OVERVIEW
Asbury Theological Seminary is an evangelical graduate school of theology composed of scholarly teachers, leaders and students dedicated to the study of theology, philosophy and religion usually to the end of training and certifying members of clergy in the Wesleyan tradition. In existence since 1923, the main campus is in Wilmore, Kentucky. In 1999, a second campus was started in Orlando, Florida. Asbury also has an extensive online or virtual program.
The Vice President of Asbury Theological Seminary over the Florida Dunnam Campus will be an integral part of the senior leadership team for the seminary and provide leadership over all academic and operational functions of the Florida Dunnam Campus. The opportunity and the challenge are significant…and the right person will feel God’s call on his or her life to serve Him at such a time and place as this.
THE VISION FOR THE ASBURY SEMINARY-FLORIDA CAMPUS
The Florida Campus was founded in 1999, as an extension of Asbury Theological Seminary. However, from its inception, it was not designed to simply replicate the campus in Wilmore, Kentucky, but to explore dynamic new models of theological education which could better be accomplished in the urban, multi-cultural, diverse context of Orlando. The first ten years of the Orlando campus was dedicated to establishing a site, providing excellent physical facilities, and building a first class faculty for the campus.
The arrival of Dr. Timothy Tennent as the 8th President of Asbury Theological Seminary in 2009 coincided with the 10th anniversary of the Orlando campus. Dr. Tennent is the first President in the history of Asbury Theological Seminary to have his presidency announced from the Orlando campus. From the beginning, Dr. Tennent made it clear that the Orlando campus was central to his vision for the future of Asbury Theological Seminary. Shortly after his inauguration he entered into extensive discussions with the Asbury faculty and staff to implement changes which would strengthen the Orlando campus mission. The result was the restructuring of the Florida faculty into a new academic school known as the Asbury Theological Seminary School of Urban Ministries and Dr. Zaida Perez was named Dean of the School. Dr. Perez is a Hispanic historian who is widely regarded in theological education.
In Dr. Tennent’s first year as President, he led a capital campaign to pay off the $1.75 million debt on the Florida campus, and with the help of hundreds of donors, the mortgage was burned on March 9, 2010. The Asbury Florida campus is now debt free!
The vision of Dr. Tennent for the Orlando campus can be captured under the following key themes:
First, urban theological education: Orlando is one of the gateway cities of the world. Its urban context makes it a unique place for training men and women for ministry in an increasingly urban world. Students in Asbury at the Florida campus will increasingly recognize that the inner cities of America provide key opportunities to impact the world. We cannot engage the world in some conceptual way as “globally minded” Christians. Engaging the world means engaging the urban realities of life in the 21st century. In 1900, the largest cities in the world were London, New York, Paris, Berlin, Chicago and Vienna. At the turn of the 21st century, the six largest urban sprawls of the world are Mumbai, Tokyo, Shanghai, Jakarta, Karachi and Delhi. The entire world is now streaming to the USA. We are rapidly becoming a nation where “white” peoples, i.e. European descent people-groups will be less than 50% of the population. Texas, California, Hawaii, and New Mexico are already majority-minority states, soon to be followed by Florida, Maryland, Georgia, Mississippi, Nevada, Arizona and New York. John Wesley said, “The world is my parish.” Today we could say, “The world is in my parish.”
The Florida campus will lead Asbury in helping students to know how to live in a multi-racial, multi-ethnic, multi-cultural context. Dr. Tennent has asked each member of the faculty to think through their courses and curriculum with a special sensitivity to the unique challenges of an urban context. Today, more people live in urban areas than in rural areas. Even people who begin their ministries in rural areas will increasingly discover that the urban forces of globalization will influence every part of the country and world. That complex connectivity which is endemic to urban life must be understood by everyone preparing for ministry today.
