Seminary President Nominations Sought

December 14, 2009

The committee leading the search for a candidate to replace Rev. Cornelius Plantinga Jr. as president of Calvin Theological Seminary is seeking nominations from Christian Reformed church councils and pastors across North America.

Plantinga has told the seminary that he plans to leave at the end of 2010-11 academic year.

A letter from the Presidential Search Committee went out by email on Monday to the leaders of Christian Reformed congregations.

"We look for your help in this kingdom task. Would you nominate someone to serve as the 8th president of Calvin Seminary?" says the letter from Rev. Kevin Adams, secretary of the Seminary Board of Trustees and chair of the Presidential Search Committee.

"As members of Christian Reformed Church consistories you possess unique insight into the type of person who would best lead the exciting and challenging process of training the next generation of our denomination’s leaders."

Nominations and applications can be submitted at www.calvinseminary.edu by following the links to the presidential search page. Or send them by mail to:

Presidential Search Committee
Calvin Theological Seminary
c/o Evelyn Telgen
55 Campau NW Suite #1
Grand Rapids, MI 49503-2616

Qualifications for the new president include:

  • The president of the seminary shall be a person of Reformed persuasion
  • He will possess a broad understanding of and be heartily committed to the Reformed faith and life
  • The president shall be of recognized theological stature, academically well prepared, Christian in character, endowed with wisdom, gifted with administrative ability, and able to lead.

Applications are due by Feb. 1, 2010.

"Even if you do not submit a nomination, would you and your church join the Search Committee, the Seminary Board, faculty, staff and students by praying for this process?" the letter says. "In addition, we would be honored by your comments or suggestions for this process. Thank you for your prayerful support."

Plantinga announced at the fall meeting of the seminary board his intention to step down.

In a letter to the board, he said the decision comes after a great deal of prayerful consideration. He said he plans to still be associated with the seminary.

Plantinga has served as president of Calvin seminary since January 2002. Under his leadership, the seminary instituted a number of changes to make it more relevant to today's society, at the same time keeping its commitment to Reformed doctrine and teaching.

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 a CRC congregation 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. He has written and helped to edit several books.

Chris Meehan