Ron Benefiel

Ron Benefiel is dean of PLNU’s School of Theology and Christian Ministry. Benefiel previously served as president of Nazarene Theological Seminary for 11 years after an earlier stint as PLNU faculty member in theology.

Benefiel has always had a passion for serving his community, and his name has been highly respected within the Church of the Nazarene. Over the past 40 years, he has served the denomination on numerous councils and boards related to education, research, and youth ministry.  His work in the community has included serving on the board of directors of 
the Kansas City Urban Youth Center and of rescue missions 
in Los Angeles, San Diego, and Kansas City.  

While serving as a PLNU professor of sociology and religion from 1996 to 2000, Benefiel co-founded and co-pastored Mid City Church of the Nazarene with John Wright, Ph.D., and David Whitelaw, D.Th. Mid City is now a thriving multi-congregational church.

From 1982 to 1996, Benefiel served as pastor of the First 
Church of the Nazarene in Los Angeles, a multi-congregational church. He also founded and served as the executive director 
of the P.F. Bresee Foundation, a nonprofit community center in LA’s Mid-Wilshire district.

Benefiel received his B.A., M.A., and an honorary Doctor of Letters degree from PLNU. He earned his Ph.D. in sociology 
from the University of Southern California.