Denver Seminary Opportunity Profile

OPPORTUNITY PROFILE - PRESIDENT
LITTLETON, COLORADO
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GREETINGS
Dear Prospective Candidate,
Thank you for your interest in the position of president of Denver Seminary! We join you in a
posture of prayer and trust in God’s direction for your future and for the future of our esteemed
and beloved school.
Over our nearly 75-year history, Denver Seminary has offered an innovative and transformational
education rooted in a high view of Scripture. Our mission: to prepare men and women
to engage the needs of the world with the redemptive power of the gospel and the life-changing
truth of Scripture guides our efforts. Our values and faith essentials provide a firm foundation
for our strategic investments in God’s work in our world.
Denver Seminary is one of the largest and most respected nondenominational evangelical
seminaries in North America. The Seminary’s core commitment to engage the needs of the
world through “Biblical Authority” and “Charitable Orthodoxy” positions it in the center of
North American evangelicalism and creates a diverse learning community that values learning
from one another in our differences rather than separating from one another because of our
differences. Denver Seminary is well positioned to face the challenges that seminaries will face
in the years ahead.
The enclosed materials are presented to equip you with an understanding of Denver Seminary’s
unique offering as an institution of Christian higher learning, as well as who we are as a body
of believers passionate about participating in God’s redemptive plan. You will find the key qualities and characteristics we believe God is directing
us toward in the selection of our next leader. In addition to considering the profile here, please spend some time on our website to gain even more
perspective.
If you sense God leading you to offer your spiritual gifts, talents, and experience as a candidate for this position, we invite you to review the Process
of Candidacy section and follow the instructions provided. Your questions can be directed to Laura Coverstone or Ed Poff (both can be reached at
615-261-4623), the JobfitMatters consultants who are leading this search.
Thank you for considering Denver Seminary and the role of our ninth president. God has someone specific in mind for this vital role, and we are actively
seeking his leading in this selection!
Sincerely,
Elisa Morgan, Chair, Denver Seminary Board of Trustees
David Hazelton, Chair, Presidential Search Committee for Denver Seminary
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OVERVIEW
Founded in 1950, the Denver Seminary community is represented by over
35 denominations and is uniquely known for demonstrating steadfast
dedication to the unchanging foundations of biblical faith, a commitment
to charitable orthodoxy, and deep relationships formed among faculty and
students.
Denver Seminary offers fully accredited MDiv, MA, ThM, and DMin degrees,
as well as a PhD program and numerous specialized concentrations and
certificate options. Denver Seminary has campuses in Littleton, Colorado,
and Washington, D.C. Denver Seminary offers on-campus, online, and
blended course options to make exemplary theological studies available for
all students. All our offerings point to preparing men and women to engage
the needs of the world with the redemptive power of the gospel and the lifechanging
truth of Scripture.
Foundationally evangelical, Denver Seminary is a body of Christ-followers
guided by beliefs based on the inerrancy of Scripture and its authority as the
Word of God. Denver Seminary is committed to scholarly integrity and faith
formation. Through a unique Training and Mentoring Program, students are
challenged to grow in knowledge as well as in relationships and in practical
expressions of faith.
Denver Seminary’s beliefs are lived tangibly through the pursuit of faithfilled
scholarship, missional commitments, and the work of over 6,000
alumni who serve across the globe, meeting the needs of the world and
sharing the life-changing power of the gospel every day.
Dr. Mark Young, who has been our President for the past 15 years, has
provided visionary leadership. Transitioning into the role of Chancellor
under the authority of the next President, Dr. Young’s presence will provide
resources such as historical wisdom and fundraising support.
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OVERVIEW
Notable highlights of Dr. Young’s tenure include the creation of a new mission and vision
statement, along with a fresh articulation of the Seminary’s core commitments, which continue
to serve as guiding principles for the institution. Under Dr. Young’s leadership, the Seminary’s
endowment experienced unprecedented growth that facilitated the creation of a more
sustainable financial model for the Seminary moving into the future. Currently, the Seminary
has no long-term debt and has an endowment of over $40 million, placing the Seminary in a
strong position relative to many of its peers.
