Newsline: Ruthann Knechel Johansen to retire as president of Bethany Seminary

[CoBNews <CoBNews@brethren.org>]

Newsline: Church of the Brethren News Service, News Director Cheryl 
Brumbaugh-Cayford, 800-323-8039 ext. 260, cobnews@brethren.org

Ruthann Knechel Johansen to retire as president of Bethany Theological Seminary

(April 5, 2012) Elgin, IL - Ruthann Knechel Johansen, president of the Church 
of the Brethren's Bethany Theological Seminary in Richmond, Ind., has announced 
her retirement, effective July 1, 2013. The announcement came in conjunction 
with the semi-annual meeting of the Bethany Seminary board of trustees.

Johansen began her tenure as the ninth president of Bethany Seminary on July 1, 
2007, having most recently held the position of professor of literature and 
interdisciplinary studies and of a faculty fellow of the Kroc Institute for 
International Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame.

During her time at Bethany, she helped lead the development of a new mission 
and vision statement and a five-year strategic plan. Beginning with her 
inaugural celebration, she established the Presidential Forum as the premier 
public event at Bethany, offering the seminary's space and resources for 
denominational and ecumenical exploration, learning, and discourse on important 
issues of faith and ethics. Her presidency also saw the hiring of a new 
academic dean, three new faculty members, and a new director of the Brethren 
Academy for Ministerial Leadership.

In a statement to the seminary community Johansen said, "Since July 2007, 
together the board and faculty have analyzed the challenges facing the 
Christian church, the Church of the Brethren, and most theological schools; 
re-examined the core testimonies of the Anabaptist-Pietist traditions and the 
Church of the Brethren for their relevance for theological education and the 
needs of the world in this time; and developed a bold mission and vision that 
is both faithful to the gospel and a prophetic call from Bethany to the church 
and the world.... I am grateful for the opportunity to work with wonderful 
colleagues, both as board members and employees, in higher education and in 
serving God, the church, and the world. I call us to continue to be faithful, 
as I will attempt to be during this last period, and as I expect the search 
committee and the board will be as well."

Carol Scheppard, chair of the board of trustees, reflected on Johansen's 
presidency: "As president Johansen transitions to the projects awaiting her in 
retirement, she leaves a rich legacy with Bethany. From the core foundations of 
the vision and mission statements and the comprehensive strategic plan, to the 
focused, energized, and convicted operations of the seminary community, Bethany 
is strong. We look forward with hope and confidence to Ruthann's leadership in 
the year ahead and to the growth and nurturing of the seeds she has planted 
under our next president."

Bethany trustee Rhonda Pittman Gingrich will serve as chair of the Presidential 
Search Committee, with Ted Flory, former member and chair of the board, serving 
as vice chair. The additional members of the committee are trustees David 
McFadden, John D. Miller, and Nathan Polzin; at-large representative Judy Mills 
Reimer; faculty representative Tara Hornbacker; and student representative 
Dylan Haro.

The Church of the Brethren is a Christian denomination committed to continuing 
the work of Jesus peacefully and simply, and to living out its faith in 
community. The denomination is based in the Anabaptist and Pietist faith 
traditions and is one of the three Historic Peace Churches. It celebrated its 
300th anniversary in 2008. It counts some 123,000 members across the United 
States and Puerto Rico, and has missions and sister churches in Nigeria, 
Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and India.

(Jenny Williams, director of communications and alumni/ae relations at Bethany 
Seminary, provided this release.)

># # #

>For more information contact:

>Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford
>Director of News Services
>Church of the Brethren
>1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120
>800-323-8039 ext. 260
>cobnews@brethren.org