Norman to Deliver Hobbs Lecture Oct. 29

Dr. Stan Norman, provost and executive vice president for campus life, will deliver the annual Hobbs Lecture during OBU's chapel service Wednesday, Oct. 29. The event will take place in Raley Chapel's Potter Auditorium at 10 a.m. His message is titled, "The Gospel, the University and the Nations: The Christian University and Racial Reconciliation."

The Herschel H. and Frances J. Hobbs Lectureship in Baptist Faith and Heritage was OBU's first endowed lectureship beginning in the fall of 1980. It is one of four OBU lectureships designed to help students grow in their knowledge of Baptist theology, Baptist history and studies of the Bible.

Friends of the late Dr. Hobbs, who was pastor of First Baptist Church of Oklahoma City, and of the late Mrs. Hobbs, created the endowed fund in honor of the couple's years of outstanding Christian service. The Hobbs Lectureship program annually sponsors a lecture at OBU and highlights speakers that share phases of Baptist faith and heritage with the OBU community. OBU's Herschel H. Hobbs College of Theology and Ministry also bears his name.

Norman earned a bachelor's degree in biblical studies from The Criswell College. He then earned a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary followed by a Ph.D. in systematic theology from Southwestern. He has served in administrative and teaching roles in Baptist higher education for over 15 years. Prior to his service at OBU, he served as vice president for university relations at Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Missouri, where he provided leadership for donor, alumni and church relations.

Aside from his work in higher education, Norman has also served as a senior pastor or interim pastor for Southern Baptist churches in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Missouri and Oklahoma. He has been an author, editor and contributing writer for several books and is currently writing the book "Theology Made Simple," scheduled for release in 2015.