Michael Milton

Michael Milton and Faith for Living, Inc.

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Curriculum Vitae

“Michael A. Milton, Ph.D., Senior Pastor,” 2007; by John Ennis (1953- ); Oil on canvas; on display: First Presbyterian Church, Chattanooga, Tennessee.

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Michael A. Milton PhD

Education

1998,  Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Theology and Religious Studies,The University of Wales, Lampeter, Wales (Trinity Saint David’s); dissertation: “The Application of the Theology of the Westminster Assembly in the Ministry of the Welsh Puritan, Vavasor Powell (1617-1670);” history, historical theology, historiography; The Rev. Dr. D. P. Davies, Chairman; Supervisors: Professor Canon D.T. William Price, Professor of History, University of Wales (Lampeter), Canon of St. David’s Cathedral, and The Rev. Dr. Noel Gibbard, Professor of Church History, The Evangelical Theological College of Wales.

2016, Master of Public Administration (MPA), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; public administration, public service leadership, Chapel Hill, NC

1993, Master of Divinity (MDiv), Cum Laude, Knox Theological Seminary, Fort Lauderdale, FL

1989 Bachelor of Arts (BA), Mid America Nazarene University, Olathe, KS

2010, Diploma, Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, KS

1977, Diploma, The Defense Language Institute, Monterey, CA

2020, Post-doctoral Studies, Certificate in Higher Educaton Teaching. Harvard University, Derek Bok School of Teaching and Learning

Ministerial Credentials

  • 1989, Licensed to Preach, Heartland Presbytery, PCA; internship, Olathe Presbyterian Church, Olathe, Kansas; Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
  • 1993, Ordained as an Evangelist, Heartland Presbytery, PCA.
  • *Credentials held presently in the Tennessee Valley Presbytery; Received by First Presbytery of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church to serve as Professor at Erskine Theological Seminary, president of the D. James Kennedy, Outreach North America.

Certifications

  • Board Certified Pastoral Counselor (ACCC), Association of Certified Christian Chaplains, 2016-no termination date
  • Board Certified Chaplain (ACCC), Association of Certified Christian Chaplains, 2016-no termination date
  • Board Certified Chaplain (BCCC), Spiritual Care Association, 2016-no termination date
  • Clinical Pastoral Education, four units as of June 2016
  • Postgraduate program, Higher Education Teaching Certificate, Harvard University, November 2019-2020

Pastoral Record

  • 2019, Honorably Retired, Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church; Pastor Emeritus, Trinity Chapel, Weddington, NC
  • 2018, Honorably Retired, The Presbyterian Church in America
  • 2018, Retired, United States Army and Army Reserve, Fort Jackson, SC
  • 2016, Senior oversight for a new church mission, Weddington, NC;
  • 2016, promoted to Colonel, U.S. Army Chaplain Corps;
  • 2015, James H. Ragsdale Professor of Missions and Evangelism, Erskine College and Theological Seminary;
  • 2015, appointed Command Chaplain, U.S. Army Military Intelligence Readiness Command, Fort Belvoir, VA
  • 2014 – 2015, Mobilized to active duty as Chaplain, serving as Senior Editor of the Chaplain Corps Journal and faculty and senior writer for the United States Army Chaplain Center and School, Fort Jackson, SC
  • 2013 – Elected by the board of Coral Ridge Ministries, Inc. to become Teaching Pastor for Truth that Transforms; Kennedy family announces Milton as President and Senior Fellow of D. James Kennedy Institute for Christianity and Culture
  • 2010 – Unanimously elected to become Chancellor/CEO of Reformed Theological Seminary on September 2, 2010
  • 2008 – President and James M. Baird Jr. Chair of Pastoral Theology, Reformed Theological Seminary, Charlotte, NC; May 15, 2008; President (Interim), RTS Orlando
  • 2009 – Appointed by the Executive Committee of Reformed Theological Seminary to The James M. Baird Jr. Chair of Pastoral Theology
  • 2001-2008 – Senior Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Chattanooga, TN
  • 1998-2001 – Organizing Pastor and Senior Pastor, Kirk O’ the Isles (PCA), Savannah, GA
  • 1997-1998, Acting President, Knox Theological Seminary, Fort Lauderdale, FL
  • 1993-1997, Organizing Pastor and Senior Pastor, Redeemer Presbyterian Church, and Founder of Westminster Academy Christian School
  • 1992-93, Intern for Pastoral Care, Dr. D. James Kennedy, Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, Fort Lauderdale, FL
  • 1989, Intern, Assistant to the Reverend Robert E. Baxter, Olathe Presbyterian Church (now Hope Presbyterian Church), Olathe, Kansas