Denver Seminary is making it possible for programs to be available to more men and women
seeking theological training than ever before. Project Any is a commitment to provide any
degree, anywhere, any time to any qualified student. The goal is to make it possible for students
to complete all degree programs fully on campus and fully online. The Korean Global Program at
Denver Seminary offers fully online MA and MDiv degrees in Korean, tailored to the passionate
commitment of Korean Christians to global missions, expanding in 2019 to accommodate even
more Korean students.
Denver Seminary’s newest initiatives demonstrate its commitment to reaching a variety of new
students. The Asian Initiative, Hispanic Initiative, and Urban Initiative, for example, aim to
develop pastoral and lay leaders, provide opportunities for associate degrees in biblical studies,
and extend the educational resources at Denver Seminary to a variety of spaces. The Gospel
Initiative works to strengthen local churches and provide ministry leaders with resources to
engage the challenging issues of our day with compassion and credibility.
Denver Seminary’s next President will need to be a gifted and experienced leader to address
the growth opportunities that Denver Seminary enjoys. This person will carry on the
strong visionary leadership, continue pastoring and caring for Seminary supporters, and
fully embrace the Seminary’s core commitments. In addition, the next President of Denver
Seminary will shape, build up and lead the people, systems, and processes to ensure current
and future initiatives achieve their full potential both locally and globally for maximum impact.
Attracting and retaining the executive team, staff, and faculty, while equipping, motivating,
and empowering the organization through operational and mission-driven initiatives will be
essential.
We encourage you to learn more through this Opportunity Profile and the Denver Seminary
website at https://denverseminary.edu/.
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MISSION & VISION
MISSION
Denver Seminary prepares men and women to engage the needs of the world with the
redemptive power of the gospel and the life-changing truth of Scripture.
VISION
In our current Strategic Framework, we have identified the following vision statements.
In 2025, we see. . .
• . . . a Seminary whose voice plays a greater role in shaping the identity and future of
evangelicalism.
• . . . a Seminary providing relevant, transformative theological education for a broader
spectrum of God’s people.
• . . . a Seminary more profoundly shaped by the presence and voices of diverse communities.
• . . . a Seminary with the resources needed to achieve annual growth in all key institutional
indicators.
• . . . a Seminary known for excellence in teaching, scholarship, formation, and governance.
Who we are...
Foundationally evangelical, Denver Seminary is a body
of Christ – followers guided by our beliefs based on the
inerrancy of Scripture and its authority as the Word of
God. We are committed to scholarly integrity and faith
formation. Our students are challenged to grow not just
in knowledge, but also in relationships and in practical
expression of faith.
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STATEMENT OF FAITH
Denver Seminary is committed to the great truths and abiding fundamentals of the Christian faith as evidenced by its confessional platform:
1. THE WORD OF GOD
We believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the inspired Word of God, inerrant in the original writings, complete as the revelation
of God’s will for salvation, and the supreme and final authority in all matters to which they speak.
2. THE TRINITY
We believe in one God, creator and sustainer of all things, eternally existing in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit; that these are equal in
every divine perfection and that they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence, and redemption.
3. GOD THE FATHER
We believe in God the Father, an infinite, personal Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love. He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs
of men and women, hears and answers prayer, and He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.
4. JESUS CHRIST
We believe that Jesus Christ is God’s eternal Son, and has precisely the same nature, attributes and perfections as God the Father and God the
Holy Spirit. He is not only true God, but true man conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. We believe in His sinless life, His
substitutionary atonement, His bodily resurrection from the dead, His ascension into heaven, His priestly intercession on behalf of His people, and
His personal, visible, return from heaven.
5. HOLY SPIRIT
We believe in the Holy Spirit, His personality, and His work in regeneration, sanctification, and preservation. His ministry is to glorify the Lord Jesus
Christ and implement Christ’s work of redeeming the lost and empowering the believer for godly living and service.
6. HUMANITY
We believe God created humanity, male and female, in the image of God and free from sin. We further believe all persons are sinners by nature and
choice and are, therefore, spiritually dead. We also believe that the Holy Spirit regenerates those who repent of sin and trust Jesus Christ as Savior.
