Wesley Seminary is pleased to welcome Rev. Chris Bounds, Ph.D., as a professor of Christian doctrine. Bounds holds a doctorate and master’s degree in systematic and Wesleyan theology from Drew University in Madison, New Jersey and a master of divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky.
Bounds’ distinguished background as a pastor, professor and author has prepared him to step into this role at Wesley Seminary.
Bounds began his career as a pastor, serving for over 10 years in positions ranging from youth pastor to senior pastor in the Arkansas Conference of The United Methodist Church, where he is an ordained elder. In 2002, Bounds started at IWU as a theology professor and served there until 2016, when he took a position at Asbury University as the chair of the department of Christian studies and philosophy.
“Wesley Seminary is thrilled to welcome Dr. Bounds to the Seminary team,” Colleen Derr Ed.D, president of Wesley Seminary, said. “Chris has served as an adjunct professor for the past 10 years, bringing excellence to his classes with a depth of insight into theology from a Wesleyan holiness perspective, and providing such care to our students.”
While working for Indiana Wesleyan University as a professor, Bounds attended College Wesleyan Church for 14 years and gave a plenary address on sanctification at the Wesleyan Church’s General Conference in 2008. Additionally, Bounds has published articles in popular and scholarly venues such as Good News Magazine, Wesleyan Life, Catalyst, The Wesleyan Theological Journal, Wesley and Methodist Studies and Studia Patristica.
Bounds also co-authored three books that have been published at Wesleyan Publishing House: Unholiness: Overcoming the Forces that Attack Your Soul, Holiness: The Power to Transform You, Your Church, and Your World and Selecting Worship Songs: A Guide for Leaders.
Dr. Steve Lennox, current president of Kingswood University, worked with Bounds as a colleague at Indiana Wesleyan and testified that, in addition to being a brilliant scholar, Bounds is an incredible mentor and friend.
“He has taught me more about holiness than any living theologian,” Lennox said. “Dr. Chris Bounds has been a wonderful gift to the Wesleyan Church. Through his teaching and preaching ministry, Dr. Bounds has enriched students and churches with a truly Wesleyan theological perspective: grounded in Scripture, informed by the Early Church, respectful of other traditions and unapologetically optimistic about the power of God’s grace.”