After winning every possible Candler and Emory prize for teaching, wide acclaim for his books, the respect of his peers, and the gratitude of his students, Thomas G. Long retired at the end of spring semester after 15 years as Candler’s Bandy Professor of Preaching.

Named in 1996 as “one of the 12 most effective preachers in the English-speaking world,” Long has been popular with Candler students and colleagues alike. In addition to university-wide honors such as the 2011 Emory Williams Teaching Award and the 2015 Scholar/Teacher Award—two of the highest faculty honors Emory bestows—Long recently received the “On Eagle’s Wings” Excellence in Teaching Award, which is presented by Candler’s senior class in recognition of faithful and dedicated service. In the words of one student nominator, Long "does more than simply teach students; he prepares them for growth in ministry with helpful, critical feedback, and a spirit of encouragement, which creates stronger preachers and leaders."

Not only a gifted preacher and teacher, Long is also an accomplished scholar/author who has produced a prolific body of work, including 21 books and scores of articles in both professional journals and popular periodicals. His 1989 book The Witness of Preaching—now in its second edition—is one of the most widely used texts on preaching, appearing on class reading lists in seminaries throughout the world. In 2010, Preaching magazine named it one of the 25 most influential books on preaching from the last 25 years. The Academy of Parish Clergy named his Preaching from Memory to Hope as one of the “top ten books for parish ministry published in 2009” and What Shall We Say? Evil, Suffering, and the Crisis of Faith as the 2011 Book of the Year. And he is a frequent contributor to The Christian Century magazine.

Although Long is officially retiring, Candler will continue to benefit from his expertise in his next chapter: directing a grant program to help recent Candler alumni become leaders in their communities through a two-year program of leadership education and pastoral formation. Thanks be to God!

CREDIT: Kay Hinton/EPV.