Donald L. Hamilton
Seminary & School of Missions(Resident Faculty)Director, Doctor of Ministry Program
Pastoral Leadership
Preaching
Dr. Don Hamilton specializes in preaching and has taught preaching, church polity, doctrine of the church, and worship. He is also the Doctor of Ministry Program Director for the seminary. His first book, Homiletical Handbook, was published in 1992 by Broadman and remains in print. A second book, Preaching with Balance: Achieving and Maintaining Biblical Priorities in Preaching, was published by Christian Focus Publications in 2007. He has been listed in Who's Who in Religion and in Outstanding Young Men in America. Before coming to Columbia in 1982, he served on the staff of Youth for Christ in his native northeastern Ohio and as part-time instructor at Minnesota Bible College. He also served as pastor of congregations in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Minnesota. Dr. Hamilton enjoys golf, fishing, travel, and reading. He and his wife, Joyce, have two adult children and four grandchildren.
Education and Experience:
B.A., 1965, Malone College; M.Div., 1968, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School; D.Min., 1980, Bethel Theological Seminary; Youth for Christ ministry, 1960-65, New Philadelphia and Wooster, OH; pastor, 1968-70, University Bible Church, State College, PA; associate pastor, 1970-74, Faith Community Church, Canton, OH; pastor, 1974-78, Calvary Evangelical Free Church, Rochester, MN; part-time instructor, 1975-77, Minnesota Bible College; pastor, 1978-82, Faith Community Church, Canton, OH; interim pastor, Faith Evangelical Church, Rock Hill, SC, 1990-92; interim pastor, Meadow Ridge Church, Maiden, NC, 1995-96. Columbia International University Seminary & School of Missions, 1982 - present.
While perfection in preaching is an illusive dream, improvement is within the grasp of virtually everyone" Donald Hamilton Imagine that preaching is like a 'seesaw' or 'teetertotter'. It is not much fun unless the people on both sides are roughly equal in weight. If not then one will suspended in the air, the other stuck on the ground both going nowhere! Is this what you want of your congregation? Are they left high and dry or down in the dumps by their experience. Donald Hamilton doesnt want them to suffer this fate! Preaching with balance is intended primarily for those who preach to the same congregation on a regular basis. This is the situation that most preachers find themselves in, yet most preaching books seem more intent on just providing a boost to the preacher without giving advice on how to maintain an improvement in preaching. Preaching with a balance comes complete with useful appencices on developing an annual preaching plan, planning topical and linear sermon sets and includes a useful sermon evaluation form.
Homiletical Handbook is a primer for those who are called to preach. It is intentionally simple in its explanation of the homiletical task and straightforward in getting to the point. It is solid in its theology and biblical in its approach.
Articles and Other Resources
-
Behold the Lamb
"Behold the Lamb," in Come to the Banquet, Richard Allen Bodey and Robert Leslie Holmes, ed. Grand Rapids: Baker,
- Preaching from the Old Testament: Why Should We Do It? Dr. Donald L. Hamilton, seminary Professor of Biblical Preaching, points out why modern day preachers need to preach from and be grounded in the Old Testament.
-
Preaching Inductively As One with Authority
"Preaching Inductively As One with Authority." Preaching. Vol. 16, No. 2, September-October, 2000
