Monte Norwood

Staff Monte Norwood

Monte Norwood, D.Min.

Assistant Professor of Religious Studies
Program Coordinator, Undergraduate Religious Studies

  • D.Min., United Theological Seminary
  • M.Div., Fuller Theological Seminary.
  • M.A., University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) in Afro-American Studies.
  • B.A., Magna cum laude, Oral Roberts University.
  • In 1994, he became one of the youngest ministers to earn the Doctor of Ministry degree from the United Theological Seminary with a focus on proclamation, church planting, and church growth.

Rev. Norwood holds ordained ministerial credentials and standing from the official credentialing bodies of the Churches of Our Lord Jesus Christ (COOLJC), the United Church of Christ (UCC), and the American Baptist Church (ABC). The Rev. Dr. Norwood has served as the senior pastor of the Imani Church in Euclid, Ohio, since 1992. As a new church start, Imani has been continually recognized as a growing congregation. It has grown from a “hand full” attending the first service to several hundred in active attendance and membership. Several pieces of property and an office building have been acquired along with extensive renovations, upgrades, and remodeling to the current church campus. Among the church's ministries and outreach programs is its founding of the Imani Scholars, Incorporated, a 501C3 non-profit corporation, which is the parent organization to the Imani Scholars Preschool, and Day Care. Plans are underway for future expansion including the Chosen Generation Youth Church to be housed on the campus. Pastor Norwood has served as:

  • A teaching assistant at Fuller Theological Seminary.
  • He has served as adjunct teaching faculty at the Cuyahoga Community College.
  • And adjunct teaching faculty at Cleveland State University.
  • Developed a course for Defiance College on African American biblical interpretation.

Pastor Norwood is well traveled having visited and ministered in several nations including Cote Ivoire (The Ivory Coast), Ghana, Senegal, South Africa, and throughout the Holy Land (Palestine/Israel including Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nazareth, Capernaum, The Sea of Galilee, Gaza, Ramallah, etc.). As a writer, his published essay: "Where Do We Go From Here?—Symbol To Substance," appears in the book Atonement: The Million-Man March, Pilgrim Press, 1996.

Dr. Norwood currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Theology and Coordinator of Undergraduate Theology at Beulah Heights University and as pastor of Bible Way Ministries, International. His ultimate goal is that the members of the Body of Christ become “Purpose Driven” taking seriously God’s call for each of us to be conformed into the image of Jesus Christ and to be head, heart, hands, feet, love, ministry, and visible presence of the Lord Jesus Christ in the earth today. He is committed to releasing the ministry of the church to the laity while having the ordained ministry of the church to lead the church. Pastor Norwood is recognized for his challenging and engaging teaching style of ministry. He regularly teaches in the Imani Bible Institute as a part of developing teachers and ministers to more effectively use their gifts. He is married to Wanda Jackson Norwood and the proud parent of three adult children: Matthew Harrison Mandela, Malcolm Xavier Malik, and Nikaule Nailah Renee. One of his life verses is Philippians 1:21: “For to me to live, is Christ; And to die is gain.” TO GOD BE ALL THE GLORY!

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