Robert B. Sloan

Robert B. Sloan Jr.
3rd President of Houston Christian University
In office
September 1, 2006 – July 4, 2026
Preceded byEdward Douglas Hodo
12th President of Baylor University
In office
1995–2005
Preceded byHerbert H. Reynolds
Succeeded byJohn M. Lilley
1st Dean of George W. Truett Theological Seminary
In office
1993–1995
Preceded byInaugural holder
Succeeded byJ. Bradley Creed
Personal details
Born(1949-02-07)February 7, 1949
Coleman, Texas, U.S.
DiedJuly 4, 2026(2026-07-04) (aged 77)
SpouseSue Collier
Children7
EducationBaylor University (BA)
Princeton Theological Seminary (MDiv)
University of Basel, Switzerland (D.Th.)

Robert Bryan Sloan Jr. (February 7, 1949[1] – July 4, 2026) was an American academic and theologian. He was the president of Houston Christian University starting in 2006 until his death.

Early life and education

Sloan was born in 1949 in Coleman, Texas, and grew up in Abilene, Texas.[2] He earned his B.A. from Baylor University in 1970, and his M.Div from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1973. After post-graduate research at the University of Bristol, he earned his D.Th., the Doktor der Theologie degree, from the University of Basel, Switzerland, in 1978.[3][4]

After serving as an adjunct professor at Hardin-Simmons University he was on the faculty of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.[4]

Career

Baylor University

Sloan joined the Department of Religion faculty at Baylor University in 1983, and was the founding dean of the George W. Truett Theological Seminary.[4]

He served as president of Baylor University from 1995 to 2006, succeeding Herbert H. Reynolds.[3]

In 2002, Sloan unveiled a 42-page plan titled "Baylor 2012," outlining his strategy to transform into a national university with Ph.D. programs and research professors, allowing it "to enter the top tier of American universities while reaffirming and deepening its distinctive Christian mission."[5] His plan included twelve imperatives that were "necessary for Baylor to fulfill the Vision".[6] Opposition to the plan, as well as several controversial financial moves, resulted in Sloan narrowly escaping a 2004 vote to oust him as president,[7] and eventually resigning in 2005.[8] The saga is chronicled in the 2007 book The Baylor Project: Taking Christian Higher Education to the Next Level (ISBN 1587310627).

Following a brief stint as Baylor's Chancellor in 2005–2006,[9] Sloan served as visiting scholar at the University of St Andrews in 2006.[4]

Houston Christian University

In September 2006, Sloan joined Houston Christian University (then known as Houston Baptist University) as its President.[10]

In 2008 Sloan, along with the board of trustees, approved a 12-year vision document titled "The Ten Pillars: Faith and Reason in a Great City". The purpose of this plan is to enable the university to "fulfill its responsibility for the renewal of Christian Higher Education."[11]

Other roles

Sloan served on the board of directors for the Houston Symphony and the Greater Houston Partnership in addition to leadership roles on the boards of Memorial Hermann Healthcare Systems - Community Relations, Houston Christian High School, Market Place Chaplains USA, and Orphan Outreach. He was also the publisher of the academic journal, The City.[12][13] Sloan published his first young adult fantasy book in 2016 and its sequel in February 2017.[14][15]

Death

On July 3, 2026, Sloan suffered a sudden stroke; he died the following morning on July 4, at the age of 77.[2][16][17]

Publications

  • Perspectives on John: methods and interpretation in the Fourth Gospel, with Mikeal C. Parsons (1993), ISBN 0-7734-2859-3
  • Foundations for Biblical Interpretation: A Complete Library of Tools and Resources, with David S. Dockery and Kenneth A. Mathews (1994), ISBN 0-8054-1039-2
  • Romans: Good News for a Troubled World, with Harry Lucenay and Bob Campbell (2000), ISBN 0-9673424-4-9
  • Hamelin Stoop: The Eagle, the Cave, and the Footbridge [14]
  • Hamelin Stoop: The Lost Princess and the Jewel of Periluna [15]
  • Hamelin Stoop: The Ring of Truth[18]
  • Hamelin Stoop: The Battle of Parthogen[19]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Honoring the Life of Robert Bryan Sloan, Jr. HCU President
  2. 1 2 Wingfield, Mark (July 4, 2026). "Robert Sloan, Baptist educator, dies at 77". Baptist News Global. Retrieved July 4, 2026.
  3. 1 2 "Baylor University - About Baylor - Robert B. Sloan, Jr". Archived from the original on August 1, 2010. Retrieved October 23, 2009.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "HBU - Dr. Robert B. Sloan Jr". Archived from the original on August 13, 2009. Retrieved October 23, 2009.
  5. ↑ Balmer, Randall (November 18, 2002). "2012: A School Odyssey". Christianity Today. Retrieved October 23, 2009.
  6. ↑ Lyon, Dr. Larry Randall (March 18, 2011). "Baylor and Vision 2012: An Introduction to the Annual Assessment of the Twelve Imperatives". Christianity Today. Retrieved October 23, 2009.
  7. ↑ Alford, Deann; Timothy C. Morgan (July 1, 2004). "Baylor's Sloan Keeps His Job—Again". Christianity Today. Retrieved October 23, 2009.
  8. ↑ Alford, Deann (January 21, 2005). "Baylor's Sloan: 'It's Time for Someone New'". Christianity Today. Retrieved October 23, 2009.
  9. ↑ "Robert B. Sloan Jr". Baylor University. Retrieved May 26, 2016.
  10. ↑ "Houston Christian University History". Houston Christian University. 2023. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Ten Pillars: Faith & Reason in a Great City".
  12. ↑ The City website, About Archived January 21, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  13. ↑ The City, Winter 2011, p. 2
  14. 1 2 Sloan, Robert B. (November 15, 2016). Hamelin Stoop: The Eagle, the Cave, and the Footbridge (first ed.). 12 Gates Publishing. ISBN 9781495619731.
  15. 1 2 Sloan, Robert B. (February 21, 2017). Hamelin Stoop: The Lost Princess and the Jewel of Periluna (first ed.). Twelve Gates Publishing. ISBN 9781495619915.
  16. ↑ "Former Baylor University President Robert B. Sloan passes away at 77". KWTX. July 4, 2026. Retrieved July 4, 2026.
  17. ↑ Hawkins, Briahn (July 4, 2026). "Houston Christian University President Robert Sloan Jr dies at 77". FOX 26 Houston. Retrieved July 4, 2026.
  18. ↑ "Hamelin Stoop: The Ring of Truth". 12 Gates Publishing. Retrieved March 12, 2025.
  19. ↑ "Hamelin Stoop: The Battle of Parthogen". 12 Gates Publishing. Retrieved March 12, 2025.
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