| Background |
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Nelson Krabill announced his intent to step down as AMBS president as of June 2009. ( See news item on the AMBS Web site.) An ad for this position has been distributed; click here to read the ad. |
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At its October meetings, the AMBS Board of Directors decided to appoint an interim president to begin July 15, 2009, to serve until the new president completes a time of preparation. The AMBS Presidential Search Committee has begun the search process by asking for feedback from persons in the Mennonite Church. |
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The AMBS Board, through its Follow the Fire process of two years ago, has established a Strategic Plan for the seminary that includes a vision for the kind of seminary they want to be. Below are priorities 1 & 2 from this plan, which are particularly pertinent to the AMBS Presidential Search Committee's task: |
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Priority 1: Make theological/pastoral education accessible for more people in the Mennonite Church and beyond. |
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Goal 1:1 Develop an Anabaptist identity for ecumenical engagement ("Broad Horizon"). Seek hospitable ways to provide theological/pastoral education for the church ecumenical even as we frame theological education in an Anabaptist perspective; do hiring, advancement, and board appointments with a view to making connections with other denominations or groups to which we wish to relate. |
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Goal 1.2 Develop more effective ways to serve racial/ethnic groups, urban pastors and congregations, and others not currently able to access AMBS because of economic, geographic, cultural, academic, or physical obstacles. |
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Priority 2: Explore pedagogy that is responsive to changing needs and opportunities for pastoral and theological education. Primary responsibility: Dean, Associate Dean |
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Goal 2.1 Strengthen our missional identity and offerings through what we learn in the Allelon Missional Schools project*; hire faculty or otherwise bring in resources for engaging the mission of the church in a postmodern context. |
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Goal 2.2 Expand the learning environment beyond the traditional residential classroom to offer more ministry site-based and customized leadership formation. |
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Goal 2.3 Look for ways to learn from and with congregations and ministries in the Elkhart area. |
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Goal 2.4 Develop on-going curriculum review/revision processes to keep teaching and learning current. |
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Goal 2.5 Diversify faculty for greater racial/ethnic and cultural breadth. |
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*The Allelon Missional Schools project was a dream of missional church leaders working in a post-modern context that would have involved approximately 20 schools of which AMBS would have been one. It basically folded when the anticipated fuknding from the Lily Foundation was denied. The end of the project does not end AMBS's committment to being missional and to being relevant in a post-modern world. |
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In addition to the strategic planning work, the AMBS Board has strongly reaffirmed the existing Mission Statement and Core Values of the seminary: |
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Mission Statement:
Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary serves the church as a learning community with an Anabaptist vision, educating followers of Jesus Christ to be leaders for God's reconciling mission in the world. |
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| Core Values: |
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- Disciplined study of Scripture, theology and ministry
- Practices of worship, community and Christian discipleship
- Effective and visionary leadership for the church
- Anabaptist theology in conversation with the wider church
- Mission that integrates service, evangelism and peacemaking
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Based on the above, and on our discussions with over a dozen on and off-campus groups in the United States and Canada, and hearing from hundreds of individuals, the Search Committee has developed the following “candidate profile” which describes the qualities and qualifications we are seeking in a presidential candidate: |
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| Candidate Profile |
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| The ideal candidate will: |
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- Be an active follower of Jesus, a convinced Anabaptist, and an advocate for the missional church in a diverse theological, denominational, and faith context
- Have ability and passion for theological education and pastoral formation that includes new models of church, ministry and pedagogy
- Be a creative, entrepreneurial, visionary leader
- Demonstrate theological depth and have earned an advanced degree (Ph.D. or D.Min. strongly preferred)
- Embrace and champion the stated mission and vision of AMBS and be able to implement the strategic priorities of the institution
- Understand and be committed to the mission of MC Canada and MC USA
- Communicate effectively as a speaker and preacher
- Demonstrate inter-cultural competency and attentiveness to the church in a global context
- Exercise a collaborative leadership style within AMBS and with other partners across the church in the development of leadership and theological training
- Be energized by relating to people
- Preferably have experience in pastoral and/or church leadership
- Demonstrate proficiency in attracting to AMBS both financial and human resources, and in stewarding those resources
- Be able to deal effectively with conflict and be adept at managing organizational dynamics
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| As defined in the AMBS bylaws, the president’s role is as follows: |
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| “The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation. As chief executive officer of AMBS, the President has general supervision of AMBS and is responsible for its development, maintenance, and progress. The President shall endeavor to lead AMBS in serving the Mennonite church and its con¬stituency in the best possible way and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board are carried into effect. The President shall prepare the budget for approval by the Board in cooperation with other administrative officers of AMBS and shall be responsible for its execution. The President shall discharge all such other duties as pertain to the office of chief executive officer of a corporation and seminary president and such additional duties as outlined in a job description approved by the AMBS Board in consultation with the organizational units (MC Canada and Mennonite Education Agency).” |
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We want your input! |
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| The Search Committee welcomes your prayerful participation in this search process. Please click here to offer your feedback to the committee. Anything you share is completely confidential and will only be used by committee members for the presidential search process. |
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Nominations and/or letters of application with CV or résumé may be submitted to Randall Jacobs, Chair of the Search Committee, c/o AMBSsearch@mennoniteeducation.org or through postal mail to: AMBS Presidential Search Committee Mennonite Education Agency 63846 County Road 35 Suite 1 Goshen IN 46528-9621 |
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| Thank you! |
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AMBS Presidential Search Committee
Chair Randall Jacobs, Tony Brown, Ray Friesen, Loren Johns, Kathy Koop, Jonny Gerig Meyer, Jose Ortiz, Jane Thorley Roeschley, Jennifer Davis Sensenig and Sue Steiner |
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