Memphis School of Preaching

The Memphis School of Preaching is a two-year collegiate institution devoted to the training of gospel preachers. It is overseen by the elders of the Forest Hill Church of Christ in Germantown, a suburb of Memphis, in the U.S. state of Tennessee.FacultySince January 2013, MSOP has been under the direction of B.J. Clarke, who replaced Administrative Dean Bobby Liddell. Currently there are ten instructors, each having spent over a decade preaching for congregations and performing the work of a preacher, some even continuing in that work. The current instructors include B.J. Clarke, Barry Grider, Billy Bland, Bobby Liddell, Daniel F. Cates, Garland Elkins, Gary Colley, Keith A. Mosher, Sr., Michael McDaniel, and T.J. Clarke. Barry Grider also serves as the preacher of the Forest Hill Church of Christ.HistoryThe Memphis School of Preaching had its beginning in 1966 at the Getwell church in Memphis, Tennessee, being first known as “Getwell School of Preaching.” Roy J. Hearn, an experienced educator and Bible teacher at two Christian colleges, saw the need for such a school to train preachers for the churches of Christ. It was felt that a two-year, intensive program of study would be the most effective way to equip a man to become a Christian preacher. He was encouraged in this endeavor by others such as N.B. Hardeman. There have been over 1,000 men who have graduated in the annual graduation exercises.On the last Sunday in March, 1967, the first Memphis School of Preaching Lectureship took place and continued through Thursday of that week. This lectureship now continues to take place annually during that same week in March.