Here is a salient truth: Sin has ravaged every square inch of God’s good creation tearing asunder humanity’s relationship with God, with each other, with the created order, and even with the self. And no aspect of the self has been disordered, degraded, misconstrued, or misapplied more than human sexuality. In light of this recognition, we at BtT wanted to point out two especially helpful talks on sex and sexuality, both given in SEBTS chapel services this year. The first is by an ethicist, Dr. Mark Liederbach, and the second is by a psychologist and counselor, Dr. Sam Williams.

First, we note Dr. Mark Liederbach’s recent talk (March 21, 2012) entitled, “Redeeming Sex and Sexuality,” in which he gave a biblical-theological answer to the question, “What is sexy?” His thesis is, “if there is a higher and better definition of sexy than the one paraded around in our culture, then even if it is at first hard for us to see or accept, we must trust the Maker of all good things, and seek to alter our perspective in light of His. After all, He is the One who declares in that in His presence is fullness of joy and that in His right hand there are pleasures forevermore (Ps 16:11). If this verse is true, then . . . what God finds sexy, we ought also to find sexy.”

Dr. Liederbach earned his Ph. D. in Theology, Ethics, and Culture from the University of Virginia. He is Associate Professor of Christian Ethics at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he also serves as a Senior Fellow at the Bush Center for Faith & Culture. He is known as a top-shelf classroom instructor, an author, and a student-friendly professor.

Second, we note Dr. Sam Williams’s lecture (October 19, 2011) entitled, “A Christian Psychology of, and Response to, Homosexuality,” in which he spoke to the issues of same-sex attraction, same-sex orientation, and gay/lesbian identity. The lecture is now available at Southeastern’s multimedia site by clicking here.

Dr. Williams earned his M.A. and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology (San Diego), and his B. A. in Psychology from the University of Arizona. From 1989 until 1999, he was the owner and operator of a psychology clinic in Lake Charles, LA, at which time he came to Southeastern, where he is now Associate Professor of Counseling. He is a student favorite and a polymath who reads widely in theology, epistemology, psychology, and other fields related to counseling.

On October 19, 2011, Dr. Sam Williams delivered a chapel lecture entitled, “A Christian Psychology of, and Response to, Homosexuality,” in which he spoke to the issues of same-sex attraction, same-sex orientation, and gay/lesbian identity. The lecture is now available at Southeastern’s multimedia site by clicking here.

Dr. Williams earned his M.A. and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology (San Diego), and his B. A. in Psychlogy from the University of Arizona. From 1989 until 1999, he was the owner and operator of a psychology clinic in Lake Charles, LA, at which time he came to Southeastern, where he is now Associate Professor of Counseling. He is known as a voracious learner who reads widely in theology, epistemology, psychology, and other fields related to counseling.

Note to our readership: Southeastern features a number of degrees designed to equip graduate and post-graduate students for pastoral care and counseling in and for the church:

The Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling is designed to equip students for vocational counseling ministries in the context of the local church. Students take courses leadership, team ministry, and discipleship as part of this program. The M.A. in Christian Education and Biblical Counseling weds Christian education courses with courses in biblical counseling to prepare students for a broad ministry in education and counseling in the local church or parachurch ministries.

The M.Div. with Biblical Counseling is designed to further prepare those who seek to minister long-term in the local church. In addition to the M.Div. core, students take 33 hours concentrated in the counseling curriculum. Part of this curriculum includes three skills implementation course in which students complete at lest 30 hours of supervised counseling to give them hands-on experience in this ministry. Furthermore, students can take courses to prepare them to seek professional licensure beyond the M.A. or M.Div. if they so desire (licensure requirements vary by state). In addition to this specific track, the M.Div. with Pastoral Ministry track requires a course in biblical counseling to prepare pastors for local church ministry.

The Th.M. in Applied Theology with a specialization in Biblical Counseling concentrates 12 of 15 course hours in counseling courses. The purpose of the Th.M. is to further equip students who may go on to doctoral study in the field, or to serve as a terminal post-graduate degree for those seeking to minister in the local church.

The Ph.D. in Applied Theology with a concentration in Counseling is a recent addition to the Ph.D. programs at Southeastern, one we are excited to offer. The purpose of this program is to prepare ministers and teachers for long-term counseling ministries in the church or academy. Students will be prepared to write and teach on counseling issues for and in the church and academy upon successful completion of this program.

We invite you to study with our Pastoral Care and Counseling faculty in the M.A., M.Div., Th.M., or Ph.D. programs of Southeastern. For more info visit our website (http://www.sebts.edu/ or http://www.sebts.edu/college/) and check out the Admissions and Academics links.