Duane Litfin
Encyclopedia
A. Duane Litfin was the seventh president
of Wheaton College
in Wheaton, Illinois. He holds an undergraduate degree
in biblical studies
and a master's degree
in theology
from Philadelphia Biblical University
(then Philadelphia College of Bible). His two doctoral degrees are from Purdue University
(Ph.D., Communication) and Oxford
(D.Phil., New Testament). He came to Wheaton
in 1993 from Memphis, Tennessee
, where he served the First Evangelical Church as senior pastor. Prior to that, he was an associate professor at the Dallas Theological Seminary
. He also taught at Purdue University
and Indiana University
. Litfin has authored several books and his writings have appeared in numerous journals and periodicals. His most recent book, Conceiving the Christian College (Eerdman's, 2004), explores his vision of the unique character of Christian institutions of higher education
. A recent article in the SoMA review discusses some of the more controversial aspects of his tenure at Wheaton.
Litfin was succeeded as president on July 1, 2010 by Philip Ryken
, formerly senior pastor of the Tenth Presbyterian Church
in Philadelphia and 1988 graduate of Wheaton.
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of Wheaton College
Wheaton College (Illinois)
Wheaton College is a private, evangelical Protestant liberal arts college in Wheaton, Illinois, a suburb west of Chicago in the United States...
in Wheaton, Illinois. He holds an undergraduate degree
Undergraduate degree
An undergraduate degree is a colloquial term for an academic degree taken by a person who has completed undergraduate courses. It is usually offered at an institution of higher education, such as a university...
in biblical studies
Biblical studies
Biblical studies is the academic study of the Judeo-Christian Bible and related texts. For Christianity, the Bible traditionally comprises the New Testament and Old Testament, which together are sometimes called the "Scriptures." Judaism recognizes as scripture only the Hebrew Bible, also known as...
and a master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
from Philadelphia Biblical University
Philadelphia Biblical University
Philadelphia Biblical University, formerly called Philadelphia College of Bible, is a school located in Langhorne, Pennsylvania founded in 1913. Every undergraduate student graduates with a Bachelor's degree in Bible. In addition, students may work towards a dual degree, such as Business,...
(then Philadelphia College of Bible). His two doctoral degrees are from Purdue University
Purdue University
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...
(Ph.D., Communication) and Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
(D.Phil., New Testament). He came to Wheaton
Wheaton, Illinois
Wheaton is an affluent community located in DuPage County, Illinois, approximately west of Chicago and Lake Michigan. Wheaton is the county seat of DuPage County...
in 1993 from Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
, where he served the First Evangelical Church as senior pastor. Prior to that, he was an associate professor at the Dallas Theological Seminary
Dallas Theological Seminary
Dallas Theological Seminary is an evangelical theological seminary located in Dallas, Texas. It is known for popularizing the theological system known as Dispensationalism...
. He also taught at Purdue University
Purdue University
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...
and Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
. Litfin has authored several books and his writings have appeared in numerous journals and periodicals. His most recent book, Conceiving the Christian College (Eerdman's, 2004), explores his vision of the unique character of Christian institutions of higher education
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
. A recent article in the SoMA review discusses some of the more controversial aspects of his tenure at Wheaton.
Litfin was succeeded as president on July 1, 2010 by Philip Ryken
Philip Ryken
Philip Graham Ryken is president of Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois. Dr. Ryken was inaugurated on Friday, September 17, 2010 at Edman Chapel.-Education:...
, formerly senior pastor of the Tenth Presbyterian Church
Tenth Presbyterian Church
Tenth Presbyterian Church is a congregation of approximately 1,500 members located in downtown Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Tenth is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church in America , a denomination in the Reformed or Calvinist tradition.-History:...
in Philadelphia and 1988 graduate of Wheaton.