Second, preparing ministers for a post-Christendom world: We live in one of the great seams of history – the seam between modernity and post-modernity, the seam between Christendom and post-Christendom, and the seam between a predominately western Christianity and the emergence of a post-western Christianity. We live in a post-communist, post-Christendom, post-denominational, post-western, post-Enlightenment and post-modern world. For many, many years seminaries across North America prepared men and women for ministry in a society which was conceptualized as the modern day equivalent of the Promised Land, a land full of spiritual milk and honey. A land where steepled towns rang their church bells and the faithful gathered to hear God’s word. A society where Judeo-Christian ethics were seamless embraced by the society at large. At some point, those of us who teach students, and preach in churches slowly began to realize that we were – figuratively speaking - no longer in the Promised Land, but we were in Babylonian exile. Today, we need to prepare students to occupy the prophetic margins of society. In a Christendom world the seminary needs only to produce pastors and teachers. However, in a post-Christendom world we need to produce the full range of Christian ministries: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. Orlando is a place which must nurture new church planting movements, evangelists who can reach a new generation, and prophets who can speak to this society and call it to biblical faithfulness and a vision for the rule and reign of God.
Third, Spanish-speaking degree programs: Spanish is now officially the most spoken language of world-wide Christianity, surpassing English. The current census will probably identify that there are at least 40 million Hispanics/Latinos in the United States. Orlando is committed to offering fully accredited degree programs in Spanish. Currently we offer the LLSP (Latino-Latina Studies Program) a certificate degree which, in conjunction with a local university enables a student to receive advanced standing towards their bachelor’s degree. However, we are committed to developing a full-scale Spanish degree program.
Fourth, global networking: The Florida campus will be an integral part of our global networking. Asbury is committed to developing partnerships in theological education around the world. This will enable professors in the majority world to come to Asbury in intensive sessions for lecturing and in turn, we will be sending students to study and learn in a cross-cultural context. A relationship with Latin America will be key for the Florida campus since we are slowly building a fully bi-lingual faculty on the Orlando campus.
- We must engage every student at ATS in a cross-cultural setting before they graduate, so that they will better understand how to live and work in a global context.
- We must enable more faculty to teach, learn and interact with the global church, and bring faculty from seminaries around the world to our campuses for short-term intensives so our students can be exposed to a global perspective in all their training.
- We must embrace a curriculum which is deeply rooted in classical training, but also nimble and adaptable to contemporary needs and contextual challenges.
- ATS, on all campuses, must become more diverse and reflective of both global Christianity as well as the emerging demographics in North America.
Fifth, a pilgrim “go and teach” rather than a “come and learn” mode: Orlando must model what it means to move from a “come and learn” model to a “go and teach” model which is less static and more peripatetic and itinerant. Part of the DNA of Methodism is our mobility, and today we need to deploy our teachers in churches and bring education to where the students are, rather than uproot students from their natural context and train them in an alien environment. The Florida campus will show the larger church how to build commuter-based communities using the pilgrim model of theological education. The Florida campus must continue to focus on creative scheduling options to accommodate people who are already employed or already in the church.
However, we must also move beyond mere creative scheduling and model what is possible through a real contextually-based degree program. Bringing the Seminary outside the walls of an institution and into the streets, knowing that if we go to where the pain and suffering is greatest, there we will find The Crucified One. It is in Orlando that we will teach our students not merely to come and pack their bags of learning for a ministry which is on the horizon, but come and learn to do ministry now with us, side by side in the true spirit of discipleship.
We are looking for a leader in Orlando who can champion this vision and in collaboration with the President and the cabinet, help us implement changes in a creative and effective way.
FACTS
Asbury Theological Seminary’s annual operating budget is just under $20 million of which unrestricted gifts have contributed 7-10% annually. Expectations are that with the new leadership in the Advancement Department, the annual unrestricted giving will increase to 15-20% of the budget. Asbury has an endowment of about $130 Million with most of the funds committed to specific programs within the seminary. Approximately $2 million of the operating budget is specifically for the Asbury Florida campus.
