David Clark Recommended for University Provost

May 19, 2009

President Jay Barnes is recommending to the Board of Trustees that David K. Clark, professor of theology at Bethel Seminary, be appointed as executive vice president and provost of Bethel University.

“David has a deep commitment to whole person education that focuses on intellectual, theological, character, relational, and spiritual development—a distinctive of Christian higher education and a true differentiator of a Bethel education in the higher education arena,” comments President Jay Barnes. “The Provost Search Committee was seeking a leader strongly committed to preparing men and women for lives of scholarship, service, leadership, and reconciliation in the church and society. David’s passion for the holistic education that is characteristic of Bethel is just one of the reasons why he is an excellent appointment for the position of university provost.”

The Provost Search Advisory Committee has guided the search for this position. The group narrowed the search from 25 inquirers and nominees to a pool of seven applicants. After interviewing several applicants, the committee decided on two finalists before recommending Clark for the position. The Board of Trustees will vote on the recommendation via email later this week. Given their approval, Clark will begin in this new role on July 1. He will need to be confirmed by delegates to the Bethel University Corporation at the biennial meeting in June 2010.

Biographical Information

Clark began teaching at Bethel Seminary in 1988, and in 2004 he became senior pastor of Faith Covenant Church in Burnsville, Minnesota. During the four years as a pastor he continued as lead faculty for the Master of Arts in Christian Thought program. In 2008, he returned to Bethel Seminary full time for a one-year appointment as professor of theology. From 1995-2003, Clark served as dean of the Center for Biblical and Theological Foundations.

Clark earned a B.A. in religion, with a minor in philosophy, from Houghton College (Houghton, N.Y.) in 1974. He completed a master of arts in philosophy of religion at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (Deerfield, Ill.) in 1976, and then began teaching at Toccoa Falls College in Georgia, which is affiliated with the Christian and Missionary Alliance. He completed a Ph.D. in religious and theological studies from Northwestern University and Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary (Evanston, Ill.) in 1982, while continuing to teach at Toccoa Falls.

Clark brings a unique perspective to Bethel and to this position. He is a widely published author or co-author of 10 books and 16 articles or book chapters, and recognized as a theologian with dozens of professional papers presented at regional and national meetings. Clark is well known for his ministry in churches, including his “Christians Gone Wild—Parts 1 and 2” series locally (Crossroads Church), “Wisdom for Life’s Journey” (Woodland Hills), “What I Learned About Leadership After Seminary” (Minnesota Church Expo),  and “RISK: Faith and Reason” (Flood Church, San Diego). He has been a frequent guest on the Don Shelby Show on WCCO radio, recently discussing President Obama’s  appearance at University of Notre Dame. Clark’s important foundational article on diversity at Bethel, “The Purpose of Theoretical Foundations,” appears at www.bethel.edu/about-bu/reconciliation/position/sociological.html.

Born in Tokyo to American missionary parents, Clark spent 18 years in Asia before coming to the United States. He has been married to Sandy (Bernlehr) Clark for 35 years and is the father of sons Tyler and Ryan, both graduates of Bethel University. He has served on the board of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and the Evangelical Philosophical Society. He is the recipient of the Faculty Excellence Award from Bethel Seminary, was the Distinguished Young Alumnus of the Year in 1985 at Houghton College, and received the Philosophy of Religion Award from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.