Bethany Seminary board honors president Eugene F. Roop.

The semi-annual meeting of the Board of Trustees of Bethany Theological Seminary in Richmond, Ind., on March 23-25 included significant moments of celebration and recognition. Eugene F. Roop, who is retiring on June 30 after 15 years of service as president of the seminary, was honored at a dinner for board members and guests on March 24. The dinner included a time of recognition, with faculty and representatives of educational, civic, and church organizations participating.

The board also expressed appreciation to Jeff Bach, associate professor of Brethren and Historical Studies, for his 13 years of service. Bach has accepted an appointment as director of the Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies at Elizabethtown (Pa.) College, effective this summer.

In other business, the board approved 19 candidates for graduation pending successful completion of course work, the largest number since 1998. This includes Bethany's first graduate of Connections, the school's distributed education Master of Divinity program: Christopher Zepp of Bridgewater, Va. The board noted that the undergraduate grade point average of Bethany graduate students continues to rise, with 43 percent at a 3.5 undergraduate GPA or above.

A budget of slightly more than $2.2 million was approved for the 2007-08 fiscal year, approximately 2.5 percent increase from the current year. The board approved searches for administrative staff and teaching faculty positions: a half-time coordinator for Ministry Formation, and two faculty positions in historical and theological studies.

The Student and Business Affairs Committee reported that web enhancements focused on student recruitment are under development. This will include a virtual open house, providing the opportunity for online, real-time conversation with Bethany admissions staff.

The Institutional Advancement Committee shared fundraising and constituency relations strategies that will be implemented now that the seminary's financial campaign has been completed.

Ted Flory of Bridgewater, Va., was named as the new chair, beginning July 1. Other officers called are vice chair Ray Donadio of Greenville, Ohio; and secretary Frances Beam of Concord, N.C. Carol Scheppard of Mount Crawford, Va., was called as chair of the Academic Affairs Committee; Elaine Gibbel of Lititz, Pa., as chair of the Institutional Advancement Committee; and Jim Dodson of Lexington, Ky., as chair of the Student and Business Affairs Committee.

The board thanked Marie Willoughby, ex-officio member representing the Council of District Executives, and Anne Murray Reid, current chair, for their service to the board as they complete their terms.

For more about Bethany go to www.bethanyseminary.edu.

--Marcia Shetler is director of Public Relations for Bethany Theological Seminary.

Source: 4/11/2007 Newsline