Secular Work Record

Military Service

Military Education

  • 1977,  The Defense Language Institute, Albanian
  • 1977-78,  The U.S. Air Force School of Cryptological Science
  • 1992, The US Army Chaplain School, Basic Course
  • 2005, The US Army Chaplain School, Advanced Course
  • 2010, Command and General Staff College

Assignments

  • 2018, Transferred to Retired Reserve, US Army
  • 2015-2018, Command Chaplain, US Army Military Intelligence
  • Readiness Command, Fort Belvoir, VA
  • 2010-2015, Instructor/Writer, US Army Chaplain Center and School, Fort Jackson, SC
  • 2009-2010, Deputy Command Chaplain, 108th Training Command, Charlotte, NC
  • 2007-2009, Special Projects-Writing, Office of the Chief of Chaplains, The Pentagon, Washington DC
  • 2005-2007, Assistant to the Division Chaplain, 81st Division, Birmingham, AL
  • 2001-2005, Brigade Chaplain, 4th BDE, 1st BDE, 87th Division, Birmingham, AL
  • 1999-2001, Brigade Chaplain, 5th BDE, 4th BDE, 1 BDE, Institutional Training, 108th Regional Support Command
  • 1998, Chaplain, Garrison, Ft. Shelby, MS
  • 1996-1998, Battalion Chaplain, USAR Center, Lawrence, KS
  • 1994-1996, Assistant Chaplain, 103rd Area Support Group, Kansas City, KS
  • 1993-1994, Chaplain Sustainment Training, Disciplinary Barracks, Fort Leavenworth, KS

Awards

  • Legion of Merit
  • Medal of Meritorious Service, US Army, 2
  • Army Commendation Medal, 3
  • Army Achievement Medal, 2
  • Navy Good Conduct Medal
  • Naval Reserve Meritorious Service
  • Global War on Terrorism Service Medal (M)
  • The National Defense Service Medal, 1
  • Armed Forces Reserve Medal
  • Reserve Component Achievement Medal, 3
  • Army Service Ribbon
  • Reserves Component Overseas Training Ribbon, 2

Books

  1. From Flanders Fields to the Moviegoer: Philosophical Foundations for a Transcendent Ethical Framework (Eugene: Wipf & Stock academic), 2019.
  2. Foundations of a Moral Government: Lex, Rex – A New Annotated Version in Contemporary English (Dallas: Fortress Book Service), 2019.
  3. The Effects of Recent Social Policy Changes on Select U.S. Army Chaplain Corps Activities and Attitudes (Research paper, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill). GRIN Verlag Academic Publishing. 2018. 
  4. Vocation and Reform in Public Administration: Master of Public Administration thesis, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Germany: GRIN Verlag Academic Publishing), 2018.
  5. “So, What are You Doing Here?” The Role of the Minister of the Gospel in Hospital Visitation or a Theological Cure for the Crisis in Evangelical Pastoral Care (Germany: GRIN Verlag Academic Publishing), 2018. 
  6. “Millenarianism” in The Jonathan Edwards Encyclopedia (Eerdmans Publishing Company), 2017. 
  7. Called? Pastoral Guidance for the Divine Call to Gospel Ministry (Christian Focus Publications, 2018).
  8. Lord, I Want to Follow Your Call: A Pastoral Guide to the Ordained Ministry (Bethesda Publishing Group, 2016).
  9. Vocation and Reform: An Analysis of Five Key Areas of Public Administration (Civitas Press, 2016)
  10. A Pastoral Theology: Shepherding by the Book (Christian Focus, awaiting publication, June, 201)
  11. The Secret Life of the Pastor: And Other Intimate Letters on Pastoral Ministry(Christian Focus, April 2015)
  12. Follow the Call: A Vocational Guide to Ordained Ministry in the Global Church (P&R Publishing, awaiting publication)
  13. The Journey of a Lifetime (Fortress Book Service, 2013)
  14. Sounding the Depths: When Jesus Prays for His People in John 17 (EP Books, 2013)
  15. Finding a Vision for Your Church: Assembly Required (P&R Publishing, 2012)
  16. Hit by Friendly Fire (Second Edition): When Other Believers Hurt You (Evangelical Press, January 2012)
  17. Songs in the Night: How God Transforms Your  Pain into Praise (P&R Publishing, December 2011)
  18. What is the Doctrine of Adoption? (P&R Publishing, February 2012)
  19. Small Things, Big Things: Inspiring Stories in Everyday Grace (P&R Publishing, December 2009).
  20. What is the Biblical Doctrine of the Perseverance of the Saints (Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing), 2009?
  21. Hit by Friendly Fire: What to Do When You Are Hurt by Other Believers, Faith for Living Series (Wipf and Stock Publishers), 2008.
  22. What God Starts, God Completes: Gospel Help for Hurting People (Christian Focus, September 2007 [UK], November 2007 [US])
  23. Cooperation Without Compromise: Faithful Gospel Witness in a Pluralistic Age (Wipf and Stock, 2007)
  24. Following Ben: Expository Preaching for Frail Followers of Pulpit Giants (Wipf and Stock, 2006)
  25. Oh the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus: Expository Messages from John 17 (Wipf and Stock, 2006)
  26. Giving as an Act of Worship (Wipf and Stock, 2006)
  27. Authentic Christianity and the Life of Freedom: Expository Messages from Galatians (Wipf and Stock, 2005)
  28. The Demands of Discipleship: Expository Messages from Daniel (Wipf and Stock, 2004)
  29. Leaving a Career to Follow a Call: A Vocational Guide to the Ordained Ministry (Wipf and Stock, 2000)

