Ministry

Ministry Experience 

Glen Ridge Presbyterian Church (RPCES), St. Louis, MO

• Pastoral Assistant for Youth Ministries (1976)

Woodburn Presbyterian Church, Woodburn, IL

• Pastor (1976-80)

Bethel Reformed Presbyterian Church (PCA), Sparta, IL

• Pastor (1980-86)
• Supply Pastor (1991 & 1992)

Westminster Presbyterian Church (PCA), Godfrey, IL

• Weekly preaching ministry throughout the United States in churches, pastors' conferences, university ministries, Bible and mission conferences, radio and TV (1986-present)

Teaching Experience 

Covenant Theological Seminary, St. Louis, MO

• Director of Student Services (1978-80)
• Visiting Lecturer on Preaching (1983-84)
• Assistant Professor of Homiletics (1985-88)
• Chair, Practical Theology Department (1987)
• Associate Professor of Practical Theology (1988-92)
• Vice President and Dean of Faculty (1988-93)
• Professor of Practical Theology (1992-present)
• Executive Vice President/Seminary Dean (1993-94)
• President (1994-present)

Academic Qualifications

Northwestern University, Evanston, IL

• BSJ in journalism, English literature, American history (1975)

Covenant Theological Seminary, St. Louis, MO

• Master of Divinity (MDiv) in Pastoral Studies (1978)

Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in speech communication (1987)

Presbytery and Denominational Service

• Moderator, Illiana Regional Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) (1984 & ’85)
• Judicial Commissions of the General Assembly of the PCA (1985 & 1989)
• General Assembly of the PCA
• Plenary Session Speaker (1986)
• Special Session Speaker (1986, '90, '95, '98, 2001, '04, '05, '06)
• National Committee on Internships (1988)
• Mission to North America (MNA) Candidate Assessment Committee (1988-2002)
• Committee on Constitutional Business of the PCA (1992-present )
• Steering Committee for Worship Practices of PCA Church Plants (1999)
• Steering Committee of the Fellowship of Evangelical Seminary Presidents (2000-present)
• Strategic Planning Committee of the PCA (2000-06)
• Evangelical Pastors Fellowship Leadership Consortium (2005-present)

Professional Societies and Memberships 

• Phi Kappa Phi and Sigma Delta Chi Honorary Scholastic Fraternities
• C. W. Fries Scholastic Leader Scholarship
• Reformed Presbyterian Leadership Scholarship
• Summa and Magna cum Laude academic honors
• Listed in Who's Who in American Religion and Who's Who in American Education
• Evangelical Theological Society
• Steering Committee of St. Louis Billy Graham Crusade
• Member of the Board of Directors of Cass Information Systems
• Contributing Editor of Preaching Today
• Contributing Editor of Preaching magazine
• Member of the Board of World Magazine
• Board of Reference of Stephen Olford Ministries International
• Stakeholders Board of the Gospel Coalition
• President, Fellowship of Evangelical Seminary Presidents
• International Council of Reference for Lausanne III of the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization