Known best for his scholarly publications on the topic of the Stone-Campbell Movement (or Restoration Movement) of the Nineteenth Century, this Christian religious scholar served as Associate Dean of Abilene Christian University's Graduate School of Theology.
After earning a bachelor's degree from Lipscomb University in Tennessee, he worked for several years as an associate pastor. He later received a PhD in religion from Vanderbilt University.
His numerous publications include Will the Cycle Be Unbroken?: Churches of Christ Face the 21st Century (1994) and Renewal For Mission - A Concise History of Christian Churches and Churches of Christ (2009).
His marriage to Mary Linda Grissom resulted in a son named Mark and a daughter named Elizabeth.
He and fellow author R. Scott Bakker both completed doctorates (in religion and philosophy, respectively) at Vanderbilt University.
