 2018); After Arminius: A Historical Introduction to Arminian Theology, co-author (Oxford University Press, 2020); and Ethics Beyond Rules: How Christ’s Call to Love Informs Our Moral Choices (Zondervan, 2021). Keith is the Editor of the Journal of Christian Studies. Keith, his wife, Amanda, and their three children are members of Brentwood Oaks Church of Christ in Austin, Texas.
Todd Hall
Todd served as Associate Professor and the Director of the David Worley Library at Austin Graduate School of Theology. He served in local church ministry before undertaking biblical studies at the Center for Christian Education and, later, at Austin Graduate School of Theology (BA, MATS). He then completed a MS in Library Science at University of North Texas and a PhD in education at Texas State University. Todd has published several articles in Christian Studies and has worked alongside Keith as managing editor of Christian Studies for nine years. Todd and his wife, Cara, live in San Marcos, Texas, where Todd serves as the minister of the Holland Street Church of Christ.
Founding Board Members
Secretary: Mary Elisabeth (Libby) Weed, October 17, 1944 – May 3, 2023
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Libby earned a BS in Education, MA in English Literature, and PhD in Educational Administration from the University of Texas at Austin. She completed a career as a classroom teacher, biblical worldview teacher trainer, and school administrator, culminating in thirty years as principal of Brentwood Christian School. Most recently, Libby served as a part-time consultant to the school and also as a teacher of children and adults at Brentwood Oaks Church of Christ. Libby was on the review committee for the Timeless Psalter project. She and her husband Michael Weed co-authored the Bible Handbook: A Guide for Basic Bible Learning, and she edited the Read ‘N’ Grow Picture Bible. Michael was the founding editor of Christian Studies; Libby assisted him in editing and proofreading the journal. Michael and Libby are the parents of two children and grandparents of six.
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Libby fell asleep in the Lord on May 3, 2023. We mourn her passing, but look forward to the reunion of resurrection.
Advisory Council
Michael R. Young (M.S., M.Div., Biblical Studies, ACU; M.A., Ph.D., Philosophy, U. of Dallas)
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Mike previously served as a minister in churches in Texas, New Mexico, and Connecticut as well as a missionary in Santiago, Chile. He currently teaches in the Ph.D. Humanities Program at Faulkner University.
Robert Bluethman (BSEE, MSEE, Rice University)
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Robert Bluethman and his wife, Karen, are longtime members of the Brentwood Oaks Church of Christ (BOCC) in Austin, Texas. At BOCC, Robert teaches in the adult education ministry and previously served as an elder. Robert worked for many years in product development and is now retired.
Deanna Munger (BS Chemical Engineering, Univ. of Arizona; MATS Austin Graduate School of Theology)
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After working in semiconductor engineering, Deanna Munger returned to school to study theology. She is now a writer, speaker and teacher. Deanna, her husband James, and their two sons are longtime members at University Avenue Church of Christ in Austin, Tx. Deanna teaches adult Bible classes at church and online.
Jim Martin MDiv., (ACU; D.Min., HST)
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Since January 2014, Jim Martin has served as the Vice President of Harding School of Theology in Memphis, Tennessee. Prior to this appointment, he served various congregations in Alabama, Missouri, and Texas as a preaching minister for 36 years. Most recently he served the Crestview Church of Christ in Waco, Texas for 20 years (1993-2013).
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Jim has a passion for mentoring and developing Christian leaders and other Christ followers. He has regularly led mentoring and coaching groups for Christian leaders throughout the United States. He also spends much time coaching, mentoring, and encouraging individual ministers. He serves as a partner with Hope Network Ministries.
Jim and his wife, Charlotte, enjoy spending time with their three grandsons, Brody, Lincoln, and Sully and one granddaughter, Elsie.
Harold Shank (PhD, Marquette)
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Harold Shank preached for the Memphis Highland Church of Christ for 20 years. He has been involved with over a dozen church plants and promoted urban ministry and concern for at-risk children. Currently Harold serves as an elder at Memorial Road Church of Christ in Edmond, Oklahoma, and works as a faith consultant.
Barry Newton (B.A., FHU; M.A., MDiv. ACU)
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After participating in a church plant in Florianópolis, Brazil, Barry has served churches in California and Texas. He writes for both English and Portuguese readers. He currently serves as an associate minister of adult education and missions in San Antonio, Texas. Barry and Sofia are the parents of two young men.