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School of Religion Dean to Resume Full-Time Teaching

National Search Planned for Dr. Steven H. Simpler's Replacement

October 23, 2003 – Dr. Steven H. Simpler, professor of religion, has announced his decision to step down as Dean of the Belmont University School of Religion at the close of the 2003-2004 academic year. He plans to return to full-time teaching at Belmont at that time. A search committee has been formed to find Dr. Simpler's replacement and will conduct a nationwide search for the next dean of the Belmont University School of Religion.

"Steve has provided excellent leadership for our School of Religion," says Belmont University Provost Dan McAlexander. "I am sorry to lose him in this leadership role, but I am very happy he is staying at Belmont as a senior faculty member. He is a great teacher and our students will enjoy the opportunity to have more classes with him."

Simpler joined the Belmont faculty in the spring semester of 1987 and became dean of the School of Religion spring semester 1990.

"When you have a faculty as good as we have in the School of Religion it is easy to be a dean," says Simpler. "I've often reminded myself that I have the best job in the world. I'm not leaving this faculty but instead I'm leaving a particular role I play with the faculty."

Simpler served as dean during a period of tremendous change for the School of Religion, including the establishment of the Moench Center for Church Leadership in 1996. The Moench Center is the professional development arm of the School of Religion and was created with a generous gift and encouragement of the late Ernest J. Moench, Sr., a former Nashville businessman and Belmont trustee.

The Moench Center has rapidly developed an important impact on the training of leaders for the church. The Center directs seminars, develops leadership education partnerships, and provides consultation to churches and denominational organizations in 27 states from New Hampshire to Arizona. Six courses of the center’s Christian leadership SkillTrack® curriculum were adopted as required elements for the Tennessee Baptist Convention’s "Certificate in Ministry."

"The Moench family gave us a nice gift of $1.5 million to be used for student scholarships and for providing some type of business training for ministers. Lloyd Elder was instrumental in giving shape to the Moench Center. I was involved in the meetings and in the planning but Lloyd and the Moench family had the vision and the energy to make it happen," says Simpler.

The School of Religion has eight full time faculty members, including Simpler, and currently enrolls approximately 100 religion majors and minors.

Simpler holds a B.A. degree from Baylor University; a Master's in divinity from Southwestern Seminary, and a Ph.D. from Baylor University. Before coming to Belmont in 1987, Simpler was the religion editor and columnist for The Arizona Republic daily newspaper in Phoenix from 1984-86, a professor in the Department of Religion at Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, Texas from 1981-83, and a teaching assistant in the Department of Religion at Baylor University from 1977-81.

After 14 years as dean I'm simply ready for a change," says Simpler. "My vocation is to be a teacher. The best moments I have professionally are those moments when I am in a class full of students. I'm looking forward to the time when teaching once again will be my primary focus."

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