Jon Roebuck, PhD, Vice-President Belmont University — Safe Spaces, Spirituality and Quality of Life

Speakers Friday, August 18, 2023

We hear a lot about “values.” Of course, there are sales and coupons at retailers; but what about discounts on what we as individuals and communities believe? When does being flexible become such a discount in what we believe that we have nothing to add to the community conversation? When does inflexibility become intransigence that leads to needless conflict, or worse yet, that leads to division and strife? These are issues not just for churches but all organizations.

Dr. Jon R. Roebuck serves as the Executive Director of Belmont University’s Rev. Charlie Curb Center for Faith Leadership.  The Center seeks to provide on-going educational opportunities for faith-based leaders across middle Tennessee in order to equip those leaders to be relevant to culture, relational to community, and resolute in missional focus.  The Center sponsors a number of on-campus seminars, workshops, and courses each semester.  Additionally, The Curb Center is leading a 5-year Lilly Endowment-funded program which engages 17 local congregations, seeking to help them think critically about thriving rather than simply surviving.  The Center has also recently launched a new program fostering interfaith dialogue and understanding entitled, “The Belmont Initiative for Jewish Engagement.”

The Center helps leaders to answer the question, “Do we have a way to be true to our denominational and ecclesiastical DNA while embracing the changes needed to effectively present the Message of Christ to the world?”  This question of identity will help to define congregational presence and value in local communities.

Dr. Roebuck was born in April 1960 and grew up in Rome, Georgia, where his father was pastor of First Baptist Church. While in high school he first felt a sense of calling to the ministry. Roebuck attended Samford University and in 1982 he graduated with a double major in religion and church recreation. It was while in college that he felt a strong sense of call to the pastoral ministry.  In pursuit of that call, he continued his studies at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville.  He received his M.Div. in 1985 and DMin. in 1988. While in seminary, he pastored churches in Hustonville and Burgin, Kentucky.

Dr. Roebuck then became pastor of South Avondale Baptist Church in Birmingham in 1989 where he led mission trips to Brazil and began several new ministry initiatives including a grief recovery ministry, a radio broadcast, and expanded youth and children’s ministries. In 1994, he and his family moved to First Baptist Church of Gatlinburg where he led the church to grow to its all-time numeric height.

In 1999, Dr. Roebuck became the third pastor of Woodmont Baptist Church in Nashville, where he was known for innovative worship services while continuing the tradition of live television broadcasts and local & international mission outreach.  During his 17-year tenure, Dr. Roebuck led trips to the Dominican Republic, Thessalonikki, Greece, Haiti, Croatia, Ecuador, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.  Under his leadership, the church led efforts in disaster recovery in Metairie, Louisiana and the 2010 flood in Nashville. He served on the Belmont University Board of Trustees from 2001 to 2016 and taught multiple classes at Belmont through the school of Theology and Christian Ministry. He is currently the author of 7 books, Creating Space, Christmas – Then and Now, Morning Conversations – New Testament, Morning Conversations – Old Testament – Vol. 1, Vol. 2, Vol. 3, and Vol. 4. Additionally, he has written for a number of preaching periodicals and journals. Dr. Roebuck has also served on several boards and agencies for the Alabama and Tennessee Baptist conventions.

Jon & Linda Roebuck married in 1984 and have three grown children with their own families: Andy & Andrea Roebuck have three daughters, Hannah Rae, Lydia, & Raleigh; Katie & Jason Kissel have three children, Luna Mae, Avett, and Milo; Anna & Rob Rowland have two daughters, Charlie Grace and Ivey.  Jon and Linda have always enjoyed different sports together but continue the debate of Auburn vs. University of Alabama football.

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