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elationships with many friends of the seminary.LSTC cannot carry out its mission withoutaccreditation from the Association of TheologicalSchools in the United States and Canada and theNorth Central Association of Colleges and Schools,The Higher Learning Commission. President Echolsalso shepherded a major institutional self-study andaccreditation visit in 2006-2007 that resulted in there-accreditation of LSTC for a ten-year period. Hischoice and encouragement of the director of theself-study, his support of faculty and administrativecolleagues preparing written documents and his correspondencewith the accreditation agencies wereinvaluable and skillfully promoted the academicintegrity of the seminary.Donna Skinner Echols and James Kenneth Echols, November 2010the seminary’s development efforts. He was especiallyinvolved in nurturing relationships with presentand potential major donors. Together with the colleaguesin the Advancement Office and professionalconsultants he also helped plan and administer amajor and successful campaign, Equipping the Saintsfor Ministry. In all of these efforts he representedLSTC with dignity and grace and fostered crucialPaul Knutson, facility operations manager and a leader on the faculty/staffbasketball team, lifts up The Presidential Shoe award as he pays tribute to Dr.Echols at the September 21, 2011, farewell luncheon.“In a great city…”President Echols’ communications and reports oftenconcluded with the phrase: “In a great city, a greatChristian tradition deserves a great seminary!” Hebelieved these words, not with a sense of pride, butwith a deep commitment to serve the church andthe world as effectively and diligently as possible.We are deeply grateful for his faithful ministry onbehalf of LSTC and the whole church, and we givethanks to God for blessing us with the gift of JamesKenneth Echols.LSTC wishes James Kenneth EcholsGodspeedOn September 21 the LSTC community celebratedthe Rev. Dr. James Kenneth Echols’ 14 years of leadershipand ministry as the seminary’s president. TheRev. Dr. Richard Perry preached and Dean and VicePresident for Academic Affairs Michael Shelley presidedat the worship service packed with students,alumni and guests. Mrs. Donna Skinner Echols andJennifer Echols accompanied Dr. Echols to the celebration.Art Gustafson, a member of the LSTC Board ofDirectors and a longtime friend of the Echols family,expressed the board’s gratitude for Dr. Echols’ service.At a community lunch following worship, representativesfrom the faculty, students, alumni, andstaff lifted up his many accomplishments as presidentof LSTC and thanked him for his leadership.On November 11, the wider community of alumni,donors, churchwide and academic colleagues,and area clergy will have an opportunity to wish Dr.Echols godspeed at a celebration hosted at LSTC bythe Board of Directors.13