Essays or Chapters in Other Books

  1. “Millenarianism,” in Encyclopedia of Jonathan Edwards, Harry Stout, Editor (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans), August 2017.
  2. “Statism, Reagan, and Religious Liberty” in Statism, the Shadows of Another Night (Fortress-Tanglewood, 2015), pp. 59-66.
  3. “Confession Out of Crisis: Historiography and Hope in the Westminster Assembly of Divines, 1643-52” in Hope Fulfilled: Essays in Honor of O. Palmer Robertson (P&R Publishing, 2008), pp. 347-360.
  4. Epilogue, “What Manner of Man was the Prophet,” in 50 Days of Prayer for the PCA: May 7-June 25 (Christian Education and Publications, 2009), 132-135.

Monographs

  • From Flanders Fields to the Moviegoer: Philosophical Foundations for a Transcendent Ethical Framework (Eugene: Wipf & Stock academic), 2019.
  • Vocation and Reform: An Analysis of Five Key Areas of Public Administration (Civitas Press, 2016).
  • “So, What are You Doing Here? A Cure for the Crisis in Pastoral Care in Evangelical Churches” (GRIN Academic Publications), 2018.

Peer Reviewed Journals

Popular Journals (Select)

Other Periodicals

Papers Read for Conferences

Online Audio, Print, and Video Sermon Catalogues

Courses Taught

  • Homiletics I: Preparation of Expository Sermons, 2021-
  • Homiletics II: Delivery of Expository Sermons, 2021-
  • Pastoral Counseling, Erskine Theological Seminary, 2015-
  • The Changing Face of the American Church: Faith in the Secular Age, Erskine Theological Seminary, 2015-
  • Vocation and Transformation, Erskine Theological Seminary, 2015
  • Basic Preaching, Erskine Theological Seminary, 2015-
  • Introduction to Chaplain Ministries, Erskine Theological Seminary, 2015-
  • Introduction to Church Planting, Erskine Theological Seminary, 2015-
  • Exploring the Missional Church, Erskine Theological Seminary, 2015-
    “Vocational Renewal,” Doctor of Ministry, Erskine Theological Seminary, 2015
  • “Preaching for Revitalization,” Doctor of Ministry, Reformed Theological Seminary, 2012
  • “Introduction to Preaching,” Master of Divinity, Knox Theological Seminary, 1997-98
  • “Church Planting,” Doctor of Ministry, Knox Theological Seminary, 1998-2002
  • “Church Planting,” Doctor of Ministry, Erskine Theological Seminary, 1999-2000
  • “Pastoral Theology: Vocational Holiness in the Pastoral Epistles” Doctor of Ministry, Erskine Theological Seminary, 2000
  • “Spiritual Formation,” Master of Divinity, Knox Theological Seminary, 1997-98
  • “Reformed Liturgics,” Master of Divinity, Knox Theological Seminary, 1997-98
  • “Church Planting,” Reformed Theological Seminary, Monterrey, Mexico Partnership, 2009-
  • “Pastoral Ministry,” Reformed Theological Seminary, Charlotte, NC, 2009-
  • Renewing Your Passion for Preaching, United States Air Force Chaplain College, Columbia, South Carolina, 2010.
  • Don’t Hold Back— Essential Truths for Chaplains Ministering in a Pluralistic Setting, Kochel en se, Bavaria, Germany
  • “It’s a Growing Time—Resting in God before Running in Ministry: A Convocation Message” to the Chaplain Career Course, July 18, 2011, Main Post Chapel, Fort Jackson, SC
  • Directed Studies and Independent Studies in church history, pastoral theology, ethics, sociology of religion, cultural studies, missiology