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STATEMENT OF FAITH
7. SALVATION
We believe in salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. This salvation is based upon the sovereign grace of God, and was purchased by Christ
on the cross, and is received through faith apart from any human merit, works, or ritual. We believe salvation results in righteous living, good
works, and proper social concern.
8. THE CHURCH
We believe that the Church is the spiritual body of which Christ is the head and is composed of all persons who through saving faith in Jesus Christ
have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit. This body expresses itself in local assemblies whose members have been baptized and have associated
themselves for worship, instruction, evangelism, and service. The ordinances of the local church are baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We also
believe in the interdependence of local churches and the mutual submission of Christians to each other in love.
9. SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE
We believe that each local church must be free from interference by any political authority. We also believe all men and women are directly
responsible to God in matters of faith and life, and that they should be free to worship God according to the dictates of their consciences.
10. CHRISTIAN CONDUCT
We believe that the supreme task of every believer is to glorify God in life and conduct and be blameless before the world. Each Christian should
be a faithful steward of all possessions and seek to realize in every area of life the full stature of maturity in Christ.
11. LAST THINGS
We believe in the bodily resurrection of the saved and lost, the eternal existence of all people in either heaven or hell, in divine judgments, rewards,
and punishments.
Each year Denver Seminary trustees, administration, and faculty are required to affirm and sign Denver Seminary’s Statement of Faith, while students
and staff are required to affirm the National Association of Evangelicals’ Statement of Faith.
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CORE COMMITMENTS
Denver Seminary is committed to being known for relating to one another
graciously, regardless of differing viewpoints. Thus, conversations are
marked by compassion and respect and by listening before defending.
The outcome is a learning environment that upholds speaking truth
in love while striving toward the common goal of understanding
Scripture and further God’s work in our world. The following five
Core Commitments are woven throughout the tapestry of Denver
Seminary’s history and remain central to its distinct institutional identity.
1. Biblical Authority
We are people of the Book, believing the Bible to be our final authority
for faith and practice. Since our founding, Denver Seminary has been
committed to the inspiration, inerrancy, and authority of the Bible.
That commitment remains strong and unyielding; it defines and
shapes us.
2. Vigorous Scholarship
We are people of the Truth, committed to seeking truth in all disciplines.
Vigorous scholarship is robust and relentless, the kind of scholarship
that does not blink when the skeptic questions our faith. At Denver
Seminary, scholarship means knowing more and more about what
matters – the real questions of real people in the real world.
3. Charitable Orthodoxy
We are people of the Faith, committed to the great core confessions
that have defined Christianity for centuries. We cling to these great
core truths of the faith for they frame our understanding of God, the
world in which we live, and His work in it. Furthermore, we confess
these great truths as a way forward for those trapped in the mire of
indifference and relativism. Around that common confession and our
agreement with the doctrinal statement of the Seminary, we engage in
gracious and serious conversations about many different areas of life.
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CORE COMMITMENTS
4. Redemptive Relationships
We are people of the Gospel, a community of humbled and broken
people who have found life anew in its redemptive power. We come
together knowing that Christ has rescued us from the bondage and
penalty of our sin simply through His death on the cross because He
loves us. We are committed to an integrated learning process that
redemptively addresses the needs of the whole person, both in the
community of faith and those who have yet to confess faith in Christ.
5. Global Concern
We are people of the Kingdom, committed from our founding in 1950
to global mission because of God’s concern for the redemption of all
peoples. Our commitment to missions provides rationale and urgency
to our task. We value and embrace the marvelous diversity of God’s
people and will nurture meaningful partnerships with other likeminded
schools and agencies in the work of the Kingdom around the
globe.
Governance
Denver Seminary is governed by a Board of Trustees with sixteen to twentyeight
members, as determined by the board. Trustees serve three-year
terms with the ability to be re-elected for a maximum of four terms, or
twelve years. The board is committed to approaching its tasks with a style
that emphasizes outward vision rather than an internal preoccupation,
encouragement of diversity in viewpoints, strategic leadership more
than administrative detail, clear distinction of board and staff roles, and
proactivity rather than reactivity.
