The Rev. Dr. Alyce M. McKenzie is Professor of Homiletics at Perkins School of Theology. She was recently promoted to the George W. and Nell Ayers LeVan Endowed Chair of Preaching and Worship effective in June 2011. Ordained as an elder in the United Methodist Church in 1981, Dr. McKenzie is a member of the North Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. She grew up in New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, and experienced a call to ministry in high school. She majored in religion at Bryn Mawr College near Philadelphia and then headed to Duke Divinity School to study for the ministry.
From 1980-88 she served as an associate pastor at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in York, Pennsylvania. While there she met and married Murry McKenzie. She received her Ph.D in Homiletics in 1994 from Princeton Theological Seminary and served as Visiting Lecturer in Homiletics there from 1994-1999.
Since 2000, Dr. McKenzie has taught preaching at Perkins School of Theology. Dr. McKenzie has written several books on preaching the Bible’s wisdom in today’s churches, Preaching Proverbs: Wisdom for the Pulpit, Preaching Biblical Wisdom in a Self Help Society, and Hear and Be Wise: Becoming a Teacher and Preacher of Wisdom. She has also written two study guides for adults small groups, The Parables for Today and The Interpretation Study Guide to The Gospel of Matthew. Her most recent book, Novel Preaching: Tips from Today’s Top Writers for Crafting Creative Sermons, was published by Westminster John Knox in February 2010. She has recently completed What Not To Say: Practical Advice for Provocative Preaching, co-authored with John C. Holbert. It will be published in 2011 by Westminster John Knox Press.
Dr. McKenzie is a frequently featured preacher, Bible study leader and teacher at workshops, conferences, and worship services around the country. She and her husband Murry live in Allen, Texas where they are active in the life of First United Methodist Church of Allen. The McKenzies enjoy traveling, movies, music, and spending time with friends and family. They have 3 children, Melissa, Rebecca and Matt. Dr. M. is an avid fan of mystery novels, a student of yoga, and an accomplished baker.
Contact me at alycemck@smu.edu.
