Carlus Gupton is Professor of Ministry, Director of Field Education, and Co-director of the Doctor of Ministry program. Before coming to HST, he was Professor of Ministry at Johnson University, where he still serves as an adjunct, and also taught at the University of Tennessee. Carlus teaches courses in church leadership, spiritual formation and conflict, and has also taught New Testament, theology and communication. He began preaching at an early age, and has over 30 years of professional experience in ministry for congregations small and large. He received his education from Freed-Hardeman University (1977-78); Lipscomb University (B.A., 1982), Harding School of Theology (M.Div., 1988); and Abilene Christian University (D.Min., 1993), and also studied organizational leadership at Murray State University, University of Memphis, and University of Tennessee.
For the past twenty years, Carlus has maintained an active schedule of consulting, coaching, and intentional interim ministry, having worked with over 100 churches and organizations. He is a member of Hope Network Ministries and Society for Church Consulting, is a Certified Christian Conciliator™, Advanced Human Behavior Consultant, Everything DiSC® Authorized Partner, and holds extensive certifications in ministry transitions, strategic renewal, congregational change, self-differentiated leadership, conflict intervention, and problem-solving. He is also a specialist in instrumented learning utilizing tools such as Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, Grip-Birkman, and Conflict Styles, and has led over 1,000 people through the DISC Profile. Carlus is a graduate of the Academy for Spiritual Formation, and has a passion for integrating spiritual practices and strategic initiatives such as appreciative inquiry and asset mapping in congregational development. Two of his special interests are embedding empowering perspectives and practices in church life and leadership, and navigating congregational policies on complex theological issues in ways that both strengthen unity and forward mission. Carlus is an energetic presenter of numerous workshops, lectures, and sermons for churches and conferences across the nation.
Dr. Gupton is the founder and publisher of LifeandLeadership.com, a website with over 1,500 pages of resources for church leaders, and DISCPersonalitySource.com, which features the popular DISC Profile System.
Carlus is married to Ann Yarbrough Gupton. They have two grown daughters. He is a native of Mayfield, Kentucky, and still cheers for his hometown football team. His other interests include running, watching first run movies on the big screen, and listening to his favorite music (especially Irish jigs and reels).
Harding School of Theology