FROM THE DESK OF Dr. David Barker
Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs & Academic Dean —Seminary
“Pursuing God with passion and excellence.” This has been, and continues to be, the driving principle of Heritage College & Seminary. As we look forward to the 2011-2012 school year we are anticipating with great excitement new and returning students who we can point one more time in the direction of the pursuit of God and His mission in the world, with passion and excellence, as we have done for so many years here at Heritage.
In December 2010 I resigned as the W.H. MacBain Professor of Pastoral Studies. I had served as a core faculty member here for 32 years. It was a difficult and painful decision to leave and become the Associate Pastor of Benton Street Baptist Church, Kitchener, a role in which I had been serving part time for the previous year and a half. I continued to serve as an adjunct professor at Heritage for the 2011 winter semester.
Much to my surprise, Benton’s surprise (and dismay, but affirmation), and Heritage’s surprise, God had a different plan and the position of Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs, and Academic Dean—Seminary, was offered to me. After significant soul searching, prayer, counsel, and the affirmation of my pastor and elders board, Lorraine and I decided that I should accept the position. So, six months after packing up all my books I packed them all up again!
A crucial factor in my decision to return was that I celebrate and am enthusiastically committed to FEB Central’s role in our school. I am also deeply committed to sharpening our focus on what has been the core of the mission of Heritage from the beginning (going back to London and Central days), namely the training of pastors (all types and kinds), missionaries (in the broad spectrum of that part of the cause of Christ), and workers for the church, both vocational and non-vocational. I see our school as a strategic partner for FEB Central churches and other like-minded churches and parachurch organizations, in helping them prepare pastors, church leaders, missionaries, and church workers. We have a clearly identifiable niche theologically and missionally, and I believe we are in a position to serve them well.
We have experienced some core faculty and staff losses over the last few months. These have been extremely painful for everyone involved, and in one way or another revolve around the new Identity Statement (posted on our website), and perhaps to a lesser degree the sharpened, focused direction we have taken. We wish all the best to Dr. Mark Boughan (Academic Dean—College), Mr. Mark Walther (Dean of Student Services), Dr. Cheryl Clayworth Belch (Director of Church Ministry and Human Services Studies), Dr. Paul Wilson (Director of General Education Studies), Dr. Kelvin Mutter (Associate Professor of Counselling and Chaplaincy Studies), and Mrs. Loretta Walther (Marketing Team Assistant, College Admissions Coordinator, and Ministry Team Coordinator). They will be greatly missed. We are very grateful for the significant impact they have had in the lives of students over the years, as well as their overall contribution to Heritage College & Seminary. Dr. Belch and Dr. Wilson will be helping us out with a couple of courses this Fall and we are thankful for that.
Dr. Barry Howson has stepped in as the Interim Academic Dean—College, and Mr. Tim Gibb as the Interim Dean of Student Services. Both are serving Heritage with excellence and energy. I am so thankful to be working closely with these two people. I also appreciate the leadership of Mr. Dave Switzer, who is serving as our Executive Administrator. His wisdom and grace have permeated the ethos of Heritage these days. We have undergone – and are continuing to undergo – some massive physical changes, both interior and exterior. It has been a busy, noisy, and dusty summer but the end result is amazing. I hope you can visit the campus soon and see the beautiful work that has been done here. I appreciate our resident faculty and staff who have put up with moving offices – sometimes several times – and the general inconvenience of renovations and upgrading. They have been flexible and cooperative, and have demonstrated well who we are as a college and seminary.
A little over a week ago I hosted all of this year’s student leaders at my home for a bbq and social time. What a special evening that was. I am so impressed with the depth and quality of the young men and women who are serving this year. These students, and so many others in our student body, exemplify what Heritage is about. What a joy and privilege it is to be part of their journey of faith and followership of Christ, even as it was to be part of yours in previous years.
While my decisions to both leave and return to Heritage were difficult ones, I am confident and excited about the present and future of Heritage. I am blessed to be in the position I am in, but am also terrified! We have many challenges to overcome, but with the wonderful group of people that make this place go, the power and presence of God’s Spirit, and the wisdom and vision of our Board and FEB Central, I look forward to the future with courage, hope, optimism and confidence.
As part of my new role, I will have the opportunity to develop a deeper relationship with our partners by visiting their churches to preach, meet with their leaders, their pastors, C&C classes, high school classes, or others that they think I can encourage and support. If you or your church would like me to visit please e-mail
ministryteam@heritage-theo.edu .
Thank you for your continued support through prayer, financial support, faithful representation of your alma mater, and sending students our way. God bless you all.
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