A divine calling brought Dr. James Shelton to teach at ORU, which he perceives as
a place that “encourages a blend of faith and scholarship in an ecumenical community.”
Raised in Roanoke, Virginia, he sees his conversion, childhood baptism, and later,
his baptism with the Holy Spirit, as events that shaped him personally, while excellent
instructor role models were instrumental in his professional development. He completed
his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at ORU, and taught from 1973 to 1979. After completing
his doctorate at the University of Stirling in Scotland, he returned to ORU in 1982
and has been a member of the undergraduate theology faculty ever since.
Dr. Shelton is committed to academic excellence and healthy living. When time allows,
he enjoys his hobbies of wood-working and landscaping. His passion for Christian unity
and his personal walk with the Holy Spirit are expressed in Ephesians 4:3: “Making
every effort to maintain the unity of the Holy Spirit in the bond of peace.”
