Dear Friends of Western Seminary,

As people learn of my recent appointment to Western’s presidency, one of the first questions they typically ask is, “What is your vision for the Seminary?”

I think I know why most ask that question. They’re looking for early indicators of significant changes to come in the not-too-distant future. Some may be wanting change (though they are not as unanimous in what change they want), while others are hoping for a continuation of the status quo.

There is naturally an added degree of curiosity (and perhaps even anxiety) involved if an unfamiliar person “from the outside” is assuming the presidency.

But I’m an insider. I was a Western student from 1980-1986, and have been on the team since 1987. During those years I have seen great times and not-so-great times for the Seminary. In my most recent role as Academic Dean and Provost, I had the privilege of crafting with President Bert Downs a strategy for bringing fresh vitality to Western, and my role contained the responsibility to oversee the implementation of that strategy. Since we have seen multiple indicators of God’s blessing upon the recent history of the school (e.g., record enrollments, restored financial stability, training partnerships with other key ministries, etc.), it would be foolish to suggest that a radical shift in direction is needed.

By the same token, however, it would be naïve to assume that everything is going to be just more of the same. Any time transition in leadership transpires, some changes will inevitably occur because no two people are exact clones of one another. That is true of Bert and me as well. Though we think remarkably alike by way of values and goals, we are different personalities with different backgrounds and gifts.

So, what does this mean for Western?

First, I anticipate no change in the Seminary’s mission and vision. We will continue to focus on fulfilling our distinctive calling to be a catalyst and resource for spiritual transformation and renewal; we’ll do so because there is still a great need for that renewal and we are well-positioned to address it. Western’s faculty has crafted an important document that will increasingly inform all that we do, entitled, “Toward a Classic Strategy for Evangelical Renewal.”

We also want to continue forming strategic partnerships with like-minded ministries so biblical synergy is created. Our mission statement says that we do our training “with and for the church.” We recognize that a school cannot by itself provide all of the education, experience and evaluation needed for healthy leadership development. So we continue to develop strengthened ties to a large number of local churches (and para-congregational ministries that honor the local church) so our students experience the various components of community needed for their holistic formation. In return, we are finding that more and more of these partners are sending their staff to us for training as they appreciate the emphasis and flexibility of our educational programs.

However, what will change most dramatically is how I spend much of my time. A president must be a key player in connecting the significance of a school’s mission with greater numbers of people who might help invest in that mission if they knew more about it. One of our greatest needs as a school is to expand in both breadth and depth that kind of investor. As such, we are striving diligently to increase donor funds and support from various foundations to help us remain on task without creating greater strains on our students or staff for accomplishing our mission of strategic ministry training and development.

From my humble perspective, God’s hand is clearly still blessing the Western family. Everyday I sense Him at work as I work alongside the fine teams found at each of our campuses, as I interact with the high-caliber students He sends our way, and as I hear about the life-changing ministries of our alumni from literally around the world. Being entrusted with the leadership of Western is thus both a wonderful privilege and a sobering responsibility; by God’s grace I want to be faithful to both.