MILL VALLEY, Calif. (BP)–Trustees of Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary approved the 2010-11 budget, celebrated financial progress through difficult economic circumstances, adopted a new Faculty Rank and Compensation Plan and created a new Academic Organizational Plan in their spring meeting April 19-20.
Trustees approved a budget of $10,380,000, an increase of $352,000, or 3.5 percent, from last year, but still about $150,000 less than last year’s initial budget. “As we build revenue back into the budget, the board has prioritized personnel support,” President Jeff Iorg said. “In the budget for next year we have preserved all current positions, all current benefits, ended the Plus One Program for the faculty [who have taught one overload course this year without compensation] and added a few part-time support positions.”
Iorg reported on findings from a recent seminary marketing analysis, which included focus groups and online surveys. “The purpose of this study was to affirm strengths and discover challenges in how constituents perceive us, so we can more effectively brand the seminary and market our programs,” Iorg said. The survey revealed a depth and breadth of support for Golden Gate among its constituents, particularly among pastors in the western United States.
Trustees adopted a new Faculty Rank and Compensation plan, which Iorg described as providing “the framework to improve our faculty compensation strategy.”
“Over the next four years, we now have a pathway to meet the goal of faculty salaries exceeding the average salaries of seminaries who are members of the Association of Theological Schools,” Iorg said. “This is a funding priority for new revenue in the next few years.”
A new Academic Organizational Plan, creating schools of theology and Christian leadership, was adopted by the trustees, which Iorg said will “shape the way our faculty works together, the way donors shape gifts to support our academic program, and how the seminary is marketed in the future.”
Trustees approved a master of intercultural ministry degree proposal, authorizing the process of creating the new program, which is expected to launch in fall 2011.
The next steps in the continuing development of a new Master Site Plan for the Northern California campus in Mill Valley also were approved by the trustees. “We are in the early phases of a multi-year process leading to the development or redevelopment of the Northern California property,” Iorg noted. “This is a challenging endeavor and crucial for our long-term future.”
Trustees learned that the seminary has received $12.4 million toward its $13 million goal through the Partners for the Future Campaign, including two $1 million endowments recently received by the seminary.
Reports from the seminary’s regional campuses, included an agreement which makes campus housing available at the Southern California campus in Brea. Through a partnership with Hope International University, both single students and married couples can obtain housing and campus services about 10 minutesfrom the campus. Steady progress also is being made toward launching a teaching site in San Diego, with the first courses to be offered in fall 2010.
Trustees elected a new vice president for enrollment services, Adam Groza, and one new faculty member, Prosperly Lyngdoh, associate professor of missions at the Northern California campus.
Groza, a California native, currently serves as director of admissions at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Texas. He holds both Ph.D. and Th.M. degrees from Southwestern and has taught several courses there. He has authored numerous articles and served as pastor at Fairview Baptist Church in Rhome, Texas.
Prosperly Lyngdoh, born in India, has served as a missions professor at Barclay College and as a missionary pastor in Mumbai, India. He earned a doctor of missiology degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kentucky and a master of arts in missions and evangelism from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.
E. Randall Adams, team leader for the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma’s church outreach team, was re-elected trustee chairman. Continuing for another year as officers are Milton Brock of Texas, president of Brock Insurance Group, as vice chairman, and Bob Galey, pastor of Oakland Woods Baptist Church in Clarkston, Mich., as secretary.
Golden Gate Seminary (www.ggbts.edu) is a Cooperative Program ministry of the Southern Baptist Convention, operating five fully-accredited campuses in Northern California, Southern California, Pacific Northwest, Arizona and Colorado.
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Phyllis Evans is director of Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary.