Shared Governance - Shared governance at Denver Seminary is
the cooperative participation of the board, administration, and faculty
in planning, decision-making, and accountability. The goal of shared
governance is to make the best possible decisions to accomplish our mission
in a dynamically changing environment. (For more, see the Practice of
Shared Governance at Denver Seminary, available upon request.)
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HISTORY
Denver Seminary began in the minds of several Colorado Conservative Baptist pastors
who then presented the idea at the annual meeting of the Conservative Baptist Association
of Colorado in May 1950. By September of 1951, thirty-one students had enrolled and Dr.
Carey S. Thomas – the Seminary’s first president – presided over the first graduating class
the following year.
In 1955, Denver Seminary appointed Dr. Vernon Grounds as the second president, who
would become one of the most significant shapers of the Seminary’s future. Dr. Grounds
was responsible for initiating, directing, and managing the Seminary’s extensive growth
and progress over the next twenty-four years.
In June 1962, Denver Seminary was granted associate membership in what is now known
as the Association of Theological Schools, achieving full accreditation in 1971. The
following year, Denver Seminary achieved accreditation in the North Central Association
of Colleges and Secondary Schools. By 1991, forty years after Denver Seminary’s founding,
the student body numbered over 600 students representing 40 states, 53 denominations,
and 15 countries.
Dr. Clyde McDowell, the fifth president, pioneered the groundbreaking effort behind
becoming the first seminary ever to receive accreditation by the Council for Accreditation
of Counseling and Related Programs (CACREP) for its Counseling Degree Program. Additionally, Dr. McDowell reinvented their approach to
seminary education by incorporating an intensive, contextualized mentoring experience into its core curriculum – a program of training and
mentoring for which Denver Seminary has become well-known.
By the early 2000s, the student body grew to around 900 students, prompting the move in 2005 to a campus in Littleton, Colorado, where Denver
Seminary currently resides. Built from the ground up specifically for the Seminary, the campus features an academic/leadership training center,
a learning resource center, and an administrative building.
In the past several years the Seminary has made strategic decisions to create educational, financial, and organizational models that meet the current
challenges facing theological schools in North America. The Seminary has aggressively moved into multiple educational modalities to make our
programs accessible to students who cannot complete their programs on campus. To facilitate this strategic direction, the Seminary has two stateof-the-art
recording studios that allow us to produce high-quality online courses that make remote learning as effective as possible. In addition,
we have created a financial model that gives us the resilience to withstand instability in enrollment. With over $40 million dollars in our endowment
and no long-term debt, the Seminary is in excellent financial health.
Now with over 6,000 graduates, the vision of a group of pastors in 1950 to create a flagship Seminary is a vibrant reality.
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CAMPUSES
With the main campus in Denver (Littleton), an extension campus in the Washington, D.C. area,
and an online Global Campus that includes programs in Korean, Denver Seminary is providing
theological education to a broad spectrum of God’s people.
Denver Campus – Denver Seminary’s main campus, located in the Denver Metro area,
sits above the historic South Platte River and has spectacular views of the Rocky Mountains.
The Denver campus has the resources of a world-class Seminary.
Washington, D.C. Campus – The Seminary’s extension campus in Washington,
D.C. brings biblical and theological education to working adults in the Washington, D.C. area.
Through flexible online and on-campus blended delivery of full programs, students can remain
in their jobs while earning a MDiv, MA, or a graduate certificate in Biblical and Theological
Studies. Classes are offered at the First Baptist Church of Glen Arden in Maryland, just off the
Beltway and accessible to millions of students up and down the North/South corridor.
Global Campus – Denver Seminary’s Global Campus serves a growing population of
students enrolled in fully online degree programs. The Global Campus provides students with
online courses, technical support, digital library resources, and student services. Currently
Denver Seminary has students studying in 16 different countries including Brazil, Canada,
Czech Republic, France, Guatemala, India, Mexico, New Zealand, Panama, Rwanda, South Korea,
Sweden, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, and the United States.
Denver Seminary of the Future – Denver Seminary has launched a strategic
initiative called Project Any which encompasses our commitment to provide any degree,
anywhere, any time to any qualified student. The Seminary’s goal is to make it possible for
students to complete all degree programs fully on campus and fully online starting in the fall
of 2026. Denver Seminary theologians lead conversations about evangelicalism, theology, and
cultural issues and engagement via Engage360 Podcast, the Denver Journal, Engage Magazine,
and Panel Discussions.
