Edward L. Wheeler
Edward L. Wheeler, an ordained Baptist minister, was elected President of the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, Georgia on January 21, 2015. He assumed his full time duties on April 6, 2015. He previously served as President of Christian Theological Seminary (CTS) in Indianapolis, Indiana for fourteen years before being named President Emeritus of CTS on July 1, 2011.
A highly regarded community leader and theological educator, Dr. Wheeler has served in numerous church and educational related positions. He was Dean of the Chapel, and Professor of Religion and Society at Tuskegee University before going to CTS. He was Senior Pastor of Zion Baptist Church in Cincinnati, Ohio. While at Zion he was on the faculty at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio teaching in both the Master of Divinity programs. From 1982-1985, he served as Dean of Morehouse School of Religion in Atlanta, Georgia.
He is the author of numerous articles, book reviews and the books such as Uplifting the Race: Black Ministerial Leadership in the New South, 1865-1902 and Black Pearls: Lessons from a Beautiful Black Mother. As a dynamic preacher, lecturer and speaker, he continues to be in demand around the world.
Over the past two decades, He has served on several civic and professional boards including the Committee on Leadership Development of the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee (Office of the Mayor) and 100 Black Men of Indianapolis. Dr. Wheeler has also served on the Board of Directors of the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) in the U.S. and Canada as well as Vice Chair of the Baptist World Alliance Commission on Intra Baptist Relations. He was a member of the joint Commission authorized by ATS and the Association of Hispanic Theological Education to strengthen Hispanic Bible Institutes.
Dr. Wheeler earned his Bachelor of Arts from Morehouse College and his Master of Divinity (Magna Cum Laude) from Colgate-Rochester Divinity School. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Historical Theology from Emory University. He has received several honorary doctorate degrees from leading institutions including Christian Theological Seminary and Payne Theological Seminary. In 2011, Dr. Wheeler was named one of two Distinguished Alumni of the Year by Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School.
Dr. Wheeler and his wife, Mary Susan, have been married since 1969. They are blessed with three daughters, Dawn, Wendi, and Loren, grandchildren and one great grandchild.