David Clark Named Vice President and Dean of Bethel Seminary

The Bethel University Board of Trustees has unanimously named David K. Clark to be the vice president and dean of Bethel Seminary. Clark has served Bethel University as executive vice president and provost since 2009, but added leadership of the seminary during the last 18 months after the resignation of the seminary dean. Clark will continue in both roles until the end of December and then begin serving exclusively at the seminary on January 1. An installation service at the seminary will occur early in 2013.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to move into this leadership position at Bethel Seminary,” says Clark. “The seminary has amazing strengths. Working with the church, the seminary will build on its legacy of service to the kingdom and innovation in theological education.”

Clark will lead the 1,100-student seminary, which operates in St. Paul; San Diego; Auburn, Mass.; and Washington, D.C.

“The seminary is crucial both to Bethel’s identity and to the future of the church,” says Bethel University President Jay Barnes. “David has demonstrated skills in his years as provost that are critically needed at the seminary. So I am thankful that he has accepted my invitation to take on this role. His vision and passion for the seminary, and his ability to communicate Bethel’s mission, will serve him well as the leader of the seminary.”

Clark began teaching at Bethel Seminary in 1988 and served as dean of the Center for Biblical and Theological Foundations from 1995 to 2003. In 2004 he became senior pastor of Faith Covenant Church in Burnsville, Minn. During his four years as pastor he continued as lead faculty for the seminary’s Master of Arts in Christian Thought program. In 2008 he returned to Bethel Seminary full time as professor of theology and in 2009 was named executive vice president and provost of Bethel University. Clark earned a bachelor’s degree in religion, with a minor in philosophy, from Houghton College, Houghton, N.Y. He completed a master of arts, majoring in philosophy of religion, at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, Ill., and a doctorate in religious and theological studies from Northwestern University and Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, Evanston, Ill. He is widely recognized as a theologian through sole or co-authorship of 10 books and many articles or book chapters, and has presented dozens of professional papers at regional and national meetings.

“There are many reasons why I am passionate about taking on this leadership role at the seminary,” says Clark. “Chief among them is the urgent need for Bethel Seminary to do its part in fulfilling Bethel’s mission: preparing whole and holy leaders to serve and lead in Jesus’ name. Bethel, the church, and the world need Bethel Seminary to be at its best. With strong support from the Board of Trustees and strong alliances with partner churches, ministry agencies, and Converge Worldwide, we have the opportunity to create a new trajectory for Bethel Seminary.”