Asbury is one of the top 10 largest seminaries in the world with 9,000 alumni serving in 22 times zones and over 130 countries around the world. There are 33 committed board members, 66 learned faculty, 130 dedicated staff, 9,000 well trained alumni, and 4,500 faithful donors who serve and support the mission of Asbury Seminary. Currently there are over 1,600 students enrolled and taking classes between the traditional campus in Wilmore, Kentucky, the commuter campus in Orlando, Florida and the on-line campus. Some demographics of the total seminary student population:
- 16% of the students are enrolled in doctoral programs and most of the others are in a master degree program.
- Two-thirds of the students are male and one-third female.
- Students come from 48 states and 29 countries.
- The top ten denominations of the 94 represented are in order: United Methodist, Non-denominational, Wesleyan Methodist, Nazarene, Free Methodist, AME, Korean Methodist, Southern Baptist, CMA and Baptist.
- By age, 35% of the students are in their 20’s, 25% in their 30’s, 21% in their 40’s and 19% 50+.
- By ethnicity, 5% are African-American, 2% Asian-American, 2% Hispanic-American, 10% international and the balance Caucasian-American.
The Florida Dunnam Campus is located on 20 acres of land at 8401 Valencia College Lane which is the intersection of Highway 417 and Valencia College Lane in the northeastern part of Orlando and approximately eight miles from the Orlando International Airport. The physical facility consists of one building with approximately 40,000 square feet of space that includes eight classrooms, a library, a student center, two distance learning centers, a conference room, faculty and administrative offices, a prayer chapel and a welcome center. Some demographics of the Florida Dunnam Campus student population:
- 46% are full-time students (9 credits or more per semester), and 54% are part-time.
- 60% male and 40% female students.
- 76% students are Caucasian; 15% are African-American, 8% Hispanic-American, 3% “other” (international students are actually included in one of these categories).
- 292 are presently registered students and 455 are occasional students.
- Three Master degree programs, one Doctorate and two other programs are available through the Florida campus.
- About 30% of the students are from the greater Orlando area, 45% from other parts of Florida, and 14% from Georgia.
HISTORY
Over eighty years ago the founder of Asbury Theological Seminary, H.C. Morrison, while serving as the President of Asbury University, felt the call of God to expand the vision to start a seminary. Even though friends counseled against it and he didn't know where money would come from or how many students would respond, in the spring of 1923, his burning concept came to a head and he went across the street from the University and started Asbury Theological Seminary. He felt that the greatest need of the time was a well-trained, Spirit-filled evangelistic ministry to go forth into the world and preach Christ. He wrote, "I am hoping to be able to preach the gospel if He should extend my life, for some years yet, but it occurs to me that if the Lord has raised me up for a purpose, that purpose is to build up and enlarge the scope of Asbury Theological Seminary. As never before, I hope to devote such energy as God may give me, to this great work.”
In 1940, the Seminary separated from the university in order to satisfy accreditation requirements. Because of the geographical proximity of the two schools, similar in name, and a common theological heritage, many people confused the relationship between the University and Seminary. While they are separate institutions, the schools maintain a collegial relationship which benefits both communities.
The years between Asbury's establishment and today are rich with stories of God's provision and guidance as the Seminary has continued to grow and prosper. Only eight men have held the title of President since Asbury's inception. Each has proven to be a man of God and a strong leader suited for the time and life of the seminary during which they were appointed.
ORGANIZATION
The governing Board of Trustees, made up of clergy and business leaders from the United Methodist, the Wesleyan and the Free Methodist denominations, has 35 committed Christian members who love Asbury and volunteer their work, wealth and wisdom to help Asbury achieve her mission.
On February 17, 2009 Asbury Seminary elected Dr. Timothy Tennent as their eighth President. He began his duties on July 1, 2009. He is an ordained United Methodist minister and before coming to Asbury, he was a professor of World Christianity and Director of Missions at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Boston, Massachusetts for 11 years. He is an excellent preacher, a scholar, and an author, yet also humble and gracious and values effective leadership.
The President’s leadership team is made up of six Vice Presidents: Advancement, Provost/Academic Affairs, Finance and Administration, Community Life, Enrollment Management and Student Services, and Florida campus.
