CHICAGO, IL (July 9, 2010) – A three-person “senior leadership team” will help guide North Park Theological Seminary during the search for a new school president.

Team members are Academic Dean Linda Cannell, Dean of Students Deb Auger, and Director of Field Education Tim Johnson. They will “report to and collaborate with” North Park University President David Parkyn.

Each of the members will continue in their current duties. Cannell also will coordinate the preparation of a strategic plan for funding program initiatives. Johnson will become the main connection to the ecclesial community, collaborating with the Council of Administrators, Board of the Ordered Ministry, and the Pastoral Relations Committee.

The leadership team and Parkyn will handle some of the administrative functions traditionally assigned to the seminary president and dean.

In a report to the Evangelical Covenant Church Executive Board, Parkyn said the arrangement has several advantages:

• Team members already understand the operation of the school and are familiar to people outside the seminary.
• Members will experience only a modest disruption to their current responsibilities.
• The impact on the budget will be small, especially important during a tough budget year.

Candidate interviews to fill the post vacated by John Phelan Jr. are expected to begin this fall.