MidAmerica Nazarene University welcomes Dr. Scott Dermer, who was appointed Chair of the Department of Christian Ministry and Formation this week. Dermer currently serves as lead pastor of Tulsa Central Church of the Nazarene, Tulsa, Oklahoma, a position he has held since 2019. Prior to that, he was lead pastor of Webster Groves Church of the Nazarene in St. Louis, Missouri and at Nexus Community, Richardson Church of the Nazarene in Dallas, Texas. In 2018, he was elected by the Missouri District Church of the Nazarene as its ministerial representative to the MNU Board of Trustees.
Dermer is an ordained elder in the Church of the Nazarene and has served as a member of the District Advisory Board, District Board of Ministry, and is a frequent contributor to The Foundry Community. He earned a PhD in historical theology from Saint Louis University, a Master of Divinity from Southern Methodist University and a Bachelor of Arts in theology and ministry from Southern Nazarene University.
Dr. David Spittal, MNU president, indicated that the University deeply appreciates the past leadership of previous department chairs Dr. Don Dunn and Dr. Randy Cloud as he welcomed Dermer.
“Dr. Dermer is passionate about preaching and equipping the church to be a missional community deeply rooted in our faith, the Church of the Nazarene and our Wesleyan-Holiness distinctives,” Spittal said. “We’re delighted to have him join the MNU faculty.”
DR. DAVID SPITTAL
MNU President
Upon appointment, Dermer added his enthusiasm about the new role.
“I am looking forward to the opportunity to help form the next generation of young women and men so that they might be ready—theologically and spiritually—to serve the church, and the world, with faithfulness,” Dermer said.
Dermer enjoys running, hiking, coffee and spending time with his wife Lindsey and their three children Millie, Eli and Bennet. Lindsey is the daughter of MNU alums Dr. David McKellips (’77) and Gloria (Robison ’80). He begins his duties this summer and looks forward to representing the university and the Christian ministry department.
