After graduating from Faulkner with a degree in Bible, Scott McCown is now one of three ministers at Central Church of Christ in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He serves as the pulpit minister there.
Before that, he served as a youth minister and pulpit minister in Florida before moving to Alabama and settling in Northport, Alabama with his wife Amy.
McCown was invited back to campus in February for the 2024 Marketplace Faith Friday Forums where he shared with students his experiences as a minister. He was also honored as the V.P. Black College of Biblical Studies’ Distinguished Alumnus. McCown earned his Bachelor of Arts in Bible from Faulkner in 1989 and his Master of Arts in Biblical Studies/Ministry in 2007 from Faulkner as well.
“My undergraduate experience at Faulkner was my first time being away from home. My parents and family lived over three hours away in Northwest Florida. Faulkner provided a family atmosphere of faculty and peers that became a support for my four years there,” McCown said. “Two of those years were with the choral department. At Faulkner, I made friends that I still consider friends 35 years later, some of which I see multiple times a year.”
Earning his education at Faulkner has opened doors for McCown’s ministry, provided practical experience for church growth and has built relationships that he still cherishes today. Faulkner is also where McCown met his wife, Amy (McWhirter) McCown and is another reason why Faulkner will always hold a special place in his heart.
“Having Faulkner as my alma-mater has opened doors for not only my career in ministry, but also conversations and Bible studies with people who know of Faulkner,” he said. “My undergraduate Bible professors (Wendell Winkler, Leonard Johnson, Eris Benson, Donnie Hilliard, Kenneth Randolph, and Levi Sides) provided an education based on knowledge of scripture and experience in ministry. Levi Sides is still active in ministry in his 80’s and one I count as a dear friend. Their ministry experience provided a practical side to ministry that some programs lack.”
“My post-graduate professors (Drs. / Profs.: Randal Bailey, Carl Cheatham, Floyd Parker, and Paul Tarence) provided a more in-depth and critical look at the text that is beneficial in today’s increasingly agnostic society,” he added. “With this background knowledge I am able to have intelligent conversations with students who feel attacked because of their faith in a secular university setting.”
As the pulpit minister at Central Church of Christ, McCown uses his experiences from Faulkner to help him mentor other ministers and interns, preach, teach Bible classes, produce material for small groups, counsel and work with their church’s campus ministry, Tide4Christ. In addition, he also produces videos for social media and conducts Bible studies and records devotionals for radio spots.