Dr. Thomas E. Shuler Theological Excelsior Scholar Fund

Dr. Thomas Edward Shuler was the second eldest born to sharecroppers, Wilson and Sallie Shuler on July 17, 1932 in Laurinburg, NC. He received his primary education in the public school system of Scotland County and graduated from The Laurinburg Institute in North Carolina in May 1950. At an early aged he accepted Christ and continue to serve the Lord until his passing on September 13, 2012. He relocated to New York City in 1950 and in 1951 he was inspired to join the Mount Horeb Holiness of God, Inc. under the pastorate of Mother Alice Stewart. He enlisted in the United States Air Force in November 1951 and served for four years, which included one year of service in Korea during the Korean War. In November of 1955, Thomas was honorably discharged and returned to New York City where he was united in marriage to Louise Franklin in 1955, to this union was born five (5) children. The Lord blessed Elder Shuler to retire after thirty five years of employment with the City of New York as a Civil Engineer for the Department of Bridges & Tunnels in order to provide for his family while attending the New York City Community College at the same time. He graduated with an A.A.S. degree in Construction Technology in 1960. God had a greater plan for his future and in 1980 he accepted the divine call from God as a Biblical Teacher. In September 1983, then, Teacher Thomas Shuler enrolled in the Manhattan Bible Institute (MBI) under the tutelage of Dr. Edward H. Boyce. He successfully completed all the mandatory courses from General Bible I through Pastoral Excellence; which earned him degrees of Bachelor of Theology, Masters of Theology and Doctorate in Theology. Dr. Shuler's dedication to discipline was rewarded when he was elevated to serve as an instructor at MBI and faculty member and Dean at the Emmanuel Pentecostal Faith Church, Brooklyn, N.Y., which was an extension of MBI, until 1999. In June 1995, then Elder Shuler was elevated to the pastorate of Mt. Horeb Holiness Church of God,Inc. in the Bronx, New York. He became a greater asset, not only to the Mt. Horeb Church, but to the Holiness Church of God organization as well. In September 1999, Dr. Shuler began serving as the Dean of Christian Education while continuing to teach several of the advanced courses at MBI. He served in the following offices as: General President of the Education Department, for over 25 years; Chairperson of the S.M. Caesar Scholarship Fund Drive; Secretary of the General Elders Board; District Overseer & District Superintendent of the Northern Area of the Northeastern District; General Vice President of the Sunday School Convention & Administrative Assistant to Presiding Bishop Arnie H. Joyce. He retired as pastor of Mount Horeb Holiness Church of God and as Dean of MBI in 2008 due to his Alzheimer's illness.