Trevecca celebrates Dr. Dunning’s 100th birthday

By Keturah Tobias

Features Editor

About 40 faculty and alumni gathered during Homecoming to celebrate Dr. Hubert Ray Dunning’s 100th birthday.

Dunning is a renowned Wesleyan-Arminian theologian and author and was a professor of theology and philosophy at Trevecca.

When Tim Gaines, professor of religion, asked Dunning if the university could celebrate him as part of the homecoming events, his response was, “Just don’t make it too big of a fuss.”

“A lot of people who have come through Trevecca since Dr. Dunning have carried his theological legacy out into the real world,” said Gaines. “We are a different people today because of Dr. Dunning’s contributions and careful academic work. While the holiness tradition was trending towards legalism, his work helped us to recover the life-giving good news that is the beating heart of the holiness message.”

Dunning graduated from Trevecca Nazarene College in 1948, earned his bachelor’s degree from Nazarene Theological Seminary, and completed his master’s and doctorates in theology from Vanderbilt University. He served on Trevecca’s faculty from 1964 to 1995, teaching theology, philosophy, and Christian ethics. He was the chair of the religion and philosophy department and directed the graduate program in religion.

Two bobbleheads were made of Dunning. One was given to him, and the other was put up for a silent auction. The proceeds will pay for Dunning’s lawn care.

Dunning Drive on campus was created to represent the path he paved for the Trevecca community.