Education

• B. A. Mississippi College - 1954; Major: Bible, Minors: English and History
• B. A. University of Southern Mississippi - 1957; Major: American and European History
• B. D. New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary - 1959; Concentration: Church History
• Th. M. The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary - 1963; Major: Church History. Thesis: "The Theology of Henry B. Smith (1815-1877): With Special Reference to Contemporary Influences"
• Th. D. The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary - 1969; Major: Church History, Minor: Philosophy of Religion. Doctoral Dissertation: "The New Church History: The Quest of a Dialogic Approach in American Protestantism Since 1945"
• Notre Dame Seminary (Archdiocese of New Orleans) - 1985; Areas of Study: Roman Catholic Spirituality (Warren Dicharry) and Theological Method (Terry Tekippe)
• Yale University - Research Fellow - 1986; Areas of Study: Medieval Spirituality (Julia Gatta), The Philosophy of Symbol and Myth (Louis Dupre), The Historian and the Believer (John Stroup), Popular Religion in Europe and America (Jon Butler)
• Oxford University - Visiting Scholar - 1992; Areas of Study: Philosophy of Religion (Richard Swinburne, University College), Protestant Reformation (Alistair McGrath, Wycliffe Hall), Origen (Timothy Ware, Pembroke), Sociology of Religion (Brian Wilson, All Souls), Modern Theology (Keith Ward, University College)
• Vanderbilt University Divinity School - Visiting Scholar - 1993; Areas of Study: The Radical Reformation (Richard Harrison), History of Modern Christianity (Dale Johnson), Recent and Contemporary European Philosophy of Religion (Edward Farley)

Teaching Experience

• Instructor in Church History, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1965-67
• Assistant Professor of Religion, Oklahoma Baptist University, 1969-74
• Associate Professor of Religion, Oklahoma Baptist University, 1974-1979
• Associate Professor of Church History, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, 1979-1989
• Professor of Church History, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, 1989-1994
• John T. Westbrook Professor of Church History, Chairman, Division of Theological and Historical Studies, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, 1994-Present
• Adjunct Professor - World History, NOBTS College of Undergraduate Studies, 1995-Present
• Adjunct Professor - History, Philosophy, William Carey College (New Orleans campus), 1988-1991

Teaching Specializations

• Early Christianity
• The Radical Reformation
• Christian Spirituality
• Theory and Method of Church History

Ministry Experience

• Extensive experience as pastor, interim pastor, supply minister, revival speaker, conference and retreat leader.
• Preached/taught in churches in AL, AZ, FL, KY, LA, MS, MO, OK, SC, TX, VA.
• Conferences and Retreats (Windemere, MO; Gulfshore, MS; Falls Creek, OK; Eagle Eyrie, VA; Ridgecrest, NC; Glorieta, NM)

Publications

Books

• Costly Commitment - Convention Press 1978
• Our Heritage of Faith - Convention Press 1983
• Compiler and editor, Readings in Baptist History. Privately printed, 1986.
• Contributed chapter, "The Doctrine of Salvation and the Support of Missions," Morris Ashcraft, ed., Mission Unlimited: Biblical and Doctrinal Foundation of Support of Missions. Nashville, TN: Stewardship Commission of the SBC, 1976, pp. 259- 291.

Books in preparation

• Disturbing Grace
• No Escape: What to Do When You Have to Take Church History
• The Recovery of Excellence
• C. Penrose St. Amant: Celebration of a Legacy (6 vols.)

Lectureships

• Thomas F. Staley Lecturer, William Carey College, Hattiesburg, MS, April 16-18, 1990; Theme: The Baptist Heritage of Freedom; Lectures: "The Travail of Religious Freedom"; "Advocates of Freedom"; "Religious Freedom: A Baptist Rationale"
• Herschel H. and Frances J. Hobbs Lecturer, Oklahoma Baptist University, Shawnee, OK, October 29, 1997; Lecture: "The Classics of Christian Devotion: Wellsprings of Southern Baptist Renewal"
• The Eleanor and Nathaniel P. Phillips, Sr. Memorial Lecturer, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, April 16, 1998; Lecture: "Images of God in Contemporary Literature"

Audiotaped Presentations

• "Baptists and Calvinism: Facing the Issues," Continuing Education Conference (NOBTS), January 22, 1996
• The Protestant Reformation of the Sixteenth Century
• - Life and Theology of John Calvin (1509-1564)
• - The Development of Calvinism
• - Calvinism in Baptist Experience: Modifications and Challenges
• "The Holy Spirit" - Bible/Doctrinal Study, Home Missions Week, Ridgecrest Conference Center (NC), August 13-18, 1978
• - The Promise of the Spirit
• - The Presence of the Spirit
• - The Spirit and the Word (Two Parts)
• - The Spirit and the Incarnate Word
• - The Spirit and Scripture
• - The Spirit and the World
• - Life in the Spirit
• Chapel Sermons (NOBTS)
• - When the Word Becomes Flesh
• - Strong at the Broken Places
• - On Being Finely Aware and Richly Responsible
• - The Tremble Factor
• - The Unwelcomed Christ
• - A Song in the Night
• - Life in the Son
• - Listen and Obey
• - What Crucified Jesus?
• - The Ministry of Waiting
• - The Burning Bush and Our Task
• - Longing for Wings
• - Beyond Prison Thinking
• - The Importance of Little Things
• - The Ministry of Intercession

Professional Organizations

• Omicron Delta Kappa
• American Academy of Religion
• American Society of Church History
• Conference on Faith and History
• Southern Baptist Historical Society
• College Theology Society

Teaching Assignments

• NOBTS College of Undergraduate Studies
• - World History I and II
• NOBTS Graduate Program
• - Baptist History
• - History of Christianity: Early and Medieval
• - History of Christianity: Reformation and Modern
• - History of Early Christianity
• - Christian Devotional Classics
• - Renaissance and Reformation
• - The Radical Reformation
• - History of Modern Christianity
• - Historical Theology
• - Philosophy of Religion
• Doctoral Seminars (Ph.D)
• - Studies in Early Christianity
• - The Continental Reformation
• - Theory and Method of Church History
• Doctoral Seminars (D.Min)
• - Spiritual Formation of the Minister