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AT-A-GLANCE
With a heart for the gospel of Jesus Christ and devotion to scholarly excellence for nearly 75 years, Denver Seminary has prepared and launched thousands
of graduates into the world, eager to work for the glory of God and confidently equipped to share the redemptive truths of Scripture. Denver Seminary
offers fully accredited MDiv, MA, ThM, and DMin degrees, as well as a PhD program and numerous certificates. Denver Seminary serves students on the
main campus in Littleton, on an extension campus in Washington, D.C., and via a Global Campus online, including the Global Korean Campus.
YEAR
ENROLLMENT*
2019-2020 1078
2020-2021 1099
2021-2022 1085
2022-2023 1076
2023-2024 1021
ACADEMIC YEAR 2023 -2024
STUDENTS
664.33 Headcount
FTE (2023-24)
[IPEDS FTE = 392.08]
46% Male
54% Female
*includes non-degree certificates
13.9% International Students
16 Countries Represented
6,000+
TOTAL NUMBER
OF ALUMNI
TUITION AND AID (2023-24)
MA - $685/credit hour
DMin - $695/credit hour
PhD - $870/credit hour
48% of Traditional Students who Receive Aid
OVER 50 DENOMINATIONS REPRESENTED
Nondenominational: 55%
Baptist: 15%
Presbyterian: 10%
Other: 20%
FACULTY AND STAFF
9.86 Student-to-Faculty Ratio
30 Full-Time Faculty Members
90% Faculty with Doctorate Degrees
82 Full-Time Staff (FTE)
27 PhD Students
226 MA Counseling
Students
CURRENT
STUDENT
BODY
85 DMin Students
256 MDiv Students
183 MA Students
64% STUDENT
RETENTION RATE
$
FINANCES
Total Assets
Annual Budget
Current Debt
Gifts and Grants
Endowment
Operating Reserve
Investments
$70 Mil
$15.3 Mil
$1.1 Mil
$5 Mil
$16 Mil
$33 Mil
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AT-A-GLANCE
CAMPUSES
Campuses located in Littleton, Colorado, Washington, D.C., and
a Global Campus online. Students may also earn an MDiv, MA,
or DMin through Denver Seminary’s Korean Global Campus.
DENVER CAMPUS DETAILS
16 acres
3 buildings
Approx. 210,000 Sq. Ft.
ACCREDITATION
Denver Seminary is accredited by:
• Association of Theological Schools
• Higher Learning Commission
• Council for Accreditation of Counseling and
Related Education Programs
• Association for Clinical Pastoral Education
For more details see:
Association for Clinical Pastoral Education
DEGREES
For more information visit:
https://denverseminary.edu/academics/
Master’s Degrees
• Master of Divinity (MDiv)
• Master of Arts in Counseling (MA in Counseling)
• Master of Arts in Leadership (MA in Leadership)
• Master of Arts in Pastoral Care (MA in Pastoral Care)
• Master of Arts in Spiritual Formation (MA in Spiritual
Formation)
• Master of Arts in Theology, Justice, and Social Advocacy
(MA in Theology, Justice, and Social Advocacy)
• Master of Arts (MA)
• Master of Theology (ThM)
Doctor of Ministry (DMin)
Doctor of Philosophy in Counselor Education and
Supervision (PhD)
16 Certificates
SPIRITUAL LIFE
Student Life Webpage: https://www.studentlife.densem.edu/
To learn more about Denver Seminary, visit these resources:
Main Campus:
6399 South Santa Fe Drive, Littleton, CO 80120
Washington, D.C. Campus:
3600 Brightseat Rd, Greater Landover, MD 20785
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THE POSITION
The President is accountable to the Board of Trustees for the overall leadership and management in achieving the mission of Denver Seminary. The
President is expected to focus on two main areas: 1) Denver Seminary’s accomplishment of the Strategic Framework, and 2) Denver Seminary’s operations
(within board policies). The President provides chief executive leadership for the Seminary and provides external leadership for the Seminary’s multiple
stakeholders to enable Denver Seminary to effectively fulfill its mission and vision.
