wfn.org | Plantinga to Step Down as President of Calvin Theological Seminary

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

Plantinga to Step Down as President of Calvin Theological Seminary

Oct. 14, 2009 -- Rev. Dr. Cornelius Plantinga, Jr. has informed the
Calvin Theological Board of Trustees that he will step down as
president of the institution at the end of the 2010-2011 academic year.

In a letter to the board, Plantinga said that he decided to step down
as president of CTS following a great deal of prayerful consideration.
Plantinga will still be associated with the seminary, but the
particulars still need to be worked out.
The full board accepted his request on Oct. 9, 2009.

"Kathleen (his wife) and I have prayed earnestly about this decision
and have made it freely and joyfully," Plantinga wrote to the board."I
give thanks to God for so many blessings ? including warm
relationships with donors, trustees, and alumni, a strong faculty and
staff, wonderful students, and a supportive denomination. I?ll leave
my post with satisfaction."

Under his leadership, the seminary has instituted a number of changes
in order to make itself more relevant to today's society, at the same
time keeping its commitment to Reformed doctrine and teaching.

Among the changes was the formation of  the Making Connections
Initiative, the Center for Excellence in Preaching, development of a
host of new donors, a vastly enhanced continuing education program,
and, the new curriculum, built from scratch to form students for ministry.

This curriculum helps to streamline the requirements necessary for men
and women to receive their Master of Divinity Degree while enriching
their training for biblical, authentic, contextual and life-changing
ministry. Changes have been made to other degree programs as well.
Additionally, this year has seen the institution of a new certificate
program that allows for continuing education without students being
required to take all of the courses that lead to a higher degree.

In his letter, Plantinga also thanked Vice President Henry De Moor,
Vice President Duane Kelderman, and Interim Vice-President David
Rylaarsdam, principal architect of the new curriculum, and Mary
Brasser, his executive assistant, as well as board members, for all
their support and assistance during his tenure. "You are all a joy to
me," he wrote.

Plantinga studied at Calvin College, Yale University, Calvin
Theological Seminary, and Princeton Theological Seminary. Ordained in
the CRC in 1971, he served as pastor of the Webster Christian Reformed
Church in New York and then served as a professor of systematic
theology at CTS from 1979 to 1996.

In the summer of 1996, he became the first-ever Dean of the Chapel at
Calvin College. In January, 2002, he became the sixth president of the
seminary. He has written and helped to edit several books.

In response to his letter of resignation, the Board of Calvin
Theological Seminary offered its gratitude and appreciation to
Plantinga "for his leadership since 2001 as President of Calvin
Theological Seminary. We acknowledge and accept the decision of Dr.
Plantinga to end his tenure as President at the end of the 2010-2011
academic year."

?We want to make it clear, though, that he will continue his
relationship with the seminary. We?re still looking at what that will
look like,? says Rev. Julius Medenblik, chair of the CTS board.

The Board noted especially Plantinga?s leadership during his time as
president "in developing a hospitable community of faith and the
Center for Excellence in Preaching, while also initiating changes
consistent with a focus on formation for ministry of leaders and
preachers within the Reformed community of faith."

The Board also thanked his wife, Kathleen Plantinga "for her service
in the ministry of hospitality during her husband?s term as President."

In addition, the Board unanimously affirmed that it wants to see the
seminary remain connected in some way to Plantinga "so that he may
continue to use his exceptional gifts in writing and speaking while
supporting and sharing the continued vision of Calvin Theological
Seminary as a premier institution for Reformed thought and learning
and as a catalyst for theological excellence."
Meanwhile, the board has asked its Executive Committee to form a
Search Committee to begin the process of looking for the next
president. Besides Medenblik, who serves as chair of the board, other
officers are Henk Van Andel, who is vice-chair, and Rev. Kevin Adams,
who is secretary.

> --Chris Meehan, CRC

> -- Chris Meehan
> News & Media Director
> Christian Reformed Church in North America
> 1-616-224-0849