Norman’s Work Featured in New Book

Oklahoma Baptist University Provost Stan Norman is one of 16 Baptist leaders whose writings are included in the new book "Southern Baptist Identity: An Evangelical Denomination Faces the Future."

Edited by Dr. David S. Dockery, president of Union University, the book contains essays addressing theological, historical, ministry and convention perspectives related to America's largest Protestant denomination. Norman's essay is titled "Southern Baptist Identity: A Theological Perspective."

Norman joined the OBU administration in March 2009. He has served in administrative and teaching roles in higher education for 13 years. While a professor at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, he created and directed the Baptist Center for Theology and Ministry, which provided resources and programs to further the integration of theology and ministry.

At OBU, Norman oversees and coordinates with administrators in academic affairs, student development, spiritual life, university advancement, enrollment management and university communications.

A native of Durant, Okla., Norman completed a Ph.D. degree in systematic theology from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1997. He earned a master of divinity degree from the seminary in 1990. He completed a bachelor's degree in biblical studies from The Criswell College in 1987, after completing two years of undergraduate work at Southeastern Oklahoma State University.

From 2007-09, he was vice president for university relations at Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Mo. He previously served on the faculty of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary for eight years.

Norman was an associate professor of theology at the seminary from 2004-06, and occupied the Cooperative Program Chair for Southern Baptist studies. He joined NOBTS as an assistant professor in 1998. While on the seminary faculty, he also served on the research doctorate oversight committee, which administers the NOBTS Ph.D. degree programs.

He served as an assistant professor of religion at Charleston Southern University in Charleston, S.C., during the 1997-98 academic year. He was an assistant professor of theology and church history at The Criswell College in Dallas, Texas, in 1996-97. While completing his post-graduate studies, Norman was an adjunct professor at Dallas Baptist University and The Criswell College.

In addition to his academic career, Norman has served as a pastor or interim pastor for Baptist churches in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. He has been an author, editor, and contributing writer for several books. He wrote "The Baptist Way: Distinctives of a Baptist Church," released in 2005, and "More Than Just A Name: Preserving Our Baptist Identity," released in 2001. He currently is writing the book "Theology Made Simple," scheduled for release by B&H Publishing Group in 2010.

"Southern Baptist Identity: An Evangelical Denomination Faces the Future" is published by Crossway Books. More information is available at crossway.org.