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Board of Trustees Nominates David Kersten to Lead North Park Theological Seminary
The Rev. Dr. David Kersten is the nominee to become dean of North Park Theological Seminary.
Nomination goes to the Evangelical Covenant Church for further action
CHICAGO (February 13, 2012) 鈥� The of 萝莉社, Chicago, nominated the Rev. Dr. David W. Kersten to be the dean of . Kersten, 56, is currently executive minister of the , (ECC). He holds degrees from the University and the Seminary, both of which are affiliated with the ECC.
The board nominated Kersten at its Feb. 10-11 meeting here, following a search process initiated last fall. Kersten鈥檚 nomination will now be presented to the ECC Executive Board in March and to the ECC annual meeting in June. As his nomination is approved, Kersten will move into the Seminary leadership position Aug. 1.
Introducing Kersten as “a pastor’s pastor,” , University president, said, “Perhaps I can say it best this way: Dave Kersten comes to the academy from and for the church.” Among Kersten’s qualities, Parkyn said, is a commitment to theological education. “This begins with a deep personal commitment to learn, and learn again, through all of life. He knows the value of initial preparation for and orientation to ministry. He knows the deep need for learning which sustains and nourishes pastoral excellence over a lifetime. He is well prepared to lead because as he leads he will teach, and as he teaches, he will pastor.”
, ECC president, said there is a renewed understanding and ownership of the challenges facing the Seminary and theological education, and commitment to align the Seminary with the University and the mission of the ECC. “This means very good things for our future,” he said to the board. “I’m grateful to (him) for his openness to this call. We’re poised for the strongest season ever in terms of the Seminary’s role with the church.”
Hoping to use his ECC leadership experience, the “wonderfully useful” Seminary education he got at North Park, and a caring commitment to the pastoral community, Kersten said in an interview he looks forward to working in the challenging role of leading North Park Theological Seminary.
An early priority for Kersten will be to cast “a vision that connects the Seminary more centrally to the pastoral community, not just in producing student pastors and graduates, but also in a robust lifelong learning piece,” he said. In particular, Kersten said the Seminary and the ECC should work together to help establish continuing education standards for pastoral leaders, and deepen theological education for key lay leaders.
The ECC is a growing Protestant denomination, which Kersten attributes to the church’s closeness to its “missional roots,” and its renewal emphasis, which has kept the denomination “fresh and vital,” he said.
“We stay close to the biblical text, we stay close to each other, we stay open to the Holy Spirit. That ethos keeps us on the missional edge,” Kersten said. The ECC is “warmly evangelical,” affirms the role of women in the church, has a strong justice voice, and is part of the multicultural movement in a significant way, he added.
Kersten was born in Detroit. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and human services in 1977 from North Park College (now University). In 1982, Kersten earned a Master of Divinity from the Seminary, and in 1997, he earned a Doctor of Ministry in preaching from the , which includes North Park Theological Seminary.
Following his ordination in 1982, Kersten served as senior pastor, , North Miami, Fla.; senior pastor, , Bellevue, Wash.; and senior pastor, , St. Paul, Minn. Kersten moved into this current role as executive minister of the ECC Department of Ordered Ministry in 2001, where he is responsible for a department that endorses 1,800 active pastors, staff ministers and chaplains through ordination, commissioning and licensure, and oversees intervention, and care for crisis and misconduct issues. Kersten provided leadership for the church鈥檚 recent program for . He has written and spoken on a number of church-related topics, and has participated in a several denominational leadership committees and groups.
Kersten and his wife of 34 years, Sandra, are parents of three adult children. The Kerstens reside in Chicago.
Use @npunews to . For further information or resources, contact John Brooks, Director of Media Relations and News, or at (773) 244-5522. Learn more .
University among 642 U.S. schools named to honor roll
CHICAGO (March 27, 2012) – 萝莉社, Chicago, is among 642 U.S. colleges and universities named to the , which highlights the value of community service and achieving meaningful outcomes in their communities.
