Shelly began as an instructor in the department of Religion and Philosophy at Freed-Hardeman University in 1975.
[1] In late 2012, Shelly announced that he would be stepping from his role as President at Rochester College by September 2013.
"[3] "Out of my own spiritual evolution, I've tried to adopt a much more Christ-like spirit and not be so sectarian and isolationist", Shelly said.
[4] Now, Shelly pursues a unifying vision "more nearly the ideal of the early American Restoration Movement concept and experience than what [he] was born into.
[5]: 371–372 Shelly has also co-edited and co-founded two important journals, Spiritual Sword in 1969 with Thomas B. Warren and Wineskins with Mike Cope.