Dyke Messinger, a board member at Hood Theological Seminary (HTS), and his wife, Deborah H. Messinger, have provided the seminary with a donation of $500,000 to create the Messinger Family Endowed Professorship for Theology and Ethics.

The endowed professorship will allow a professor whose focus and expertise is in theology and ethics to go beyond the walls of the seminary and share with the community through conversations and interactions in theology and ethics.

Dyke Messinger said that he had the chance to hear Dr. Trevor Eppehimer, the academic dean and associate professor of systematic theology and ethics at HTS, discuss Christian theology at a church in the community.  

Dyke Messinger realized the impact that the faculty from the seminary has on the community.

Dr. Vergel Lattimore, president of HTS, also frequents the surrounding communities for discussions and presentations. He said this endowed professorship is a transformative gift for the seminary and will have a lasting impact.