| Reverend Dr. Thomas Spann is an ordained Baptist minister who retired in 2018 as the Director of the Intern Program at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University, in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Spann occasionally taught the course Ministry in the Black Church. Upon retirement from SMU, Dr. Spann served as the Interim Pastor of the First Christian Methodist Evangelistic Church in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Spann is an associate member of St. Luke “Community” United Methodist Church in Dallas, Texas while maintaining his ordination in the Baptist Church.
Dr. Spann is the author of the following books: When Theological Reflection Goes to Church; First Sunday: Reflections on Ministry Experiences in the Black Church; and A Necessary Transition: A Book of Sermons. His website address: ThomasWSpann.com. Dr. Spann is on the writing team for By Faith Magazine, a periodical dedicated to highlighting the achievements of Black individuals and churches in the United Methodist Church, and addressing a range of issues in church and society.
Dr. Spann attended the public schools in Marshall, Texas; received his Bachelor of Arts, Bishop College, Dallas, Texas; Master of Divinity, Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, New Jersey; and Doctor of Ministry, SMU, Dallas, Texas. Dr. Spann’s previous employment includes service as a Reserve Chaplain, Carswell Air Force Base in Fort Worth, Texas; Instructor of Philosophy, Shorter College, North Little Rock, Arkansas; and Religion Professor at Jarvis Christian College, Hawkins, Texas. He is married to Cynthia Hunter Spann. They have two children (Monique Redmon and Thomas Spann, Jr.) and four grandchildren (Clayton, Carlwell, Clair, and Hilton). |