Seminary Committees

  • Chair, Ministry Committee, Erskine Theological Seminary, 2017-
  • Chair, Master of Divinity in Chaplain Ministries Committee, Erskine Theological Seminary, 2018
  • Chairman, Strategic Planning, Erskine Theological Seminary, 2015-2016
  • Chair, Doctor of Ministry Restructuring Committee, Reformed Theological Seminary, 2009-2011
  • Member, Curricula Revision Task Force, Practical Theology subcommittee, Knox Theological Seminary, 1997-98
  • Coordinator, Doctor of Ministry revision task force, Knox Theological Seminary, 1997-98
  • Chairman, Strategic Planning, Board of Directors of Knox Theological Seminary, 2006-2008
  • Doctor of Ministry task force, Reformed Theological Seminary, 2009-
  • Presidential Search Committee, Reformed Theological Seminary, Orlando, 2009-2010
  • Examiner for doctoral dissertations, Erskine Theological Seminary, 1998-2000
  • Examiner for doctoral dissertations, Knox Theological Seminary, 1998-2008
  • Examiner for doctoral dissertations, Australian College of Theology, 2010

Radio and Television

  • Faith for Living, 2002-Present
  • Truths that Transform, Speaker and Host, 2013-2017
  • The Redeeming Factor, Founder and Radio Preacher, 1993-1997, Atlantic Coast Communications, Bott Broadcasting, Overland Park, KS
  • The Knox Seminary Radio Hour (later The Jerusalem Chamber), Host and Teacher, WAFG, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 1997-1998
  • The Living Word, Founder and Radio Preacher, Atlantic Coast Communications, 1998-2001, Savannah, GA
  • The Morning Worship Service of the First Presbyterian Church of Chattanooga (later Faith for Living television), Television pastor, WGOW, 2002-2008
  • Faith for Living at First Presbyterian Church of Chattanooga, Founder and Radio Preacher, Atlantic Coast Communications, Various stations and markets, 2002-2008
  • The Call with Mike Milton, Founder, and Radio Preacher, Atlantic Coast Communications, Various stations and markets, 2008-(the name was changed and continued as noted below)
  • Faith for Living with Mike Milton radio and television ministry, Founder and Speaker, NRB Television nationwide, and in select markets in radio, 2011-
  • Truths that Transform, “When You Pray,” 9/2/09
  • Appearances on local and national television and radio including, Coral Ridge Ministries television, Truths that Transform radio, Prime Time America on Moody Radio, Money Matters on Moody Radio, and quoted in AP wires, USA Today, Christianity Today, World Magazine, and in editorials including former presidential candidate Patrick Buchanan and the Rev. Dr. Albert Mohler.

Boards

Academic Honors

  • “The Annual Award for Excellence in Leadership,” Mid America Nazarene University, 1989
  • “Award in Systematic Theology,” Knox Theological Seminary, 1993
  • “Award in Preaching,” Knox Theological Seminary, 1993

Other Awards

  • “Who’s Who in America,” Marquis Who’s Who, 2007-
  • “Who’s Who in the World,” Marquis Who’s Who, 2008-

Memberships

  • The Evangelical Theological Society, 1993-
  • The Evangelical Seminary Presidents’ Fellowship, 2008-2013
  • The World Reformed Fellowship, 2008-
  • The American Association for Church History, 2012-
  • The Society for Biblical Literature, 2013-
  • The Evangelical Homiletics Society, 2014-
  • The John Donne Society, 2014-
  • The John Milton Society, 2015-
  • The Society of American Church Historians, 2015-
  • Lausanne Global Theological Network, board member, 2010-2013

Civic Associations

  • Member, Sons of the Revolution, General Davidson Chapter, Department of North Carolina, 2016-
  • Member, Royal Society of Saint George
  • Member, Disabled Veterans of America, 2017-
  • Member, Post 77, American Legion, Hendersonville, NC, 2013-
  • The Reserve Officer Association, 2004-
  • The Military Officer Association, Western North Carolina, 2013-
  • Member, The Regimental Chaplain Association, 2012-
  • Member, Advisory Board, Boy Scouts of America, Chattanooga, TN, 2002-2008
  • Member, Rotary Club, Downtown Chattanooga, TN, 2002-2008
  • Board Member, former State Chaplain, Sons of the Revolution, North Carolina, 2018-2019