AMARILLO BIBLE CHAIR
at Amarillo College
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.
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.
Norma and Mural Worthey (pictured at left). Mural has been the Bible Chair Director since the summer of 2017. Mural serves as sponsor of Kappa Chi, our Christian club on campus; he teaches Bible classes at the Bible Chair and also is an instructor in the Philosophy Department of AC.
Director's Report
I am scheduled to speak at Clovis, New Mexico, on Sunday, April 6, for each of their Sunday services. I will be filling in for their preacher, Michael Harmon. I appreciate this church for their generous support of our work at the Bible Chair. It is usually during this time of year, Spring and Summer, that I am invited to speak at various churches in the Panhandle. Local preachers are away for various reasons and I appreciate the opportunity to visit our supporting churches again.
As you know, Bell Avenue church is our overseeing congregation and has been since I arrived in the Summer of 2017. This adds to their responsibility, both financially and in time commitment. I appreciate them for their role in our work. With the completion of our building in 2023, a greater sense of appreciation and recognition exists for the Bible Chair in our community. We have more students signing up for Bible classes now than at any other time since the beginning of our work in 2017.
Our Summer classes are listed on the right. I will be presenting Revelation again due to students needing it. Even though it is listed as online/web based, let me know if you are available to meet in person. If so, we will meet once a week on Thursday evenings. I will stay in contact with those signing up for either credit or audit.
The Apostles
The value and importance of the apostolic group, the twelve, must always be greatly appreciated. Luke recorded, after the conversion of three thousand, that they “continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine, in fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayers.” (Acts 2:42.) Note that it is the “apostles’ doctrine” that they continued to learn and follow.
The apostles were eyewitnesses of the life and deeds of Jesus Christ. They were responsible for testifying concerning what they saw and heard. Note what Luke wrote about it: “God raised Jesus the third day and made Him to appear, not to all the people, but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses and commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the One appointed by God to be the judge of the living and the dead.” (Acts 10:40-43.) We should have great respect and appreciation for the twelve. They can never be removed or replaced!
Recently I completed a presentation of First and Second Peter at Bell Avenue. This gave me a greater appreciation for the apostle Peter. Here are some comments about this great apostle. Peter did not write as many letters as Paul, but we have more said about him in the New Testament than any of the apostles. Peter is mentioned almost 200 times in the NT. Nine of the NT books mention his name. He is prominent in the following books: the four gospels, the first half of Acts, and 1 & 2 Peter. He is mentioned by the name Cephas in First Corinthians. Paul mentions him several times in Galatians.
Peter is named first among the twelve when they are listed in the gospels, like Matthew 10:1-4. Peter is known as the spokesman for the apostles because he so often speaks up. Peter shows respect for Paul, calling him our “beloved brother.” (2 Peter 3:15-16.) There is no jealousy expressed toward Paul.
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!