A Report to the Community from the Board of Trustees
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
The Board of Trustees of Asbury Theological Seminary meeting in Executive Session with consultant Dr. Curt Bechler in Atlanta, Georgia on January 31 – February 1, 2007 makes this statement for all who love Asbury and prayed for us before and as we met:
• We strongly affirm the historic mission of Asbury Theological Seminary “to prepare and send forth a well-trained, sanctified, Spirit-filled, evangelistic ministry” to spread scriptural holiness throughout the world.
• We affirm and support the leadership of Dr. Ellsworth Kalas, President.
• In all matters relating to Asbury, the Board will seek God’s will, presence, and guidance.
• The Board of Trustees recognizes that certain systemic problems have been identified that we must confess and own. We covenant to address these problems and other issues in upcoming months so that we can move forward with integrity, forgiveness, reconciliation, and Christian love.
• A Board Task Force has been formed to determine next steps in a process that reviews vision, values, strategies and long term institutional priorities of Asbury Theological Seminary. This process will include an ongoing dialogue with all stakeholders so that we can move forward with a great sense of unity.
• Recognizing the seriousness of the current financial situation, the Trustees empower the President, in consultation with the Chairman of the Board, to create a governance task force to prepare a thorough plan to respond to the situation.
• In our future presidential search process, the Board of Trustees will seek assistance of a professional search firm in order to determine parameters, scope and direction. The expectation is that the search firm can be identified and recommended for approval by the Board at their May 2007 meeting.
• In order to facilitate increased understanding, reconciliation and mutual respect between the faculty and the Board, as well as establish groundwork for improved communication in the future, the Board has authorized the formation of a task force, consisting of appointees from the Academic Affairs Committee of the Board, the Faculty Senate, and others.
Our meeting in Atlanta ended with an extended time of prayer for our beloved Asbury, her students, staff, faculty, administration, and President and for ourselves as Trustees. As we continue to pray for you, we covet your prayers for us that God will give us wisdom as we seek to faithfully serve Him through our work as Trustees of this great institution.