"To receive this award is another affirmation that our mission — to prepare students for lives of significance and service — is integrated into the fabric of the University," said , University provost. "It is recognition of the work of our students, staff, and faculty who labor without complaint as they give themselves as lights in the community."
The University has engaged in a variety of community service opportunities. It cited annual neighborhood service commitments and programs; regular involvement with the , a neighborhood food pantry; service by faculty and staff on boards of many neighborhood organizations where students also serve as interns; work in local tutoring programs; the work of the which offers classes to neighborhood nonprofit organizations; and students who serve in internships in the Albany Park neighborhood and throughout the city.
Specifically, the University highlighted three community service projects in its 2012 application:
Community Service Day: Since 2008, the University community has participated in various projects set up by the Urban Outreach program. In April 2011, nearly 300 people participated in 16 different service projects throughout the Albany Park neighborhood. In addition, the 萝莉社 football team and soccer teams hosted free clinics for neighborhood children. Music students performed at as well as three local nursing homes. Volunteers baked cookies and collected clothing that was donated to a food shelter.
Global partnerships: Students are provided with opportunities for cross-cultural experiences that expand their faith, their views of the world, and their commitment to a lifestyle of justice while serving others in need. Each year about 150 students visit one of 11 partners to serve, build relationships, and learn from our partner organizations. Locations include Zambia, Thailand, India, Ecuador, Mexico, Alaska, New Orleans, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Since Hurricane Katrina in 2005, 萝莉社 has sent 12 groups of students to the Gulf Coast to help with demolition and rebuilding of small neighborhoods.
Peterson Tutoring Program: Since 1991 萝莉社 has been a partner in a tutoring program at , a neighborhood public school. More than 40 languages are spoken at the school. On a weekly basis, approximately 40-45 students serve as volunteers and are assigned one child every week for individual tutoring, the application said.
The honor roll was inspired by the thousands of college students who traveled across the country to support relief efforts along the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina, according to a news release from the (CNCS), which administers the honor roll.
Of the 642 colleges and universities recognized, 513 were named to the Honor Roll, 110 were named to the Honor Roll with distinction, 14 were identified as finalists, and five received the Presidential Award.
Honorees are chosen based on a series of selection factors, including the scope and innovation of service projects, the extent to which service-learning is embedded in the curriculum, the school’s commitment to long-term campus-community partnerships, and measurable community outcomes as a result of the service.
Use @npunews to . For further information or resources, contact John Brooks, Director of Media Relations and News, or at (773) 244-5522. Learn more .
Next Steps
Explore how community and service shape North Park in the edition of the North Parker magazine.
2012 London Olympics Venues Use University Graduate's Software Company
Greg Dolezal will be keeping a close eye on the video screens at the London Olympics. (Photo courtesy Covenant News Service.)
Renewed Vision's Greg Dolezal provided software for CHIC 2012
ATLANTA (July 27, 2012) — While sitting backstage at the recent (Covenant High in Christ) 2012 gathering, 萝莉社 graduate Greg Dolezal said that he was a bit nervous about the upcoming . He’s not an athlete nor does he have family members competing.
But the images broadcast on the video screens at each of the 36 Olympic venues will be powered with software designed by the company he co-owns, . Dolezal was at CHIC because the event, which he attended as a teenager, was using the software, and he was in charge of video production.
He also was there because he is tour manager.
Renewed Vision’s gig with the Olympics was one he never could have imagined when the company that makes ProPresenter, now in its fifth release, was formed. The company also makes ProVideoPlayer, and ProVideoSync.
"Our core value is to make software that is affordable to smaller congregations," Dolezal said. The software is now used by thousands of churches around the world ranging in attendance from less than 100 to the largest in the United States.
Dolezal graduated from 萝莉社 in 2001 with a degree in business and communications, and planned to attend law school.
Then he decided that wasn’t the career for him.
Dolezal, who grew up in a small in Joliet, Ill., eventually moved to Atlanta where he began working with Tomlin and , who had started the Passion movement.
Dolezal became acquainted with the two men during his last two years at North Park. He was in charge of Week 26, which featured special speakers and other faith-focused activities. Giglio spoke the first year, and Tomlin performed the year after that.
