Tate’s work recognized at conference on Christianity and literature

     Dr. William Tate, associate professor of English at Campbell University, was recently awarded the Daub Maher Memorial Prize for the best paper delivered at the annual meeting of the Southeast Regional Conference on Christianity and Literature held April 6-8, at Anderson College, South Carolina.
     The theme of the conference, “Christian Witness in a World of Clashing Cultures,” focused on topics arising from the literary intersection between Christianity and culture. Tate’s paper, “Lesslie Newbigin’s Theology of Cultural Plurality and Christian Cultural Openness,” examines the theology of cultural plurality and how Christians should witness in a diverse world. Lesslie Newbigin is one of the most decisive influences on the theology of mission in the 20th century.
     “I am pleased to say that the response of the other participants to the paper was encouraging,” Tate said. The paper was voted on by the participants at the conference. Tate received a certificate of excellence and a $100 cash prize.
     Dr. Tate holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Biblical Studies from Bob Jones University, another master’s in English from Duke University and a Ph.D. in English from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His book, “Solomonic Iconography in Early Stuart England: Solomon’s Wisdom, Solomon’s Folly,” was published in “Studies in British History,” volume 63. Dr. Tate has also published works in the journals, “English Literary Renaissance,” “Studies in English Literature 1500-1900” and “Christianity and Literature.” In addition, he has taught an upper level course that focused on the genre of fantasy titled “Faith and Fairy Tales.”
     Dr. Tate received the Dean’s Award for Teaching Excellence from Campbell in 2005. He is a former associate pastor of Cornerstone Bible Church in Durham, N.C.