Stan Toler

{{short description|American cleric (1950-2017)}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| birth_name = Stan A. Toler

| name = Stan A. Toler

| image =

| imagesize =

| caption =

| order = 39th General Superintendent

| office = Church of the Nazarene

| term_start = {{Start date|2009|07|02}}

| term_end = {{End date|2013|08|02}}

| predecessor =

| successor =

| birth_date = {{Birth date |1950|11|07|mf=yes}}

| birth_place = Welch, West Virginia

| death_date = {{Death date and age |2017|11|18|1950|11|07|mf=yes}}

| death_place = Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

| alma_mater = Ohio State Barber College
Ohio Christian University
Florida Beacon Bible College
Maranatha Seminary
Southern Nazarene University

| residence = Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA

| profession = Author
Minister
General Superintendent

| spouse = Linda C. Toler

| website = https://www.stantoler.com/|

}}

Stan A. Toler (November 7, 1950 – November 18, 2017) was a minister and general superintendent emeritus in the Church of the Nazarene.{{cite news|title=Dr. Stan A. Toler: General Superintendent|url=http://nazarene.org/ministries/superintendents/emeriti/toler/display.html|accessdate=February 15, 2015|publisher=Church of the Nazarene}} He was also an author having written 100 books, many of them published through the Nazarene Publishing House.{{cite news|title=Citation for Dr. Stan A. Toler|url=http://www.ncnnews.com/nphweb/html/ncn/article.jsp?sid=10005119&id=10012683|accessdate=February 15, 2015|work=NCN News|date=June 24, 2013}} He served as a Pastor in Ohio, Florida, Tennessee and Oklahoma.ALEXANDRA ALTER, October 10, 2008, Wall Street Journal, [https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB122358815744820497 The Mystery Worshipper: To try to keep their flocks, churches are turning to undercover inspectors, who note water stains, dull sermons and poor hospitality], Retrieved August 3, 2015, "...Stan Toler, pastor of Trinity Church of the Nazarene in Oklahoma City, who hires a secret shopper every quarter. ..."

Toler was 11 years old when his father was killed in a construction accident. He preached his first sermon at age 14 and would go on to preach over 15,000 sermons over the remainder of his life, speaking in all 50 states and in 80 countries.{{Cite web|title=Toler remembered for life of ministry, leadership|url=http://nazarene.org/article/toler-remembered-life-ministry-leadership|access-date=2020-07-23|website=Church of the Nazarene|language=en}}

He took his first pastorate at the age of 17 and continued to pastor churches in Florida, Tennessee and Oklahoma until 2009. He was elected district superintendent of the Southwest Oklahoma District in June 2009. Before he could assume his duties as district superintendent, he was elected as the 39th general superintendent of the Church of the Nazarene on July 2, 2009.{{Cite web|title=Toler elected 39th general superintendent|url=http://nazarene.org/article/toler-elected-39th-general-superintendent|access-date=2020-07-23|website=Church of the Nazarene|language=en}} He held that office for four years, choosing not to allow his name to go forward for reelection at the 2013 general assembly.

Toler authored more than 100 books, including his best-sellers, The Power of Your Attitude; The Secret Blend; The Relational Leader; Practical Guide to Pastoral Ministry; his popular Minute Motivator series; Outstanding Leadership; and I’ve Never Been This Old Before – The Dawn of the Middle Ages. His books have sold more than 3 million copies.