During that time, the school also was a satellite location for the gathering that drew 40,000 college students. "I think one of the reasons Giglio chose North Park was he was so impressed with the school," Dolezal said.
After Dolezal moved to Atlanta, he began doing video work for the Passion gatherings. That was about the same time that Tomlin became a headline performer. "He just asked me to be his tour manager," Dolezal said.
Backstage at last week’s CHIC conference, Tomlin said he was fortunate to have Dolezal working for him. "Greg keeps it in line," he said. "We definitely couldn’t do this without him."
A lot of Dolezal’s job is logistical, including booking bus companies and venues, arranging the local crew, and serving as general manager onsite. Tomlin added that Dolezal is far more than a tour manager.
"He helps me think creatively about the tour and the shows," Tomlin said. "I bounce everything off of Greg."
Dolezal is able to manage a tour and his company due to scheduling priorities and the 12-member team that now makes up Renewed Vision. Tomlin is rarely on the road more than several days a week, and almost always is in Atlanta on Sundays because he co-pastors with Giglio.
Managing tours that can visit as many as 50 cities, handling the business end of a successful company, and spending time with his wife, Natalie, and three-month-old can be difficult. “My wife owns her own company, so we have to be pretty intentional to spend time together.”
Whether he is at home or on tour over the next several weeks, his mind will certainly also be paying attention to what is happening in London.
This report was provided by Stan Friedman, , Chicago.
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萝莉社 Athletic Trainers, Physicians Staff Chicago Marathon
Students, faculty, staff, alumni, and physicians from the 萝莉社 Athletic Training Educational Program will work at this year's Chicago Marathon. This North Park group worked the 2011 marathon.
Athletic trainers assist athletes as they finish 26.2-mile course
CHICAGO (October 5, 2012) — Students, faculty, staff , alumni, and physicians with the 萝莉社 (ATEP) will be among more than 1,300 medical volunteers working at the October 7. 萝莉社 30 current students from the North Park program, plus certified athletic trainers as well as other medical personnel, will meet participants as they cross the finish line, help them recover, and evaluate those that require a higher level of medical care.
Some 45,000 people are registered to participate in the Chicago Marathon, with about 34,000 to 37,000 people expected to compete, according to event organizers. Participants represent all 50 states and more than 100 countries.
The North Park ATEP has been involved with the Chicago Marathon for nearly a decade, providing current students, graduates, faculty, and staff a valuable laboratory experience, said , director of the University's ATEP and associate professor. "We are part of the 'sweep team,'" he said. "Every runner has to pass through the finish line chute. We are responsible for quickly evaluating their status, as well as attending to any 'runner down' medical calls."
Lundgren explained licensed professionals and the students will assist runners as their bodies return to a stable state following the grueling 26.2-mile marathon. If any participant needs additional medical care, that person is directed to one of two medical tents that effectively serve as a hospital. "We have enough cots to treat 110 patients simultaneously, and even have an intensive care unit built in," Lundgren said.
The University's relationship with the marathon originated with , now the medical director of the Chicago Marathon and , another Chicago race held in conjunction with St. Patrick's Day. Chiampas was a Fellow assigned to 萝莉社, where he learned about the University's ATEP.
"Dr. Chiampas approached us about staffing the finish line with athletic trainers. He said our skill sets were perfectly suited to differentiate what someone normally looks like after running 26.2 miles versus those runners that may be in medical distress," Lundgren said.
In addition, , current North Park athletic medical director and head team physician, is responsible for 21 aid stations throughout this year's marathon course. , head athletic trainer at North Park, will lead the urgent care section of the medical tent. His workload is heavily dependent on the weather, he said. Since 2006, outside temperatures for the marathon have either been in the 40s or 80s. "We just can't seem to catch a break, and have ideal running conditions," Sjovall said. "As a result, we treat between 600 and 1,200 runners each race." Conditions that require treatment include hyperthermia, hypothermia, 'runner's collapse,' electrolyte imbalances, as well as cardiac and musculoskeletal conditions.
