V. Bailey Gillespie is professor of theology and Christian personality and director of the John Hancock Center for Youth Ministry at La Sierra University, School of Religion, Riverside, California. He has been with the La Sierra University faculty since 1975. In addition to his teaching assignment, he is the managing editior of the La Sierra University Press.

Born in California, Gillespie graduated from Loma Linda University, Riverside, California, in 1964 with a bachelor of arts degree in theology and biblical languages. He earned his master of arts degree at Andrews University in New Testament and philosophical theology in 1965 and his bachelor of divinity degree at Andrews University Theological Seminary in 1966. He received his doctorate with a focus on religious learning and Christian personality from Claremont Graduate School, Claremont, California, in 1973.

Before coming to La Sierra University, Gillespie served with Loma Linda University School of Dentistry as associate dean for student life and admissions and taught with the School of Religion faculty. He has also taught junior-high-school religion, high-school religion and music, and pastored in the Southern California Conference. He was ordained as a ministerin Lynwood, California, in 1973.

Gillespie has written and editted a number of books. He edited the Project Affirmation and Valuegenesis Research series of publications. And he wrote scores of lessons for the youth quarterly Cornerstone Connections between 1982 and 1989.