Atlanta Daily World

Interdenominational Extension Courses Begin On October 16

October 16, at 6:30 p.m. the first session of the extension courses of the Interdenominational Theological Center will open. Director U. Z. McKinnon of ITC Extension program states that these courses are for all ministers and lay church leaders who are interested in, in-service training, who want to improve their skills and add to their biblical background. The schedule for the fall and winter term calls for sessions each Tuesday evening for 16 weeks, with the exception of the Christmas recess. Cooperative planning for this Atlanta program and for other cities to be announced have been developed by AME, CME, Baptist, Methodist and Presbyterian leaders. Interested students will be welcomed from all denominations.

One section of the extension program will be for those below the college academic level, people of all educational and age levels will be accepted. They may enroll in two courses; "The Bible, its Making and Content" taught by the Reverend G. Murray Branch and "Christian Education, its History and Philosophy" taught by Dr. McKinnon. The other section is for ministers only and those who are college graduates. They can arrange to receive two more hours credit at ITC for the courses "The Work of the Christian Minister" taught by Reverend McKinnon and "Understanding the Bible" taught by Reverend Branch.

Both faculty members of this significant and pioneering service offered by ITC are well qualified by training and experience. Director McKinnon comes from 30 years experience in the pastorate and wide leadership in the in-service training program of the CME Church. He came to his present post from the pastorate of Phillips Temple CME Church in Chattanooga. From 1946-1959 he was Dean, professor of rural sociology and Director of Extension work of Phillips School of Theology. He is a graduate of Texas College. He also secured a BA from Clark, a BD from Gammon and an MA from Drew Theological Seminary. He has studied further at Perkins School of Theology and McCormick Theological Seminary. His pastorates have included both rural and urban churches. He is active in CME leadership training programs for both adults and youth.

The Reverend G. Murray Branch, professor of Old Testament at ITC, received his BS from Virginia Union, his BD from Andover-Newton Theological School and his MA from Drew University. He has studied further at Hebrew Union College and is completing his Doctoral work at Drew.

Reverend Branch was professor of Religion at Morehouse College from 1947-1959. He was also active in the Morehouse Extension program. His previous experience included pastorates at Portsmouth, NH and Madison, New Jersey. From 1944-1947 he was Field Secretary for the National Student YMCA, for the Southern area. In that capacity he was Director of a Summer Work Camp for the YM and YW in Europe. He has also toured Europe, the Middle East and the Holy Land.

Reverend Branch is a Fellow of the Council of Religion in Higher Education and a member of several learned societies, Biblical Literature Association of Biblical Instructors and the American School for Oriental Research.