wfn.org | Texas Christian University's C. David Grant Named

["Communication Ministries" <wshuffit@cm.disciples.org>]

Winner 
of 2002 T.A. Abbott Award for Faculty Excellence 
Date: May 10, 2002
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
E-mail: news@cm.disciples.org
Web: http://www.disciples.org

Contact: Brad Lyons, Division of Higher Education
(314) 991-3000 - blyons@dhedisciples.org

02a-46

     ST. LOUIS - Texas Christian University religion
professor Dr. C. David Grant has been recognized as the
recipient of the 2002 T.A. Abbott Award for Faculty
Excellence from the Division of Higher Education. The award
is the most prestigious recognition that the Christian
Church (Disciples of Christ) gives to members of faculties
of Disciples-related colleges and universities. 

     The recipient of this award is affirmed by his or her
institution as a professor who
inspires students toward excellence, continues to grow, and
learn in his or her academic discipline and practices a
personal faith. 

     The DHE Board of Directors bestowed the award to Grant
at its board meeting April 12-14 in St. Louis, Mo. Grant
will receive $1,000 to be used for expanding his library,
developing new courses, or continuing education and
research. 

     Among the classes Grant teaches are Issues in
Contemporary Theology, Philosophy of Religion, God in
Modern Thought, and Religion and Science. He served as
director of TCU's honors program from 1988-1994. In 1995,
honors students selected Grant to receive the prestigious
Honors Program Faculty Recognition Award, noting an
"unwavering commitment to his ideals, expressed in
everything he does, which makes him truly accountable to
students." Last year, the faculty of the College of
Humanities and Social Sciences nominated him for the Dean's
Teaching Award. He has served on several of the Religion
Department's search committees and has served as the
department's coordinator of advising since 1995. He is also
the department's webmaster. 

     In recommending Grant for the award, TCU religion
major Joe Blosser noted Grant's
influence on his education. "As many religion majors will
testify, it is difficult to study religion and remain
religious, but one of Dr. Grant's biggest impacts on my
life has been his ability to both study religion seriously
and maintain an active faith and church life. He has
mentored me through several faith crises by helping me
understand how this theological study applies to daily
life." 

     A Texas native, Grant earned his bachelor's degree at
Austin College. He earned
master's degrees from Harvard University and Southern
Methodist University. He earned his Ph.D. from Harvard in
1981. A member of the First United Methodist Church in Fort
Worth, Texas, Grant has been a member of the TCU faculty
since 1981. He and his wife, Debbie, have three children. 

     The T.A. Abbott Award, presented now for the 19th
consecutive year, was established through a gift to the
Division of Higher Education from the descendants of the
Reverend T. A. Abbott, a student and later a trustee at
Christian University (now Culver-Stockton College). In the
1880's and early 1890's, Abbott pastored local
congregations in Missouri, and from 1886 to 1910, he was
the corresponding secretary of the Missouri Christian
Missionary Society. He died in 1914. 

     Nominees for the T.A. Abbott Award must be full-time
teaching faculty at Disciples-
related institutions of higher education. Criteria for
selection include quality of teaching,
personal example and commitment to the integration of
Christian faith and learning. 

     Grant is the fifth TCU faculty member to receive the
award. Previous winners were Dr. Anantha S. Babbili, 1998;
Dr. Mildred Onelle Hogstel, 1994; Dr. Bob J. Frye, 1993;
and Dr. Kenneth T. Lawrence, 1987. 

     The purpose of the Division of Higher Education is to
nurture men and women, both lay and clergy, for
transformational leadership in the church and the wider
human community through the church's institutions of higher
education. Fourteen universities and seven theological
institutions in 12 states are in covenant with the
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), serving more than
24,400 students. In addition, three schools and three
theological institutions maintain historical or associate
ties with the denomination. DHE is affiliated with more
than 80 campus ministries programs across the country. DHE
also works with congregations and individuals to distribute
scholarships to worthy Disciples students. Including
cooperative efforts, DHE helped distribute almost $219,000
in scholarships in 2001.

                            -- end -- 

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