Dr. Bruce Coats

Dr. Bruce Coats was raised in a pastor’s home in rural Minnesota and Wisconsin. He married Sheryl, a missionary’s daughter, in 1990. Bruce and Sheryl have three adult children; Brittany, Rachel, and Benjamin. They have two cats and a very large dog.

 

Bruce and Sheryl enjoy walking together (daily), talking to their grandkids on Facetime, and listening to audiobooks together. They like to have adventures.

 

After graduating from high school, he went to Central Bible College in Springfield, MO with majors in Bible and pastoral ministry and a minor in pastoral counseling. After fifteen years of pastoral ministry, he went back to school to obtain graduate level education. He earned a Master of Arts degree from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Christian Studies and a Master of Divinity from Rockbridge Seminary. His Ph.D. was earned in 2012 from Marquette University in Religious Communication (an interdisciplinary program). 

 

Dr. Coats was in pastoral ministry before engaging in academic ministry. For almost twenty-five years he was a youth pastor, senior pastor, church planter, and associate pastor of adult discipleship. In academic ministry, he was an adjunct professor in systematic theology and practical theology, both undergraduate and graduate courses. He became a full-time professor and the graduate faculty chair at SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary in Oakland, CA. Dr. Coats became the Chief Academic Officer, in charge of the entire academic program. For 5 years, Bruce was the Vice-President of Academics at Winebrenner Theological Seminary.