The final podcast of our spring season features one of the most prominent United Methodist leaders of recent decades: Dr. Maxie Dunnam.
Maxie Dunnam was born in Mississippi in 1934. After earning a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Southern Mississippi (1955), he went on to earn a Master of Theology from Atlanta’s Emory University (1958). Later, he earned a Doctor of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky (1977).

Dr. Maxie Dunnam in 2008
Early in his ministry, he served as the organizing pastor of three Methodist churches: Aldersgate UMC in Atlanta, Ga. (1956), Trinity UMC in Gulport, Miss. (1958), and St. Andrews-by-the-Sea UMC in San Clemente, Calif. (mid-1960s).
Maxie Dunnam then served in several capacities at The Upper Room, eventually becoming World Editor of the ministry’s flagship devotional publication. He also helped launch the Upper Room’s spiritual-renewal ministry that became known as The Walk to Emmaus.
From 1982-1994, Dr. Dunnam served as senior pastor of Christ United Methodist Church in Memphis, Tenn., which grew from 2,000 members to almost 6,000 members during his pastorate.
In 1994, Maxie Dunnam was elected president of Asbury Seminary. Ten years later, he was named the Asbury’s chancellor, and the school’s Orlando, Fla., campus was christened the “Dunnam Campus” in his honor.
Dr. Dunnam is the author of several dozen books and workbooks, including That’s What the Man Said: The Sayings of Jesus (Kindle Edition, 2009), Going on to Salvation: A Study of Wesleyan Beliefs (revised edition—Abingdon, 2008), and The Workbook on the Christian Walk (Upper Room, 2004).
Maxie Dunnam is a past president of the World Methodist Council, and he currently serves on the board of directors of the Confessing Movement Within The United Methodist Church.
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The address on this podcast was presented at the Ordination Service at the 2008 session of the North Georgia Annual Conference.
To listen, use the audio player below (28 min.) — or right click (Windows users) to download an mp3 (13.2MB).
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