The inauguration of a faculty member as a “full” professor is one of the most important academic occasions in the life of the seminary. It illustrates Westminster Seminary California’s commitment to the Reformed confessional standards and to academic excellence.
The Board of Trustees must formally approve this professional designation and the professor must reaffirm his oath, “in the presence of God and the Trustees and the faculty of Westminster Seminary California, to continue to uphold and subscribe the confessional standards of the seminary (as stated in the seminary bylaws) – the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms, the Belgic Confession, the Heidelberg Catechism, and the Canons of Dort.”
The promotion illustrates the professor’s recognition by peers as an authority in his field of specialization, and by colleagues and students as a superior teacher and scholar. It also shows his professional competence through publication of a variety of significant articles and/or book(s) on areas of his expertise as well as lecture invitations at other institutions, or participation in scholarly projects.
The Rev. Dr. Bradley J. Bitner has served on the WSC faculty since 2020 as Associate Professor of New Testament. Dr. Bitner has ministered in a variety of ecclesiastical and academic settings, including teaching New Testament, Greek, and Biblical Theology, and being involved in ministry in the US, UK, and Australia. He is an ordained minister in the PCA, currently serving as Associate Pastor of Misión Vida Nueva, a Spanish-language PCA congregation in Escondido. Dr. Bitner also continues to serve the broader Christian community as a preacher and speaker.
Dr. Bitner’s doctoral work focused on 1 Corinthians and Roman Corinth. In addition to various articles and essays, he is the author of Paul’s Political Strategy in 1 Corinthians 1-4: Constitution and Covenant (Cambridge University Press, 2015) and co-editor of New Documents Illustrating Early Christianity: Vol 11A, Texts from Ephesus, and Vol 11B, Essays on Ephesus (SBL, 2024-2025).
Please join us for Dr. Bitner’s inauguration on September 15th, either in person or online. We give thanks to God for his faithful service to the seminary and to Christ’s Church, and we ask you to pray for Dr. Bitner as he continues his work of teaching and scholarship in service to the Church.
