Photo courtesy of Grove Hill Funeral Home
Dallas, Texas
Sep 24, 1936 – Jun 11, 2014
Dr. James W. Bryant was born on September 24, 1936 in Atlanta, GA to Charles and Addie Bryant and went to be with his Heavenly Father on June 11, 2014. He graduated with honors with a B.A. degree from Wheaton College. He also received his M.Div. and Th.D. from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and also an Honorary Doctor of Divinity from Criswell College. Dr. Bryant was an accomplished pastor and professor who served in many different churches in Dallas, Ft. Worth, Arkansas, and New Mexico. He was currently the Distinguished Senior Professor of Pastoral Theology and also the previous President of Academic Affairs at Criswell College. Dr. Bryant was an accomplished author who wrote sever publications with the most recent being The New Guidebook for Pastors. Dr. Bryant is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Ruby; two sons, Scott Bryant and wife Kendra and Kurt Bryant and wife Hollie; 2 grandchildren, Nicole Fender and husband Shea and Luke Bryant and wife Suzanne; 1 sister Jackie Marvin, and numerous family members, colleagues and friends. A memorial service will be held on Monday, June 16, 2014 at 2:00pm at the First Baptist Church in Dallas in the sanctuary. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations can be made to the 1st Baptist Church of Dallas or Criswell College.
Distinguished Senior Professor of Pastoral Theology
Education
• 1999 Honorary Doctor of Divinity, Criswell College
• 1968 Th.D., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Major: Philosophy of Religion
• 1963 M.Div., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
• 1958 B.A. (with Honor), Wheaton College
.
Employment History
• 2013-Present Distinguished Senior Professor of Pastoral Theology
• 2004-2012 Senior Professor of Pastoral Theology
• 2002-2004 Vice President for Academic Affairs, Criswell College, Dallas, TX
• 1993-2002 Professor of Religion in the School of Religion, University of Mobile, Mobile, AL
• 1991-1993 Executive Vice President, then President of Luther Rice Bible College and Seminary, Atlanta, GA
• 1990 Became Minister-at-Large, Grand Ave. Baptist Church, in order to devote full-time to Bible conferences, seminars, and revivals.
• 1983-1989 Pastor, Grand Avenue Baptist Church, Ft. Smith, AR
• 1977-1983 Pastor, Sagamore Hill Baptist Church, Ft. Worth, TX
• 1973-1977 Pastor, Hoffmantown Baptist Church, Albuquerque, NM
• 1970-1972 Organized, served as Academic Dean, and taught in the Criswell Bible Institute (now Criswell College)
• 1968-1973 Minister of Evangelism and Church Organization, First Baptist Church, Dallas
• Organized the Criswell Bible Institute (now Criswell College) and served as the first Academic Dean
• 1964-1968 Pastor, Burton Hill Baptist Church, Ft. Worth, TX
• 1960-1964 Associate Pastor, Sagamore Hill Baptist Church, Ft. Worth, TX
• 1958-1959 Associate Pastor, Colonial Hills Baptist Church, East Point, GA
.
Scholarship
Books:
•The New Guidebook for Pastors. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2007. This book is being used at ten seminaries and colleges.
•Learning and Living for Christ. Dallas: Crescendo Book Publications. Out of print. Used as one of the textbooks in Philosophy of Religion classes in both Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
•God Who Is. Dallas: Crescendo Book Publications. Out of print
•God Who Speaks and Acts. Dallas: Crescendo Book Publications. Out of print.
•The Future of God. Dallas: Crescendo Book Publications. Out of print.
•Christology According to John's Gospel. Dallas: Crescendo Book Publications. Out of print.
•The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament. Dallas: Crescendo Book Publications. Out of print. Translated into Swahili for use in Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board seminaries in Africa.
.
Significant Activities for Service
• Member and Trustee of the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention
• Trustee of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
• Member and Chairman of the Credentials Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention
• Trustee of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
• Member of the Committee on Committees of the Southern Baptist Convention
• Teacher of the McLaughlin Bible Class (weekly Sunday mornings) at the FBC, Dallas, TX. Click here for more information.
.
Teaching
• Bible Introduction
• Pastoral Ministry
• Topics in Ministry
• Pastoral Leadership
• Baptist History and Distinctives
• Systematic Theology I
• Systematic Theology II
• Theology Intensive: Dispensational Pre-millennialism
• Theology Intensive: Reformation & Post-Reformation Theology
• Theology Intensive: Christology
• Reformation & Post-Reformation Theology
• Baptist History and Distinctives
• Spiritual Foundations
.
Professional Memberships
• Evangelical Theological Society
.
Dr. Bryant was a wonderful man of God. I was greatly blessed by his ministry.
James Grogan
June 05, 2022 | Other
Dr. Jim was my pastor-teacher, my mentor, my sounding board, my brother, and my friend. He was one of a rare bred of men who unashamedly and clearly preached God's Word, along with prayer, that the Holy Spirit would drive home the Spiritual Message. He was a salt block that caused young people and adults to long for more of the Word and to know Jesus more intimately. How we yearned for God's movement across the congregation each Sunday and witnessed it. You left our church too soon, and...
David Williams
January 31, 2021 | Brother
I just learned of Dr. Bryant's death. He was my pastor at Hoffmantown in 1973-74 and influenced my faith and ministry. I will forever be grateful for him and for Ruby.
Scott Sharman
May 12, 2015 | Burleson, TX
Dr. Bryant and I were trustees at Southeaster Baptist Theological Seminary from 1985-1995, the days of change in the SBC. He was always Christian in his words, his actions and his character; his friendship with all of us was genuine and Christ like. As someone once said, The footprints he made were always safe to follow, so true of Jim. God bless each family member.
Ralph Holt
August 18, 2014 | Charlotte, NC
I just found this. A man that helped shape my life . My condolences to his family and those who knew him. My hoffmantown group and other congregations he led are richer for his being there. Now united with the Father bless you Dr. Bryant
Scott Hudson
August 17, 2014 | Reno, NV
So sorry for your loss. He was such a great man of God.
Sandra Finch
July 16, 2014 | Mansfield, TX
Only clear pic of my I have on my laptop.
Major bummer. I just found out about this today. I remember him well, and was best buds with his sons in high school at Eastern Hills.
Tony Christensen
July 16, 2014 | Mansfield, TX
Dear Ruby, Scott, and Kurt, I am so sorry for you loss. Dr. Jim was my pastor in high school and college at Hoffmantown and at Sagamore Hill while I was at Southwestern. He and you all were a great encouragement to me. I have never forgoten your kindness and how you opened your home to me and many of the other youth from Hoffmantown. Your father was a mentor to me. When I worked at Hoffmatown we would visit together on Saturday. Today whenever I meet a family in crisis I always know...
John Carney
July 11, 2014 | AL
Ruby and family, our sincere sympathy to you in the personal loss of Dr. Bryant. He is at home living out the message he shared with others. May God's peace be your comfort.
Paul & Merlene McCord
July 06, 2014 | Hurst, TX
