“Since the untimely death of Dr. Rex Turner, the Regents have been planning for and praying about the University’s future,” said Roger Dill, president of the Board of Regents.  “We believe in the dynamic, expansive vision of this university; and we believe we have found the person to meet the challenges of that vision.”

“Dr. Turner is a man of character, integrity, vision, and hard work,” Mr. Dill said.  “We are looking forward to working with him in this new era for Amridge University.”

Dr. Douglas Patterson, who has been serving as interim president, will resume his full-time duties as academic vice president of the university.

“We are grateful to Dr. Patterson for his commitment to the university and for his faithful service and ethical leadership,” Mr. Dill said.

Dr. Turner comes to this appointment with diverse experiences in the academic and medical communities. He earned a B.A. in English at Lipscomb University and a M.S. in Ministry at Amridge University.  He earned the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree at the University of Osteopathic Medicine and Health Sciences in Des Moines, Iowa.

A native of Montgomery, Dr. Turner’s early education was at Alabama Christian Academy.  He is married to the former Julie Johnson of Wetumpka.  The Turners are the parents of four sons:  Austin, twins Rex and John Parker, and Samuel.

Dr. Julie Turner earned a doctor of pharmacy degree at Mercer University Southern School of Pharmacy in Atlanta.  Dr. Michael Turner and Dr. Julie Turner teach at Amridge University.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (BNc)-

Brother Turner died around 4:00 p.m. from a blood clot following surgery for a brain tumor last week, according to Mark Jamieson, pulpit minister at the Eastside church of Christ in Columbia, Tenn.

Funeral services will be Thursday, 11 a.m. at Leak Memory Chapel in Montgomery. Visitation will precede the services from 9-11 a.m.

Turner spent most of his life in Christian education in Montgomery. He was educated at Alabama Christian Academy, Alabama Christian College and Alabama Christian School of Religion. He earned his master’s degree at Troy University and his doctorate at the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa in the area of higher education, according to a news release from the university.

From the time he was 18 years old, Turner preached in area congregations. He taught history and Bible at Alabama Christian College until he joined the Alabama Christian School of Religion (ACSR) faculty in 1975. A year later, he served as dean of students and then was appointed vice president of administrative affairs, an office he held until 1987 when he was named ACSR president, according to a unversity press release.

He followed in the footsteps of his father, Dr. Rex A. Turner Sr., who was the founder of what have become Alabama Christian Academy, Faulkner University and Amridge University. Brother Turner became president of ACSR at the time the school moved to its present location at Interstate 85 and Taylor Road next to Auburn-Montgomery.

Amridge University was  formerly known as Southern Christian University, the name change effective Jan., 2008.

In order to clarify its aims, ACSR changed its name to Southern Christian University Oct., 1991.  In 1993, SCU began the Doctor of Ministry program and broadened the scope of its MS to include an emphasis in counseling, enabling students to meet course requirements for state licensing.  Under Dr. Turner’s leadership, the University offered Ph.D. degrees in biblical studies, professional counseling, and in marriage and family therapy.  The University is the only graduate school in Alabama to offer the Ph.D. in biblical studies and in marriage and family therapy.

Dr. Turner employed technology to deliver instruction to students wherever they were.  The first phase was a videotaped-based distance learning program. By 1998, the curriculum was delivered online and the U.S. Department of Education named SCU one of fifteen national demonstration sites for its excellence in offering distance education.

Students from all 50 states and 20 foreign countries have been enrolled.

Dr. Turner was preceded in death by his parents Rex A. Turner Sr. and Opal Shipp Turner, and his sister Jackie Turner Long. He is survived by his wife Barbara Parker Turner; a son Dr. Michael Turner and his wife Julie; a daughter Laina Costanza and her husband Michael; a granddaughter and four grandsons, all of Montgomery; and one sister Mary Hargis, Nashville, Tenn.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (BNc) – Regions University in Montgomery, Ala., has changed its name to Amridge University. The school’s board of regents officially approved the change on Jan. 31.

According to an email issued by university president Dr. Rex. Turner Jr., the name change comes due to ongoing litigation over the use of the name “Regions” which the university adopted in the fall of 2006.

“The university has been involved in litigation over the use of the name ‘Regions’ since the fall of 2006, and has decided it is in the best interest of the university to change its name,” he said.

The university has gone through a few name changes throughout its history. The school, which is affiliated with the churches of Christ, began as the Alabama Christian School of Religion. Dr. Rex Turner Sr., the father of the current university president, founded the school.

Later the institution changed its name to Southern Christian University. As the school began to reach out and serve a national and even worldwide student base, the board of regents approved the name change to Regions University. This change, officials said, better reflected the worldwide mission of the college. This mission will not change, though the name has.

“With this name change the mission of the university remains the same, as does the vision of this university to expand its operations throughout the United States and internationally,” Turner said.

Amridge University is the only university affiliated with the churches of Christ which offers a doctor of philosophy degree in biblical studies. The school offers both traditional on-campus courses, as well as online education. The school is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The Turner School of Theology, which is part of the university, is an associate member of the Association of Theological Schools.