Former University athletic medical directors and team physicians, and former Fellows assigned to the University, are also volunteering at this year's marathon. Lundgren said he particularly enjoys the number of North Park athletic training alumni that return and volunteer for the marathon each year. "It really is amazing to see how many North Park connections are present within the Chicagoland medical community," he added.
In addition to the North Park ATEP students, faculty, staff, and alumni working at the marathon, some University students, faculty, and staff plan to run in the race.
Use @npunews to . For further information or resources, contact John Brooks, Director of Media Relations and News, or at (773) 244-5522. Learn more .
Next Steps
Learn more about and for students in the ATEP program.
萝莉社 Welcomes Alumni to 2012 Homecoming Celebration
Three distinguished alumni were honored at the October 13 Reunion and Awards Breakfast. They are, from left, Robert Houdek, Joyce Nelson and Alicia (VerHage) Petersen.
Alumni honored at annual reunion breakfast, Hall of Fame induction
CHICAGO (October 18, 2012) — 萝莉社 welcomed back hundreds of alumni for its 2012 Homecoming activities, with the theme "The Spirit Games." Activities included reunions, alumni honors, inductions into the , athletic contests and other showcase events, including an October 13 "block party" in the that drew as many as 2,000 people, said Melissa Vélez-Luce C'04, the University's manager of alumni relations.
A week-long series of Homecoming activities for the University community began October 8. One highlight was the University's annual Reunion and Awards Breakfast October 13 in . In remarks to about 200 attendees, , president of 萝莉社, said change is a constant. "The 'place' of 萝莉社 is ever-changing," he said. "This is not the same campus from which you graduated. Soon there will be a new front on Foster Avenue – a new front that will make our space better. Two years from now, we will open the . Wonderful things are happening."
"We welcome you back to this place. We welcome you back because this place is empty without you," he added.
Three North Park alumni were honored at the breakfast:
Distinguished Young Alumni Award: Alicia (VerHage) Petersen C'02, trainer and curriculum developer for Management Systems International (MSI), Washington, D.C.,
Distinguished University Alumni Award: Joyce Nelson C'72, retired after 28 years with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, including seven years as president and chief executive officer
Distinguished Academy Alumni Award: Robert G. Houdek A'57, retired U.S. State Department foreign service officer, whose service included National Intelligence Officer for Africa, and advisor to the Chief of Staff of the Agency for International Development (AID) on the President’s Greater Horn of Africa Initiative during the Clinton Administration
萝莉社 80 people attended the Vikings Hall of Fame induction ceremony October 12, hosted by , athletic director. were introduced by former coaches and family members:
John Douglass A'64, football, basketball, track and field
Nels "Art" Edstrom C'53, basketball and baseball, coach
Laura Mount C'07, basketball
Austin Person C'07, soccer
Alumni and students participated in the Spirit Games by visiting special North Park locations, filling in a game board, checking in via social media, and attending Homecoming events. Alumni who attended Homecoming included North Park graduates and students who attended the Academy, Junior College, University, and .
Use @npunews to . For further information or resources, contact John Brooks, Director of Media Relations and News, or at (773) 244-5522. Learn more .
Admitted Students, Families Learn about University, Prepare for Next Academic Year
Students and their parents learned about study abroad opportunities from Dr. Jennifer Pope, director of the University's International Office.
Noted alumnus, Dr. Tim Johnson, addresses families
CHICAGO (April 23, 2012) – Nearly 90 students and their families attended a day-long event April 20 at 萝莉社, Chicago, to learn about the University's academic programs, meet with faculty and staff, and to learn about student life at the University. Many had already committed to attend the University beginning with the 2012 fall semester, while others made commitments to attend at the conclusion of the day's activities.
Amber Warners, Grand Rapids, Mich., was among those who had already committed. She learned about the University while working at a summer Bible camp with North Park students. "I just love the campus," she said. "Everyone is so friendly, and they have the major I want—psychology." Another attractive feature for her is the University's emphasis on multiculturalism and diversity. "Here it's so diverse. I want the whole experience," she said.