Under the current organizational structure, the President’s direct reports include the following members: Executive Director of the Gospel Initiative, VP
of Academic Affairs, VP of Finance, VP of Advancement, VP of Student Life and Enrollment Management, VP of Strategy, and the Executive Assistant to
the President. The Chancellor role will begin after the Presidential transition.
Board of
Trustees
President
Executive
Assistant
Chancellor
(Future)
Executive
Director of
the Gospel
Initiative
VP of
Academic
Affairs
VP of
Finance
VP of
Advancement
VP of
Student Life
& Enrollment
Management
VP of
Strategy
Team of ~2
Team of ~45
Team of ~25
Team of ~5
Team of ~20
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THE POSITION
The Denver Seminary President will be a team builder with a proven ability to lead a complex
organization. He or she must be able to lead the Seminary in successfully addressing the fastchanging
issues facing Christian theological education. Such leadership requires the people
skills and personality to develop a trusted and comfortable rapport and relationship with all
Seminary communities. Such leadership also requires having the skills to lead an institution
seeking to increase its national and international recognition. These leadership skills should
be implemented through a management style that promotes transparency, collegiality,
collaboration, achievement, accountability, and support.
Other factors crucial to the President’s success are the relationship skills and personality
needed to attract, develop, and enhance strong financial support for the Seminary. The
President should expect to participate and lead in the Seminary’s fundraising efforts by using
those skills to develop key donor relationships and accomplish significant fundraising results.
Denver Seminary is seeking a Christian leader with a clear sense of divine calling to the ministry
and leadership of Denver Seminary. Committed to the nondenominational character of the
Seminary, this person must demonstrate the abilities necessary to provide spiritual leadership
for all Seminary constituencies. The new President should affirm and embrace the uniqueness
of Denver Seminary. The Seminary’s foundational documents are the Mission, Vision, Statement
of Faith, Statement on Human Sexuality, and the Core Commitments.
Denver Seminary seeks out highly qualified
and gifted individuals that God has called to
assist us in our mission to prepare men and
women to engage the needs of the world
with the redemptive power of the gospel
and the life-changing truth of Scripture.
15

QUALIFICATIONS
• A deep, personal faith demonstrated by active participation in a local church, humility,
character, and healthy family relationships.
• A spiritual role model and leader.
• Earned terminal degree (PhD, DMin, EdD) or equivalent.
• Demonstrated fundraising success and a genuinely pastoral approach to building
relationships.
• Exceptional emotional intelligence and cultural intelligence with strong listening and
communication skills inside and outside the seminary.
• Significant executive/community leadership and administrative experience in a complex
organization.
• A current understanding of Christian higher education challenges and opportunities.
• Experience leading a seminary or higher education organization through major
technological change is preferred.
• Agreement with the Mission, Vision, Statement of Faith, Statement on Human Sexuality,
and Core Commitments of Denver Seminary.
The Ideal Candidate’s Background
Denver Seminary’s next President should have an impressive array of executive leadership,
strategic experience, and financial background in leading organizations that face the challenges
commonly found in today’s Christian seminaries. The list below is not meant to be exhaustive,
but rather to encourage potential candidates to understand the breadth of experiences that
may fit well in this position:
• A dynamic Christian senior leader currently serving in higher education or at a seminary.
• A successful Christian CEO in a corporation who possesses a demonstrated passion for
Christian theological training.
• A dynamic Christian senior leader in a large, complex Christian organization, including in a
pastoral role, who possesses a demonstrated passion for Christian higher education.
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EXPECTATIONS
Below are some general expectations for the new President’s first five years:
• Denver Seminary will be influencing culture in new ways as it models charitable orthodoxy.
• The President will attract, retain, and empower excellent faculty and staff, set high
expectations, delegate and hold all accountable for success, oversee the skillful
implementation of strategic initiatives, and collaboratively lead in developing future
improvements.
• The President will build a strong working relationship with the Denver Seminary Board of
Trustees, maximizing their gifts, talents, and time.
• The student population at Denver Seminary will significantly expand due to Project Any,
augmented by robust retention and matriculation rates.
