A Note from Dr. Dennis Edwards, Dean of the Seminary
Welcome to a new academic year at North Park Theological Seminary! I’m glad that you are part of our community and I look forward to what the Lord Jesus Christ will do in our life together as well as in your individual lives.
One new item related to our life together is the appointment of Dr. Hauna Ondrey as Dean of Faculty and also the Wilma Petersen Chair of History. Dr. Ondrey strengthened our NPTS community in her role as interim dean, and we are thrilled that she has agreed to take the role of dean of faculty for the next two years. Her outstanding organizational and relational skills demonstrate that she is the right person to lead our faculty at this time.
I’ve been part of organizations that tossed around words like community and family, yet they created obstacles that thwarted unity. They were exclusive, cliquish, and even elitist. Authentic communities, however, strive to build bonds of friendship, labor to tear down walls of hostility by identifying and denouncing injustice, and rally around the person and ministry of Jesus Christ who holds all things together—including our fellowship. At NPTS, we stress academic development as well as emotional intelligence. Being thoughtful and emotionally healthy people allows for meaningful relationships among North Parkers, and our seminary experience overlaps with our ministries elsewhere. This is to say that the good work we do here at the seminary carries over into whatever other community we might be or become part of.
The staff and faculty have adopted Ephesians 4:16 as a theme for us this academic year:
“From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”
We believe it is possible for an academic institution to consist of a loving community that encourages mutuality and interdependence. To that end, I urge you to not only apply your mind to your classes (which I know takes concerted effort), but to also engage positively with other students, with faculty, and with staff. Let’s pray for one another, for our school, our various churches, and for our world. Our polarized society needs what we are cultivating here at NPTS!
God bless you and I hope to share conversations, meals, prayers, times of worship, and other points of connection with you.
Rev. Dennis R. Edwards, PhD
Seminary Dean and VP of Church Relations