President

American Baptist Seminary of the West

Roles and Responsibilities

The president of ABSW exemplifies personal and professional integrity consistent with Christian values and embodies the ABSW mission statement. The president must be:

·  Prepared to minister in a multicultural and multiracial world

·  Rooted in evangelical heritage and traditions

·  Equipped for ecumenical partnership in ministry

·  Informed theologically and biblically

·  Skilled in the practice of ministry for personal, ecclesial, and social transformation

·  Committed to the justice demands of the Gospel.

The president is an articulate advocate of the ABSW mission and vision and effectively negotiates the complex challenges related to the seminary’s vision of theological education and its commitment to being a racially and culturally diverse community, while maintaining a commitment to the justice demands of the Gospel.

The president provides financial and institutional leadership in the continuation/revitalization of ABSW’s historically significant partnerships with American Baptists and Progressive National Baptists, while developing new partnerships with denominations, congregations, institutions and donors. Special attention needs to be given to financial planning and fund development.

The president works strategically with the GTU to fulfill long-range goals and implement needed transitions in our commitment to being a significant partner in this ecumenical consortium.

The president encourages leadership in creating new programs, both academic and non-academic, which fulfill and expand the mission of the seminary with particular attention given to student enrollment.

The president provides administrative and spiritual leadership for continuation and expansion of ABSW’s commitment to developing a multiracial and multicultural educational community that provides training for leaders who are both pastoral and prophetic.

The president provides leadership for the development and maintenance of a diverse, competent, and innovative faculty, staff, and student body.

General Responsibilities:

The president serves as the chief executive officer of the seminary. The president participates in the formalization and implementation of major operating policies and maintains and nurtures important contacts with the public, church constituencies, interdenominational agencies and educational organizations. The president oversees the financial and program development of the seminary. The president is responsible for directing the implementation of the strategic plan and for leading the institutional planning process. The president is the spiritual leader of the seminary – its students, staff, and faculty. The president participates in the life of Graduate Theological Union through service as a trustee and through membership on the Council of Presidents.

The president reports to the Board of Trustees.