Spring 2012 Board of Trustees Meeting

Seminary’s Board of Trustees Hears Theme of Change at Spring 2012 Meeting

Trustees of Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary approved the 2012-2013 budget, were informed of program and leadership changes, learned of faculty transitions, and heard of gifts which will fund new programs during their spring 2012 meeting.

Seminary trustees approved a budget of $11,565,000, an increase of 7.8% over last year. “This is the largest budget increase in more than a decade,” noted Jeff Iorg, Golden Gate Seminary’s president, adding that the boost is based on increased enrollment anticipated from new programs opening in the fall. In addition, Iorg announced a recent gift of $1.4 million from the Cecil and Josephine Osborne estate to fund future counseling training programs.

“To accomplish our mission and vision, and to fulfill the Seminary’s Board-adopted goals from 2011, the Seminary must continually change – both to accommodate the changing training needs of students and to meet new global ministry opportunities,” Iorg told the trustees. “The past six months have been a time of intense change, and of initiating future changes that will be implemented in the upcoming academic year.”

The president noted that by any estimate the number of concurrent changes in Seminary operations is more significant than has been experienced in a similar time frame in many years. “Thankfully, most of the changes are caused by and will produce additional growth and progress,” he said. “Morale is high and focused effort to keep the seminary moving forward is evident across the system.”

As part of his report, Iorg shared details of several programs. “Our new Korean-English Bi-lingual Program is moving forward and will launch in fall 2012. We will soon begin a new Masters of Christian Counseling degree and a Masters of Divinity with a concentration in Chaplaincy. We are expanding our PhD program to include Theology as a major field.” Iorg also outlined a number of faculty and staff re-assignments to facilitate these changes.

The Board took action regarding several faculty members, appointing Dr. Rick Melick to the rank of Distinguished Professor. “This is the highest honor the board can bestow on a faculty member and is a fitting recognition of Dr. Melick’s significant academic and professional contributions to the Seminary,” said Iorg of the Director of Academic Graduate Studies Program and Professor of New Testament Studies.

Dr. Faith Kim was appointed Senior Professor of Intercultural Education upon her retirement at the end of this academic year. Dr. Harry Hahne was approved for promotion from associate professor to professor, effective August 2014 when the new rank system currently being implemented is fully in place. Dr. Paul Wegner was elected Professor of Old Testament and will begin teaching this summer. “Dr. Wegner will strengthen our academic program with his significant teaching and writing portfolio,” said the president. Dr. Sanghee Michael Ahn was elected Associate Professor New Testament and Associate Director of the Korean-English Bilingual program. Dr. Debbie Steele was elected Associate Professor of Christian Counseling. She will direct the new Master of Christian Counseling degree, and begin teaching this fall.

The Board also heard reports on the land development process, many facets of the academic program, fundraising and communication updates, and conducted other routine business related to seminary operations.

Mr. Milton L. Brock (Texas), retired insurance executive, will continue as Chairman of the Board for a second term. Rev. Steven R. Sheldon (Pennsylvania), Pastor of Wrightsdale Baptist Church, Peach Bottom, PA will continue as Vice-Chairman, and Dr. Richard C. Edds (Kansas), Pastor of First Southern Baptist Church, Salina, KS will also continue as Secretary.

“This meeting was a culmination of a year of profound change at Golden Gate Seminary,” said President Jeff Iorg. “We are making adjustments to programs and personnel, and we anticipate other changes on the horizon. We embrace these changes, but there is one thing that remains constant, and that is our mission: Shaping leaders who expand God’s kingdom around the world.”