There is also a Strategic Planning Council made up of three board members, three faculty members and the President and the Cabinet (the Vice Presidents.)
MISSION
In 2009, the Asbury community went through an extensive one year project of reviewing and rewriting its mission statement. It is the Board's responsibility to shepherd the mission of Asbury Seminary, and the President's job to have a vision to help fulfill the mission. Below is the new Mission Statement:
"Asbury Theological Seminary is a community called to prepare theologically educated, sanctified, Spirit-filled men and women to evangelize and to spread scriptural holiness throughout the world through the love of Jesus Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit and to the glory of God the Father."
THE POSITION
The Vice President of the Florida Campus of Asbury Theological Seminary (VP- Florida) is one of the Seminary's senior administrators and reports directly to the President. The VP-Florida serves as a member of the President’s Cabinet, the Seminary Strategic Planning Council, and the Florida Management Team, and relates to the Florida Advisory Council.
Because of the extra-ordinary leadership requirements of a Seminary with more than one geophysical location, the VP-Florida is expected to provide executive leadership for the Florida Campus and work collaboratively with all Vice-Presidents on the President’s Cabinet to plan and carry out the initiatives of the President and goals approved by the Board of Trustees.
The VP-Florida is the Chair of the Florida Management Team (FMT) and has oversight over the Florida Campus. The following Florida Directors/Dean report directly to the VP-Florida and serve on the FMT: Director of Enrollment Management and Student Services, Director of Advancement and Communications, Director of Community Life, Director of Finance and Operations, and Dean of the School of Urban Ministries (LLSP and Mentored Ministry will report to the Dean of SUM). The VP- Florida will lead the FMT in providing efficient services designed to meet the needs of administrators, faculty, staff, students, and the Florida Campus community at large. General responsibilities include administrative leadership, strategic planning, staff supervision, and public relations. The VP-Florida administrative portfolio is notably diverse and includes the following functional areas for the Florida Campus: academics, advancement, finances, communications, student services, human resources, information commons, physical facilities, and guest services. The VP-Florida is responsible for all strategic initiatives and maintaining the Mission Statement, Ethos Statement, and Doctrinal Statement of Asbury Theological Seminary on the Florida Campus.
ESSENTIAL EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS
The VP- Florida is responsible for the following tasks:
- Advises the President on all matters related to the Florida Campus of Asbury Theological Seminary and assists the President in developing long range objectives for academic degree programs, certificate programs, the LLSP, administrative staff, facility improvements and additions, and the maintenance of all existing physical and technical facilities.
- Participates in the Seminary Planning Council and provides advice on long-range plans, new programs/strategies and existing programs, as well as the priority of institutional practices, and provides strategic information on trends that may affect the future of the Florida Campus.
- Participates in the President’s Cabinet and works collaboratively with all Vice-Presidents in fulfilling the initiatives of the President and the goals approved by the Board of Trustees.
- Relates to Board of Trustees appointed teams that have responsibilities for the Florida Campus.
- Chairs the Florida Management Team (FMT) and provides leadership, management and supervision that ensures the fulfillment of all strategic initiatives and operational functions, and develops and fosters effective collaboration between all Directors and the Dean on the FMT. The VP-Florida leads the FMT in working together effectively within the Seminary’s decision making and organizational structures.
- Reviews and maintains the accuracy of all reports to the President, the President’s Cabinet, and the Board of Trustees on all matters related to the Florida Campus.
- Prepares an annual evaluation of all financial, academic, and operational programs for the President that includes recommended changes or modifications that enhance and improve programs for the future.
- Annually evaluates the performance of all staff on the Florida Campus and recommends to the President staff persons who should receive promotions or other recognition for outstanding service to the Seminary and/or staff changes that need to be made to enhance the work and effectiveness of the Departments.
- Represents the Seminary and the President to the external community and serves as the primary liaison in all matters that involve contractual services for the Florida Campus.
- Performs other duties, as assigned by the President.
