Rev. Dr. Robert S. Norris
The Reverend Dr. Robert S. Norris serves as pastor and head of staff at the Royal Poinciana Chapel in Palm Beach, Florida.
Senior Pastor, The Royal Poinciana Chapel — Palm Beach, Florida
Dr. Robert Scott Norris serves as the Senior Pastor of the Royal Poinciana Chapel in Palm Beach, Florida, a role he has held for more than 22 years. A pastor since 1979, he brings over four decades of ministry shaped by theological depth, pastoral warmth, and a commitment to worship that is both reverent and creatively alive.
Dr. Norris is a graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary, where he earned the Master of Divinity (M.Div.), Master of Theology (Th.M.), and Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) degrees. He later returned to Princeton Seminary as Adjunct Faculty, contributing to the formation of future pastors and leaders.
Before coming to Palm Beach, Dr. Norris served several influential Presbyterian congregations, including Westminster Presbyterian Church in Upper St. Clair, Pennsylvania, and Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church in Houston, Texas. His earlier ministry included pastorates at First Presbyterian Church of Allentown, PA (his first call), The Presbyterian Church in Liberty Corner, NJ, and Westminster Presbyterian Church in Berkeley Heights, NJ. His spiritual roots trace back to his home congregation, First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem, PA, where his call to ministry first took shape.
In addition to his congregational leadership, Dr. Norris has been active in the wider community. He has served on the Advisory Board of the School of Ministry at Palm Beach Atlantic University, and has held board and officer roles with two significant Palm Beach County organizations: The Lord’s Place and Urban Youth Impact. His service reflects a long-standing commitment to compassion, justice, and the flourishing of vulnerable communities.
At the Royal Poinciana Chapel, Dr. Norris is known for his lyrical liturgical voice, his love for music in worship, and his ability to blend tradition with creative expression. His ministry is marked by pastoral sensitivity, thoughtful preaching, and a steady devotion to guiding people toward hope, beauty, and spiritual depth.
Dr. Norris has been married for 42 years to Debra (Debbie) Wagner Norris, who serves as the Chapel’s Wedding and Events Coordinator. They are the parents of Megan Elizabeth Grant, a graduate of Emory University and the University of Miami School of Law, now a corporate attorney specializing in nonprofit law with Nason Yeager in Palm Beach Gardens.
Across every chapter of his ministry, Dr. Norris remains what he has always been at heart: a pastor devoted to the care of souls, the beauty of worship, and the quiet, enduring work of grace.
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