What is a Bible Chair?

The term “Bible Chair” is an adaption of a term commonly used in colleges and universities. A “chair” can be established in any department to draw students due to the subject matter or the professor teaching in that position. In Amarillo the Bible Chair is not directly on campus but nearby and funded entirely by churches and individuals. Students can obtain an associate degree in religion accredited by Amarillo College. Amarillo Bible Chair is the only Chair at Amarillo College that teaches Bible courses for credit toward a religion degree. The academic classes are taught by William Mural Worthey. These students can then transfer to a university and pursue a bachelor’s and/or master’s degree in religion.

The History of the Amarillo Bible Chair

The Amarillo Bible Chair was founded in 1972 by Gordon Downing and the San Jacinto church of Christ in Amarillo. Brother Downing directed the activities of the Bible Chair for four years, and the San Jacinto church has continued their support of the work for almost fifty years (1972-2022). We have had three churches in Amarillo oversee the Bible Chair over this period. They are San Jacinto church of Christ, Comanche Trail church of Christ, and Bell Avenue church of Christ. We have had a number of directors over the years. Following Gordon Downing, they are Dean Morgan, Wayne Wilks, Jerry Klein, Wyatt Fenno, Mark Johnson, Bobby Boaldin, Frank Bellizzi, Jerry Klein (second term), and Mural Worthey.

MARCH 2026 REPORTER

The Amarillo Bible Chair facility is located at 2501 S Jackson Street, across the street from Amarillo College. The building is used for students to gather for Christian fellowship, counseling, devotionals, lectures, Bible classes, fellowship meals, and to extend our presence and Christian influence among Amarillo college students, staff and community. We also host a Christian Club on campus known as Kappa Chi, which stands for Christian fellowship. William Mural Worthey is the director of the Amarillo Bible Chair. Mural has been the Bible Chair Director since the summer of 2017 and serves as sponsor of Kappa Chi, our Christian club on campus. He also is an instructor in the Philosophy Department of Amarillo College.

Christian Evidences (class held at Bell Avenue church of Christ)

(5 pm, Bell Avenue Church of Christ)

March 8: Knowing and Believing (Mural Worthey)

March 15: Proof That God Exists (Mural Worthey)

March 22: One God, Many gods, No god (Jerry Lawlis)

March 29: Age of the Earth (Jerry Lawlis)

April 5: The Rocks Cry Out (Mural Worthey)

April 12: Problem of Pain & Suffering (Jerry Lawlis)

April 19: Role of Eyewitnesses (Mural Worthey)

April 26: Jesus on Trial (Jerry Lawlis)

There are some who object to the idea of presenting physical evidences to support Christianity. It is true, of course, that the Bible gives concepts, ideas, and truth, while physical evidences like those discovered by archaeologists cannot. However, note what Jesus said when the Pharisees demanded that Jesus silence his disciples when he entered Jerusalem riding a donkey. He replied, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.” (Luke 19:40.) Harry Rimmer wrote a book titled, Crying Stones, 1941, based on this text.

The Bible itself is one of the most important archaeo-logical finds! The Dead Sea scrolls, discovered in caves around the Dead Sea, 1947-1956, are the oldest known fragments of the Hebrew Bible. We have over 5,000 documents, in part or whole, of the New Testament.

Director's Report

We have completed the first week of our second Spring term. My classes are listed to the right for both Spring and Summer sessions. One of my students has applied to Ozark Christian College in Joplin, MO, for the Fall term; others have gone to Lubbock Christian College in Lubbock, TX. We have youth ministers from area churches taking Bible classes at the Bible Chair to increase their knowledge of Scripture. We appreciate all of these who are studying with us at the Bible Chair.

Disciples and Christians.

We are being inundated with ads in our area promoting seminars and lectures about becoming a disciple-maker. They go so far to say that you should “make disciples in the way which Jesus made them,” as if there is a certain technique or model that you should follow. Books are flowing from the presses claiming to tell us exactly how to follow this pattern or model. There are several troubling matters about this emphasis.

It is true that the “Great Commission” given by Jesus to the apostles emphasizes that work of making disciples of all nations. But did the apostles all follow a certain model commanded by Jesus? Is there a method that one can discern in their going to the nations with the gospel? If so, I fail to see it in the record of the first century Church.

Jesus made disciples by calling them to “Come, follow me.” Some left their fishing nets; one left his tax collecting booth. John the Baptist made disciples by his preaching and baptizing, but when Jesus began his ministry, John pointed out the Christ to them. He said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” (John 1:29.)

It was from this larger group of disciples that Jesus designated twelve as Apostles. Luke’s record explains that the disciples of Jesus continued to grow, learning and maturing in the faith. However, it was not on Pentecost that they were called Christians.

When Barnabas urged Saul of Tarsus to come to Antioch and work with him, we find these words: “And the disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.” (Acts 11:26.)

Followers of Christ were called by many names like saints, disciples, Christians, brethren, etc. The whole body working together “edifies itself and makes increase of itself in love.” (Eph. 4:16.) Every member does not function the same way or seeks to do the same work as the others. Not every member should seek to become an “eye, or hand, or foot.” Every member is a disciple, Christian, saint. But everyone is not a teacher, apostle, prophet, or evangelist. Each has his own function in the body. (1 Cor. 12:27-31.) Why do we desire for everyone to do what we do?

Kappa Chi

Kappa Chi has a strong presence on the Amarillo College campus, currently averaging 40 members. Kappa (K) is the first letter in the Greek word for fellowship, and Chi (X) is the first letter in the Greek word for Christ. Thus, Kappa Chi stands for “Fellowship in Christ.”

Membership is open to any AC student who wants to be a member. There are no dues; but the members are expected to help pay for the parties, retreats and trips in which they choose to participate. Club t-shirts are available for purchase. Send an email to amarillobiblechair@gmail.com if you would like to join the club. . Mural Worthey is the faculty sponsor.

On Tuesdays of the regular semester, we have a lunch meal for our Kappa Chi students and enjoy fellowship with one another. This gives us an opportunity to talk about biblical subjects. New students often ask about the meaning of a Bible Chair and how we function on a state college campus.

Our 2024 Fall graduation was held in the Civic Center in Amarillo on Friday evening, December 13. We honored one of our graduates at the Bible Chair on Saturday. Norma prepared a meal for her family and afterward we took pictures with Donna Warner. I expressed to her family that we appreciated her dedication in her biblical studies. For the past several years she completed her studies at AC while battling cancer. She introduced several of her family members to the Bible Chair and our classes. Some of these have plans to enroll for Spring 2025.

I want you to know of my appreciation for your support of the Bible Chair. I let my classes know how the Bible Chair exists at a State Community College. From them, thank you!