• The President will embrace diversity and expand how the increased perspectives can add
to the team and in decision-making. The faculty, staff, and administration will reflect the
diverse Christian community it serves.
• The President will lead collaborative efforts to pastorally nurture donor relationships,
build connections with local churches, and increase name recognition globally.
• Building upon recent financial success, the President will further grow the endowment
to support the future of Denver Seminary and maintain the affordability of tuition. With
an upsurge in fundraising and enrollment, the President will allocate resources toward
enhancing faculty and staff compensation, aiming to bolster retention rates and overall
satisfaction.
• The President will shape the community, people, structures, and processes of the Seminary
in a way that inspires, unifies, builds collaboration, fosters clear communication, and
nurtures flourishing.
The new President will support Denver Seminary’s current 2021-2025 Strategic Framework
which will continue in place through June 2026, and work collaboratively with the board in
assessing and, as appropriate, revising that Strategic Framework. This is an ongoing document
where some items have already begun or are completed.
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EXPECTATIONS
Five words express the vision of our current Strategic Framework: Voice.
Reach. Diversity. Vitality. Excellence. Our strategic initiatives were developed
based on this vision.
Voice
We will commit ourselves to being a school whose voice plays a greater role
in shaping the identity and future of evangelicalism.
Strategies: To realize our vision, we will:
• Sharpen, deepen, and diversify our distinct voice as a leading evangelical
Seminary through clarity of message and improved integration of
institutional brand platforms and communication strategies.
• Increase the reach of all communication platforms and strategies across
all constituencies.
• Increase the presence and expand the influence of the Seminary’s
gospel-centered engagement with cultural realities in public forums and
the media.
• Through The Gospel Initiative, academic programs, and all
communication platforms model gospel-centered engagement with
difficult social, ethical, and moral issues to help God’s people create a
credible and compelling gospel presence in their communities.
Reach
We will be a Seminary providing relevant, transformative theological
education for a broader spectrum of God’s people.
Strategies: To realize our vision, we will:
• Achieve annual growth goals for new and continuing student headcount
and billable hours.
• Identify and enroll students from new audiences through expanded
accessibility and innovative programming.
• Increase the number and quality of sustainable partnerships through
innovative programming and collaboration.
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EXPECTATIONS
• Develop theologically rich, relevant, and accessible degree and certificate
programming for workplace, professional, and lay ministry training.
• Increase retention and degree completion rates by enhancing student
satisfaction and success through intentional student engagement, care,
and advising.
• Increase enrollment annually at all campuses (Littleton, Global, and
Washington, D.C.) through more relevant, accessible, and creative
programming.
• Distinguish ourselves and our degree offerings in the online marketplace
through higher production quality and better learning strategies.
Diversity
We will be a Seminary more profoundly shaped by the presence and voices
of diverse communities.
Strategies: In order to accomplish our vision, we will:
• Increase the presence, influence, and institutional support for students,
faculty, staff, donors, and trustees from underrepresented communities.
• Provide regular training for all internal constituents to enhance
relationships and engagement interracially and interculturally.
• Increase the utilization of learning resources from traditionally
underrepresented voices in all curricular and para-curricular
programming.
• Increase the contribution of diverse voices in Seminary publications,
events, classes, and communications.
Vitality
We will be a Seminary with the resources needed to achieve annual growth
in all key institutional indicators.
Strategies: To realize our vision, we will:
• Execute a sustainable financial model that adequately resources
educational programming and attains unrestricted net income of 4-6%
per year before depreciation and leads to healthy financial ratios (CFI,
DOE) to support strategic innovation and growth.
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EXPECTATIONS
• Create a strategic reserve through annual budget set asides to fund
future capital, innovation, and expansion needs.
• Successfully complete all six components of a $40 million comprehensive
growth campaign.
• Achieve annual growth in all categories of gift revenue, including known
estate commitments, and in the number of donors.
• Annually increase the amount of financial aid (grants and scholarships)
made available to students.
• Attract, develop, and retain an exceptional team of faculty, staff, and
trustees whose efforts are optimized in achieving our mission.
• Execute personal and professional development programs for all staff
and faculty.