ESSENTIAL TEAM FUNCTIONS
The VP-Florida must develop and maintain a collaborative system of team work that enables the Directors/Dean on the Florida Campus to work in cooperation with all Directors, Deans and Vice-Presidents of the Seminary who carry mutual responsibilities in the Seminary administration and faculty. The VP-Florida:
- Works with the VP-Finance/Administration and the Florida Director of Finance and Operations to develop and implement the business and financial services necessary to support the mission of the Seminary on the Florida Campus, the procedures that provide safe and secure handling of all Seminary funds on the Florida Campus, and the safe and confidential storage of all Seminary legal and financial documents and computer back-up records for the Florida Campus. This team works to maintain operating expenses within the budget as approved by the Board of Trustees, and ensures that all Florida financial obligations are communicated to the VP- Finance on a timely basis.
- Works with the VP-Provost and the Dean of the School of Urban Ministries located on the Florida Campus on all matters involving academic degree programs and faculty, maintains appropriate and regular communication with faculty, staff, administrations, and student leaders regarding academic programs on the Florida Campus, ensures that all accreditation standards are met, and that the doctrinal standards of the Seminary are maintained. The team is responsible for the annual Florida Campus educational outcomes assessments and ensures that the bookstore serves the needs of the students and faculty and that all learning resources are available as needed on-time for each semester. The team ensures that all search committees for new members of the Florida Campus faculty include member(s) from the same disciplines from the Kentucky Campus and the searches are carried out in accordance with the institutional approves process. Search Committees may also include a faculty member from the same discipline who teaches on the ExL campus.
- Works with the VP-Enrollment Management and Student Services and the Florida Director of Enrollment Management and Student Services to provide excellent services from recruitment, admissions, enrollment, financial aid and other services for students on the Florida Campus. This team works to ensure that all student services on the Florida Campus, from initial inquiry to graduation, are handled in an effective and efficient manner, and that appropriate plans are followed to meet the enrollment goals for the Florida Campus.
- Works with the VP-Community Life and the Florida Director of Community Life on all matters involving the shaping of a learning and formation environment rich with hospitality (belonging) and resources for the formation / transformation of students and the faculty-staff community on campus.
- Works with the VP-Advancement and Communications and the Florida Director of Advancement and Communications on all matters involving fund raising, alumni relations, and communications for the Florida Campus. This team works with the Florida Advisory Council to develop donor support and partnership with local churches throughout Florida and the surrounding states.
- Works with the VP-Finance and the Florida Director of Finance and Operations to enhance, implement, and enforce policies and procedures of the Seminary, regulatory compliance, risk management, and governmental affairs by way of systems that will improve the overall operation and effectiveness of the Florida Campus. This team continuously works to enhance cost effectiveness on the Florida Campus and develops standards of excellence for each plan year that ensures that all Seminary functions have appropriate facilities that maintain security, safety, well maintained and attractive grounds and buildings. The team works to ensure that the highest quality services are provided for guests on the Florida Campus.
KEY LEADERSHIP STANDARDS FOR THE VP-FLORIDA
- Servant Leadership: The VP-Florida demonstrates a commitment to serve the Lord Jesus Christ through serving others. Jesus said, “I came not to be served, but to serve . . .” and it is through heartfelt service that leadership is most effectively given. Through personal example, the VP-Florida participates in the leadership of the Seminary community with a willingness to serve that encourages all others on the Florida staff and faculty to maintain the same servant leadership desire.
- Administrative Leadership: The VP-Florida maintains administrative standards that are consistent with the mission and vision of the Seminary and models a style of leadership that is considerate and caring. The VP-Florida represents the President and extends the leadership of the President in all facets of the Florida Campus and the community at large.
- Strategic Leadership: The VP-Florida provides leadership for strategic initiatives and recommends to the President annual and long-range plans for the Florida Campus, and reports any variances from the approved annual goals in a manner that allows the President and/or the Trustees time to take corrective actions.
