Past Winners

Graduate Level:

Finalists

• Joel Brown (Abilene Christian University), "Early Swiss Anabaptist Pacifism: Trading In Swords For Ploughshares" (Doug Foster)
• Eric Gentry (Abilene Christian University) – "Reformation Preaching: A Sacramental View" (Doug Foster, Abilene)

Winner: Stephen Lawson (Emmanuel Christian Seminary) – "Bread for the World: Toward a Sacramental Answer to Ecclesiological Ambiguity" (Tim Ross, Emmanuel)

Undergraduate Level:

Finalists

• Neil Baker (Hope International University), "Questions of Jesus: The Markan 'Son of Man' and a Destabilized Christology" (Joe Grana)
• Natasha Smith (Great Lakes Christian College), "Prerequisite of a Redemptive Nation: The Theme of Name in Genesis and Beyond" (John Nugent)

Winner: Skyler Bascom (Northwest Christian College), "An Alternative Approach to Ignatius' So Called 'Processional Imagery' in Eph. 9:2" (Ron Heine, NWCU)

Isaac Errett Award (Restoration History)

Winner: Lisa Barnett (Brite Divinity School), "Piety in the Public Sphere:  The Life and Work of Elizabeth B. Grannis"

Graduate Level:

Finalists

• T. Sean Mills (Lubbock Christian University) – "Socio-Economic Interpretation of Amos 5:10-15"
• Jared Proznich (Emmanuel Christian Seminary) – "Temple Cleansing and Passover Ritual"

Winner: Tyler A. Stewart (Lincoln Christian University) – "The Imperial Implications of Paul’s Pastoral Apocalypse: I Thessalonians 2:1-17"

Undergraduate Level:

Finalists

• Wil Norton (Oklahoma Christian University) – "Jesus as God’s Creative and Eschatological Agent in John 5:17-29 and 17"
• Nick Alexander (Lincoln Christian University) – "The Earliest Accounts of the Death of James the Just"

Winner: Ashley Wolf (Lincoln Christian University) – "The Socio-Historical Perceptions of Crucifixion"

Isaac Errett Award (Restoration History)

Winner: Rosalind Trusty (Johnson University) – "The Biblical Basis for Alexander Campbell's View of the Millennium in the Millennial Harbinger"

Graduate Level:

Undergraduate Level:

(Though a Distinct "Restoration History" Category would not be Developed for the Contest until the 2010 Conference, Ethelene Bruce White became the first Recipient of the "Isaac Errett Award" which has been funded by the Disciples of Christ Historical Society)

Graduate Level:

Finalists:

• Thom Stark (Emmanuel Christian Seminary) – "Devoted to Destruction:  Human Sacrifice and Ethnic Cleansing in Ancient Israel"

• Ryan Binkley (Abilene Christian University) – "The Missiology of Don Carlos Janes"

Winner: Ethelene Bruce White (Harding School of Theology) – "Jane Campbell McKeever (1800-1871): A Biographical Sketch with Comparison to her Brother Alexander Campbell on the Issue of Slavery and Abolition"

Undergraduate Level:

Finalists:

• Earl Winfrey (Florida Christian College) – "Proposition Four, and Thomas Campbell's View of the Old Testament"
• David Mosley (Lincoln Christian University) – "The Three Kingdoms"

Winner: Emma Hanford (Lincoln Christian University) – "Old Testament Treatment of gerim and Implications for the contemporary Christian's Attitude and Actions Regarding US Immigration Issues"

Graduate Level:

Finalists:

• James Gorman (Abilene Christian University) – "Thomas Campbell's European Influences for Christian Unity and Itinerant Preaching"
• Stewart Penwell (Cincinnati Christian University) – "Dogmatic Frameworks and the Narrative Gospels" Winner: Stephen Paul (Emmanuel Christian Seminary) – "Yahweh, Balaam's God?"

Undergraduate Level:

Finalists:

• Kate Blakely (Great Lakes Christian College) – "Toward a Humbler Hermeneutic: What Karl Barth Can Offer Campbellites"
• Justin Rowe (Great Lakes Christian College) – "Adamson Bentley: Gateway of the Western Reserve"

Winner: Kayla Traver (Manhatten Christian College) – "Eugene Sanderson: A Vision of Opportunity"

(Divided Competition into Graduate/Undergraduate Levels)

Graduate Level:

Finalists:

• Stewart Penwell (Cincinnati Christian University) – "The Gospel of Thomas – A Story of Jesus"
• W. G. Hulbert (Emmanuel Christian Seminary) – "Rethinking Canon and Restoring Texts: The Dead Sea Psalms Scrolls"
• Jarrod Longbons (Lincoln Christian University) – "Analogia Entis: Two Perspectives"

Winner: Alisha Paddock (Emmanuel Christian Seminary) – "Putting Family Language Back into the Family of God"

Undergraduate Level:

Finalists:

• Matthew Burlew (Cincinnati Christian University) – "Matthean Controversy: A (Re)evaluation in Light of Point of View"
• Adam Bean (Johnson University) – "The Sword that Jesus Brought: A Blade of Division (Matthew 10:34)"

Winner: Joshua Rodriguez (Lubbock Christian University) – "The Narrative Unity of Luke 16:1-15: A Socio-Literary Reading"

(Began with only One Level of Competition)

Finalists:

• Bryan T. Dove (Cincinnati Christian University) – "Epic:  Narrative Theology and its Role in Interpreting Biblical Texts as Evidenced in 1 Peter"
• Jacob Paul Breeze (Lincoln Christian University) – "Jesus' Understanding of Himself as High Priest and God?"
• Brandon K. Mayden (Cincinnati Christian University) – "An Examination of Alexander Campbell:  His View of the Role of the Holy Spirit in Sanctification"

Winner: Anthony D. Rogers (Lubbock Christian University) – "The Raising of Lazarus as a Subverting Redaction of Plato's 'Allegory of the Cave'"