Nazarene Bible College (NBC) announced on Wednesday the unanimous election of Douglas R. Pierce as its 8th president, effective 1 December 2025. The decision was made by the Board of Trustees in consultation with the Board of General Superintendents for the Church of the Nazarene.
“We are thrilled to welcome Douglas Pierce as the next president of Nazarene Bible College,” said board chair Phillip Fuller. “Doug Pierce has steady poise and leads with vision. NBC is grateful to have Pierce provide strategic leadership in this important season. We express deep gratitude to John Bowling for his excellent leadership in the interim.”
General Superintendent Gustavo Crocker stated, “The Board of General Superintendents is pleased with the election of Dr. Pierce. The Nazarene family has been blessed by his leadership in fostering church development, community outreach, ministerial training, and denominational unity.”
Pierce’s 45-year ministry career spans decades of leadership within the Arizona District Church of the Nazarene, where he served as district superintendent for 12 years and as assistant superintendent for six years. Pierce also pastored and served in administrative roles at Tempe Church of the Nazarene, New Hope Community Church of the Nazarene in Chandler, Arizona, and Western Oaks Church of the Nazarene in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. His ministry includes several extended interim pastorates at district churches.
Pierce and his wife, Becky, co-founded the Southwest Leadership Institute in 1988, where he continues to serve as president. The nonprofit organization is dedicated to supporting ministerial families, encouraging the children of pastors, assisting the widows of ministers, and empowering multicultural ministries.
Pierce serves on several boards, including Point Loma Nazarene University, where he is serving his third term as board chair. He has also served on the boards for Pensions and Benefits USA, Native American Christian Academy, Camp Pinerock, and Arizona Nazarene Lands, Inc.
Upon receiving news of his election, Pierce stated, “It is an honor to serve NBC as we continue to train ministers for impactful service to the kingdom of God and the church. I am deeply appreciative of John Bowling for his service as interim president and to other leaders who sacrificed to build the strong legacy of NBC. I look forward to working with the Board of Trustees and Board Chair Phillip Fuller, along with denominational leaders, as we re-vision and re-strategize ministerial training to meet the needs of the church moving forward.”
Pierce succeeds John Bowling, who has served as interim president since 1 March 2025. A formal inauguration ceremony will be announced at a later date.
Nazarene Bible College was established by the denomination in 1967 to provide ministerial training for non-traditional, often second-career students. Within the USA/Canada Region, NBC serves in a complementary role to the denomination’s other academic institutions.