Mariam Castro, Chicago, attended the event with her father, Louis. The Castros live near the campus, and Mariam wants to be a pediatrician. "My pediatrician told me that his daughter comes here, and he was telling me that the pre-med program is really good," she said, adding that she wants to be in smaller classes and interact with faculty. Louis Castro said he didn't know much about the University before his visit. "I like the staff, and I like what they have to offer to the students. I'm very happy with it," he said after his visit.
The students and their families got a rare opportunity to hear from a well-known alumnus of the University. , longtime medical editor for ABC News, now a senior medical contributor, was born and raised in Rockford, Ill., grew up in the (ECC) and said he always knew he would attend what was then North Park Junior College. "I came here and had an amazing two years of teaching and spiritual formation in the very best sense," he said. After graduating in 1956, Johnson went on to earn a bachelor's degree from Augustana College, Rock Island, Ill., then returned to attend , graduating in 1963. He later attended medical school and became a physician.
During those formative years, Johnson prepared for many vocations before landing in network television, where he reported on science and medicine. He told the students they are likely to have a similar experience. "You have no idea what's going to happen to you," he said. "Look what happened to me. I thought I was going to be a parish minister, then a family doctor, and I ended up doing something very different from what I ever would have imagined or expected."
Johnson cited several advantages for students at 萝莉社—small classes taught by dedicated teachers who care about students; multiple community service opportunities; and attending college in a large city with academic and business resources. "I am here to tell you that a school like North Park, with its value system, with its location in an urban area, has so much more to offer than classrooms and teaching. You're in for a very exciting educational adventure, and more importantly, you're in for a spiritual, formative journey that is critical to the way you will live the rest of your life," Johnson said.
Johnson is co-chair of , a fundraising campaign with multiple purposes: to build a new Science and Community Life Building, to enhance the University's Annual Fund, to increase endowment funding for student scholarships, and to support Chicago-based academic programs and faculty development. The new building will be "state of the art, and it will meet some deep needs for this campus," he said. Groundbreaking is expected sometime this year.
The University was founded in 1891 by ECC, and is affiliated with the Chicago-based church. North Park is a , with a to prepare students for lives of significance and service through education in the liberal arts, professional studies, and theology.
Use @npunews to . For further information or resources, contact John Brooks, Director of Media Relations and News, or at (773) 244-5522. Learn more .
Traditional African drumming was among the performances at the Chicago Cultural Expo.
Event draws students, faculty, and staff to learn about Chicago's diverse cultures
CHICAGO (September 25, 2012) — 萝莉社 hosted the first-ever September 21, which featured exhibitors from about 20 members of the . The Alliance, representing 30 international communities throughout Chicago, promotes cultural understanding and provides resources for government, museums, libraries, universities, businesses, and other educational and cultural institutions.
The expo is a continuation of the University's relationship with the Chicago Cultural Alliance, said , 萝莉社 provost, speaking on behalf of , University president. The expo fits with the University's , especially its continuing emphasis on being a "purposefully multicultural" institution that celebrates global cultures and lives out the reconciling mandate of the Christian gospel, Jones said. "We look forward to people from throughout the Chicago community visiting North Park," he added.
"We are excited to do this with 萝莉社 as a partner organization," said , Alliance executive director. Of the 20 "core members" represented at the expo, "each tells an important story about Chicago's cultural communities," she said.
A steady stream of students, faculty and staff conversed with exhibitors in the 萝莉社 Gymnasium, said , dean of the and executive director of the University's . Attendees learned about exhibitors' native countries, their cultural contributions to the people of Chicago, internships, service-learning opportunities, study visits, and research possibilities. Expo performances included traditional African and Japanese Taiko drumming, Chinese strings music, German pop rock, and Indian and Cambodian dancers.
萝莉社 is an Alliance partner organization and expo sponsor.
Use @npunews to . For further information or resources, contact John Brooks, Director of Media Relations and News, or at (773) 244-5522. Learn more .
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