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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Changing Leaders
Institutions are partly shaped by their leaders. I
know from my work with congregations that each
pastor had an effect on the character of the congregation
he or she served. That’s one reason why the
mission of LSTC in theological education and professional
preparation is important.
LSTC has been impacted by each of the people
who has served as president. Right now, we are
in transition. My role has been to bridge the time
between President James Kenneth Echols and
President James Nieman. President Echols brought
many gifts of leadership to LSTC. His gifts were academic,
pastoral, and administrative. His 14 years of
leadership impacted LSTC greatly.
President Nieman will bring academic, pastoral,
and administrative gifts to LSTC as well. President
Echols is a church historian; President Nieman is
a homiletician. Which is better I think most of
us would agree that it would be a waste of time to
argue the superiority of church history as opposed
to homiletics. They are different, but not necessarily
“better” or “worse.”
Likewise, presidents all have different pastoral
and administrative gifts and styles. They don’t all
have to be evaluated. In fact, aside from a small
committee of the Board of Directors, none of us
have been charged with evaluating the president of
LSTC. A lot of us have roles in which we are called
to be supportive and encouraging.
New leadership usually is helped far more by
acceptance, support, and encouragement than it is
by unofficial evaluation. New leadership will bring
gifts that differ but which don’t always have to be
compared evaluatively with the gifts of predecessors.
Institutions don’t change quickly or easily.
People within institutions need to open themselves
to change when a new leader is called. At LSTC,
administration, faculty, staff, students, board members,
alumni/ae, donors, and church leaders will all
be affected by the arrival of a new president. Each
individual will be touched by a new leader with different
ways of leading. Each individual will support
or resist the new leadership in his or her own way.
Dr. James Nieman is accepting a call to one of
the most challenging positions in the church today.
Because of his considerable gifts, his experience, and
his outstanding initial presentation to our community,
we are enthusiastic and optimistic about his
leadership. But no leader can meet the challenges
facing LSTC on his or her own. We will all need to
Interim President Philip Hougen and President-elect James Nieman at the May 14
Distinguished Service Award Dinner
cooperate and collaborate with President Nieman if
he and LSTC are to thrive together.
I ask you to pledge your prayers, support, and commitment
to serve God’s mission for LSTC. Pray that
God’s will would be done and that President Nieman
will be strengthened. Support the mission of LSTC
with your gifts of money and time, and support
President Nieman as he leads us into the future. We
are committed to LSTC’s thriving future and helping
to make that happen in partnership with President
Nieman.
Navigating leadership changes in an institution
is not just a challenge for the leader; it is a challenge
for all who are affected. I am confident that LSTC
is ready to meet the challenges. I am certain that
President Nieman will lead effectively. I thank God
for the gifts he is bringing as our new leader.
Interim President Philip L. Hougen
June 2012