Steven Jack Land, Ph.D.

President

Steven Jack Land, Ph.D. is the first Seminary President to be selected from the ranks of the Seminary faculty. He offers a unique perspective to the study and practice of Pentecostal theology that is recognized around the world. He is a visionary with a passion to train men and women for 21st century leadership.

Educational

• B. A. in Psychology, Birmingham-Southern College, 1968
• M.Div., Candler School of Theology, Emory University, 1973
• Postgraduate studies in family systems and counseling theory at Georgia State University, 1974
• Ph. D. in Theological Studies (Systematic Theology) at Emory University, 1991

Professional
Dr. Steven Jack Land began teaching part-time at the Church of God Theological Seminary in 1976 and became full-time in 1979. He has served as the Seminary’s Dean and Professor of Pentecostal Theology for eleven years. Dr. Land is an ordained minister with many rich experiences which include: Sunday School teacher, Youth Minister, District Youth Director, State Youth Board, Assistant Pastor, Minister of Education and Evangelism, State Council, urban missionary (founder: Atlanta’s Mission Possible, Inc., 1970), church planter, civil rights community organizer (1964-68), pastor (Mission Church of God; Atlanta, GA, 1972-92), Youth With a Mission trainer, speaker-teacher in state and regional meetings including the European General Assembly (1995), retreat director/speaker in the Church of God and other denominations, speaker at the 1995 World Pentecostal Conference in Jerusalem (Doctrine section).

As a scholar, in addition to numerous chapters, articles and reviews, he has published four books: DO-TELL-- Youth Discipleship and Evangelism, Pentecostal Spirituality: A Passion for the Kingdom, Living Faith (a text on Pentecostal doctrines with R. Hollis Gause), and Reclaiming Your Testimony (with R. Lamar Vest). Pentecostal Spirituality, now in its fifth printing, is used extensively in Pentecostal and non-Pentecostal colleges, universities and seminaries to orient students to Pentecostal faith and life. In the Church of God Theological Seminary, Dr. Land has pioneered the following courses: Theology of Holiness, Theology of Wesley, Divine Healing, Pentecostal Foundations for Theological Study and Ministry, Apologetics, and Pentecostal Spirituality-Theology. He is a founding editor of the international Journal of Pentecostal Theology and Monograph series.

He is a member of the Society for Pentecostal Studies (serving as the current Vice President and President-elect), the Wesleyan Theological Society, Karl Barth Society and the American Academy of Religion (Evangelical Theology/Wesleyan studies section). He has been a participant in formal theological dialogues with Roman Catholics (internationally), Jews and mainline Protestants (National Council of Churches USA). Dr. Land is a Staley Foundation Distinguished Lecturer and a Distinguished Visiting Lecturer in Leadership at Regent University’s Center for Leadership Studies and the School of Divinity’s new Ph.D. in Renewal Theology and History.

Dr. Land’s leadership has been recognized in many ways, including being the recipient of the Claude Thompson Christian Social Concerns Award at Candler School of Theology; the past President of the Atlanta Christian Theological Society (founding member); on the Board of Directors of the Christian Council of Metro Atlanta (Moral Concerns Committee); elected to the honorary national leadership fraternity, Omicron Delta Kappa, Who’s Who in Religion and Who’s Who in U.S. Colleges; chosen to serve on the prestigious Advisory Council for Theological Education Leadership (ACTEL) of the Association of Theological Schools in the U.S. and Canada; recipient of his denomination’s Distinguished Educator Leadership award; and recipient of his Seminary’s Distinguished Faculty Award.

Personal
Dr. Land is a third-generation member of the Church of God. Converted at age five, he and his father, Jack, were deeply bonded that same year when Jack was immediately healed of a life-threatening disease after Steve prayed for him. They went through all three ranks of the Church of God ministry credentialing process together after answering the call to ordained ministry in 1969. His mother taught him to pray. His father taught him to be faithful.

He married Peggy Goude, daughter of Liston and Eunice Goude (Church of God ministers), on December 25, 1969. Peggy is an education graduate of Lee University. She and Steve have lived, with their children, in Cleveland for the past twelve years. They are members of the North Cleveland Church of God.

Dr. Land’s ministry has centered around civil rights, urban care, discipleship, holiness and Pentecostalism as a theological perspective and worldview. He is a practical, visionary leader who inspires loyalty and dedication to the cause of Christ.