• Design and develop the infrastructure and physical campus needed to
enhance student success and enrollment growth.
Excellence
We will be a Seminary known for excellence in teaching, scholarship, and
formation.
Strategies: To realize our vision, we will:
• Provide ongoing training for faculty in course design, teaching strategies,
and educational technologies for all course delivery models.
• Design, resource, and maximize classroom and technology environments
to support effective teaching and learning across all delivery modes.
• Enhance access to and the quality of library resources needed to support
effective teaching, learning, research, and scholarship in all degree
programs.
• Implement effective assessment processes to increase instructional and
institutional effectiveness.
• Cultivate a teaching and learning culture characterized by our Core
Commitments and Operational Values and focused on the fulfillment of
the Mission Statement of the Seminary.
• Enhance faculty, staff, and trustee collaboration and collegiality through
regular fellowship, worship, learning, and discussion opportunities.
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LITTLETON, COLORADO
Denver Seminary’s main campus is located just minutes from some of the country’s best hiking,
fishing, skiing, and outdoor recreation. It sits just above the historic South Platte River and
has spectacular views of the Rocky Mountains. Residents enjoy the High Line Canal biking
trail that runs for miles throughout the city along rivers and green spaces. Rocky Mountain
National Park, Red Rocks Amphitheater, Hudson Gardens, and the Denver Botanic Gardens are
all within driving distance of the campus.
Ranked by Livability.com as the #32 Best City to Live in the USA, Littleton (pop. 48,171) is a top
destination to live and raise a family in Colorado, and it is easy to see why. Littleton is known
for its strong economy, in part due to thriving industries. Aerospace and aviation are among
the top industries in Littleton, with Lockheed Martin as one of Littleton’s largest employers.
Other strong industries include telecommunications, financial services, insurance, and energy.
Littleton is known for its thriving historic downtown complete with art galleries, more than
220 unique shops, and thriving restaurant scene. The city hosts multiple festivals, concerts,
and outdoor events.
Residents enjoy convenient access to downtown Denver via the local Light Rail. There,
residents and visitors alike explore all that Denver has to offer, including cheering on the Denver
Broncos (NFL), Colorado Avalanche (NHL), Colorado Rockies (MLB), or Denver Nuggets (NBA).
Or drive two hours north to camp, view wildlife, go rock-climbing, ride horses, and more at
Rocky Mountain National Park. For second-to-none slopes, skiers frequent Breckenridge, Vail,
Keystone, or Aspen – all within a few hours of Littleton. With over 1,400 acres of green space
and 200 miles of trails, there is no shortage of things to do around Littleton. It’s easy to see
why many are attracted to this friendly suburb of Denver!
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PROCESS OF CANDIDACY
If you discern that the gifts and experience God has given you may be a good fit for the position
of President of Denver Seminary, we invite you to begin the inquiry process. Inquiries and
expressions of interest regarding this search may be forwarded to Laura Coverstone at
JobfitMatters Executive Search and will remain confidential.
Please submit the following for review:
1. A current resumé or CV.
2. Responses to the following essay prompts:
• Describe your testimony of faith in Jesus Christ. How is He using you in your work, in
your church, and in your community? How has your relationship with Jesus shaped
your career and influenced your decision to apply for this position?
• Briefly describe your philosophy of leadership.
• Why are you interested in serving Denver Seminary as President? What skills and
experiences in your life led you to believe that you would be an effective leader for
Denver Seminary?
3. Provide the names and contact information (phone number and email address) of four
references who know you and your career well enough to comment on your suitability for
this position. (Note: References will only be contacted after we have received your
permission to do so later in the candidacy process.)
Submit this information in one pdf to:
LAURA COVERSTONE
Practice Leader
JobfitMatters Executive Search
resumes@jobfitmatters.com
Phone: 615.261.4623
Please include “Denver Seminary President” in the email subject line.
Applications will be reviewed until a selection is made, but candidates are encouraged to
submit information before September 1, 2024. We expect on-campus interviews to take place
in mid-fall. Nominations or candidate materials are welcome at the above email. Confidential
inquiries may be made to Laura Coverstone or Ed Poff at 615-261-4623.
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