- Collaborative Leadership: The VP-Florida coordinates and participates on teams of leaders who share responsibilities for all functions of the Seminary on the Florida Campus. It is essential for all Vice-Presidents of the Seminary with leadership responsibilities for the fulfillment of the mission of the Seminary to have direct involvement with the VP-Florida and Directors/Dean of the Florida Campus who are charged with the fulfillment of the mission of the Seminary through the Florida Campus.
PRE-REQUISITES
- Personal Faith: The VP-FLORIDA must have a personal faith in and commitment to Jesus Christ as the Lord of life and Savior of the world. He/she must demonstrate in his/her personal and professional life a deep and genuine spiritual life, a life of service and worship in and through a local church, an affirmation of the Seminary’s Mission Statement, Ethos Statement, and Doctrinal Statement, a heart for the mission of the Seminary and a sense of God’s calling to serve Asbury Theological Seminary. The life-style of this person must be consistent with the teaching of Holy Scripture and the Seminary’s Ethos Statement, and demonstrates the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit through the fruit of the Spirit and gifts for service to the glory of God the Father.
- Professional Experience: The VP–Florida must have demonstrated management and leadership experience in either a for-profit business/corporation or a non-profit higher education institution with experience in budget management, personnel management, strategic planning, and facility management. He/she must have the communication skills necessary to ensure the success of the Seminary fiscal and operational affairs. He/she must have experience managing a complex operation, directing and prioritizing the activities of a professional staff, demonstrated proficiency in dealing with issues related to operational activities; the capacity to conceptualize and oversee the implementation of both long-and short-term programs, and the presence to represent the Seminary and the President in various venues.
- Academic Credentials: An earned PhD degree is preferred with a master’s degree in theology or ministry. Equivalent leadership experience in theological education and management in a complex organization or institution will be considered.
- Leadership Style and Skills: The following words have been used to describe the personal leadership style and skills of a successful VP- Florida: communicator, visionary, servant-leader, mentor, overseer, administrator, team builder, and entrepreneur. It would be beneficial if he/she had an understanding of information technology, the ability to assess and improve systems and processes to further fiscal and operation goals, the interpersonal and communication skills to enable her or him to strengthen and lead the staff, and the skills to conceptualize and execute a business plan that reflects Asbury’s history, traditions, and distinctiveness. He/she must be able to relate well to leaders of business, civic, social, religious, and governmental organizations.
- Residency: The office of the VP-Florida will be located on the Florida- Campus of Asbury Theological Seminary in Orlando, Florida, and he/she and his/her family must be willing to live in the Orlando area.
Other personal or leadership characteristics of the right person will likely be:
- A well formed understanding of the academic world and the unique and indispensable role that theological education plays in the mission of the church.
- A sense of “call” to this position.
- A team player; one will serve the best interests of the Florida Campus in combination with the best interests of Asbury Seminary as a whole.
- An unqualified commitment to the Seminary’s vision of leading the way in shaping and developing church leaders for the Church and Academy who are equipped with innovative leadership skills and well-grounded in Wesleyan tradition, yet continuing to shape that vision over time for increasing effectiveness and relevancy for a world-wide influence.
- A love and commitment to students and for the ministry of local churches.
- An unquestioned integrity and uncompromising courage.
- A proven track record as an effective organizational leader.
- A willingness to take on tough tasks or to make decisions that may not be well received; willing to challenge the status quo, encouraging creativity and innovation.
- A strategic thinker and a visionary.
- A faith that “spills over” to others in the Wesleyan faith, and beyond to the broader evangelical and Christian worlds.
- A passion for people to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior; knowing that a strong prayer life is foundational to one’s spiritual walk, and is an example and sponsor of such.
- A Christian character that models family relationships.
- Ability to become an effective fund-raiser (“friend”-raiser), readily sharing the vision and opportunities for investing in the seminary’s programs through networking and relationships.
- A willingness to make a long term commitment to the Seminary (five+ years, subject to satisfactory performance and at the discretion of the Seminary).
- An openness to travel some (perhaps 20%).
