THE DIVINITY SCHOOL at WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY
MORAVIAN BISHOP AND EDUCATOR JOHN AMOS COMENIUS (1592-1670) combined his interests in theology, pedagogy, and ethics into a grand vision for social reform. A contemporary of Galileo, Descartes, Rembrandt, and Milton, Comenius's contribution to the Enlightenment was his belief that religion and science were not incompatible. His writings on pedagogy were so innovative that he is known today as "the father of modern education." Comenius was an active public figure who drew upon his faith when confronting many of the injustices and cruelties of his age, and he explored creative ways to educate the public about God, the world, and human responsibility. His writings remain spiritual and intellectual classics.
To honor his legacy, Home Moravian Church of Winston-Salem, one of the largest Moravian Churches in the United States, and the Wake Forest University Divinity School have created the position of John Amos Comenius Scholar. The Comenius Scholar is expected to follow in the footsteps of Bishop Comenius by serving as a link between the academic world, the local church, and the broader community, bringing a distinctive Moravian theological voice to issues of concern while working toward greater interfaith understanding and cooperation.
Duties
The John A. Comenius Scholar and will teach courses at the Divinity School in the area of historical theology and Moravian studies. The Comenius Scholar will publish significant research in the area of Moravian history and theology, with a special focus on Comenius himself. In addition, he will serve as the theologian-in-residence at Home Moravian Church, where he will teach adult theology classes, including the Adult Bible Class on Sunday mornings broadcast on WSJS AM 600. The Comenius Scholar will also direct the Divinity School's Public Theology Program that promotes continuing studies events at Wake Forest that focus on issues of interest to the wider community, such as ministry in the twenty-first century, pluralism, ethical responsibility, and religion and public life.
The person chosen to be the Comenius Scholar is the Rev. Craig D. Atwood, author of the award-winning Community of the Cross: Moravian Piety in Colonial Bethlehem and editor of The Handbook of Denominations, one of the most widely used reference books on American religion. A native of Winston-Salem, Rev. Atwood received his Ph.D. from Princeton Theological Seminary (1994), his M.Div. from Moravian Theological Seminary (1987), and his B.A. from UNC-Chapel Hill (1983). Previously, he was the Clarkson S. Starbuck Assistant Professor of Religion at Salem College, where he also served as chaplain. In addition, Dr. Atwood has served as a pastor was an assistant dean at the Moravian Theological Seminary. He is also editor of The Hinge: A Journal of Christian Thought for the Moravian Church.
For more information about the Comenius Scholar Program please contact:
Home Moravian Church
Winston-Salem, NC
Kathy Barnes
336.722.6171
The Divinity School
of Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, NC
L. Wade Stokes
336.758.4837
