Thomas G. Long
- PhD, Princeton Theological Seminary, 1980
- MDiv, Erskine Theological Seminary, 1971
- BA, Erskine College, 1968
Dr. Thomas G. Long’s primary area of research is homiletics (the history, theory, and practice of preaching His introductory textbook, The Witness of Preaching, has been translated into a number of languages and is widely used in theological schools around the world. In 2010, Preaching magazine named The Witness of Preaching one of the 25 most influential books in preaching for the last 25 years. Long gave the distinguished Lyman Beecher Lectures at Yale, which were published in his 2009 book Preaching from Memory to Hope.
Long is also deeply interested in biblical studies, practical theology, and liturgy. He has written commentaries on the biblical books of Hebrews, the Gospel of Matthew, and the Pastoral Epistles, and his books on the Christian funeral, Accompany Them with Singing and The Good Funeral (co-authored with noted poet and funeral director Thomas Lynch), have generated interest both in the academy and the media. His book What Shall We Say? Evil, Suffering, and the Crisis of Faith, which addresses the issue of innocent suffering and the goodness of God, was selected as the Book of the Year for 2011, an award given by the Academy of Parish Clergy to the best book published for parish ministry in the previous year.
Long, an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA), served as the senior homiletics editor of The New Interpreter’s Bible, and he is associate editor of Journal for Preachers and editor-at-large for the Christian Century. Emory University awarded him the Emory Williams Award for teaching excellence in 2011. His wife, Kimberly, also a Presbyterian minister, is professor of worship at Columbia Theological Seminary in Atlanta.
Selected publications
Author, What Shall We Say? Evil, Suffering, and the Crisis of Faith Wm. B. Eerdmans2011
Author, Accompany Them with Singing: The Christian Funeral Westminster John Knox Press2009
Author, Preaching from Memory to Hope Westminster John Knox Press2009
Co-Editor, Teaching Preaching as a Christian Practice Westminster John Knox Press2008
Author, The Witness of Preaching, Second Edition Westminster John Knox Press2005
Author, Testimony: Talking Ourselves into Being Christian Jossey Bass2004
Author, Beyond the Worship Wars: Building Vital and Faithful Worship Alban Institute2001
Author, Hebrews: Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching Westminster John Knox Press1997
Author, Matthew (Westminster Bible Companion Series) Westminster John Knox Press1997
Co-Editor, Preaching as a Theological Task: World, Gospel, Scripture Westminster John Knox Press1996
Selected awards
Academy of Parish Clergy 2012 Book of the Year for What Shall We Say?
Doctor of Ministry, Honorary Degree, Virginia Theological Seminary
Emory Williams Distinguished Teaching Award, Emory University
Doctor of Ministry, Honorary Degree, Hastings College, Nebraska
Doctor of Humane Letters, Honorary Degree, Aquinas School of Theology, St. Louis
Henry Luce III Fellowship in Theology, 1995-1996.
"To Whom Can We Go?" - Prophetic Voices Centennial Academic Conference, Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church, March 19, 2015
"A Thrill of Hope: The Christmas Story in Word and Art" - November 12, 2009
An interview with Westminster John Knox Press on Christian funerals, September 24, 2009
Hear Long preach in Cannon Chapel via iTunes University (2010, 2009, 2008).
Contemporary Homiletical Theory
Intro to PreachingPreaching the Parables of Jesus
Sermon Design and Delivery