The desired qualifications for the position include:
- Some academic administrative and/or graduate teaching experience.
- A bridge builder, one that creates an atmosphere of trust; willingly facing conflict when needed and adept at finding win-win solutions.
- An ability to develop warm, winsome relations with all constituencies from donors, to board members, faculty, administrators, staff, and students.
- An understanding of organizational structure that effectively functions relationally and operationally, while having the acumen for running the organization.
- A balance of both theological education and ministry, easily conveying the values of both to faculty and ministers.
- A sensitivity and understanding of what others are feeling and experiencing, giving leadership and empathy into those situations, i.e., what students and their families feel during transition to, during and from seminary, how organizational, budget or program changes are felt by those effected, etc.
- An intuition to put the right person in the right position and ability to deal sensitively without delay in moving someone out of an ineffective position.
- A high level of confidence, being both humble and strong.
- A collaborative leadership style working with others-seen by subordinates as the chief among equals.
- A transparency in living an exemplary life, knowing when to keep a confidence; meeting the qualifications for being an elder in the church.
- A command of the budgeting process and how it is best used in an academic institution to provide resources, control costs, properly motivate and yet hold people accountable.
- A personal charisma; when casting the vision or an idea, it should have an effect of “contagious enthusiasm.”
- An evangelist, one who is a “soul winner,” or at least the Vice President must be ready to “share the hope that is within” as opportunity arises.
- A respect of cross-cultural and ethnic differences and a personal understanding of cross-cultural ministry; holding a world perspective.
- A familiarity with graduate programs and the accreditation process.
- A good philosophy on education, being comfortable in the learning environment and understanding that the emphasis needs to move from education to learning (from the teacher’s perspective to that of the students’). Some familiarity of where education is today and where it’s going, how that effects what the seminary should be doing.
- A high value of scholarship, balancing the academic and practical, the innovative and the culturally relevant.
- An effective educator…educating the faculty, administrators, staff, students, donors and networks.
- A compelling and interesting communicator in large and small groups and with individuals.
- A “world” Christian (understanding missions, culture and politics in other parts of the world).
- A commitment to diversity and inclusiveness in faculty, students and staff.
- Effective people leadership skills (developing esprit de corps; being a good team leader, open, and transparent).
- The ability to multi-task.
- A progressive and learning nature, embracing the potential of technology.
- A strong work ethic, balanced with the needs of a spiritual walk, family, and personal relaxation.
- A good steward, giving at least a tithe to the Lord.
- An entrepreneur; knowing how to develop something then make it work.
- A commitment to accountability, for self and others.
- A gracious spirit, comfortable in all settings, and given to hospitality.
While it might seem that we seek someone who “walks on water,” this document is a guide. Except in spiritual or theological areas, there is some flexibility in the qualities to be considered. The Search Committee will remain open to the leading of the Holy Spirit as prospective candidates are revealed and considered.
WHERE IS THIS PERSON LIKELY TO BE TODAY?
This person might be in Christian or secular education, or in another ministry, or in the business world. The right person might be working outside the United States or perhaps over branch campuses or a Dean or Administrator for another institution in higher education. There is a wide variety of possibilities.
There must be some experience and/or interest in higher education, and preferably theological education. The person must have had some significant leadership experience.
This position will require high energy and motivation.
The right person for this position will identify strongly with reaching the lost with the salvation message, preparing students for ministry and leadership, the Wesleyan tradition, and using his or her own talents to the maximum for the Lord.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
The compensation for the Vice President of the Florida Campus will be appropriate for similar levels of responsibility matched with the candidate’s proven success and experience. Asbury Seminary has a competitive employee benefits package.
THE SEARCH AND SELECTION PROCESS
The Search Committee will recommend to the President the top candidates and Dr. Tennent will make the decision.
Assisting in the search is Bruce Dingman, President of The Dingman Company, Inc., (www.dingman.com), an executive search firm which has a successful track record of numerous similar searches. He is the contact person for candidates or to suggest a possible candidate. |
