Summer 2022- Dr. Chris Owen - Renewed Purpose

THE BARNETT COLLEGE OF MINISTRY AND THEOLOGY:NEW LEADERSHIP AND RENEWED PURPOSE

In May of 2022, President Kent Ingle announced the appointment of DR. CHRIS OWEN ’93, ’06 (M.A.) as the dean of the Barnett College of Ministry and Theology. In addition to this new role, Owen will continue to serve as the executive vice president of the university.

“Chris has been instrumental in the growth and advancement at SEU over the past decade. As he oversees this college, we believe he will help us take it to the next level and further develop resources to best serve the local church,” said Ingle.

The position was previously occupied by NICK WALLSTEADT ’16 (MAML), who also served as the vice president of SEU’s Global Ministry Network. Wallsteadt has accepted the role of senior pastor of Gold Creek Community Church, a multi-site church located north of Seattle, Wash.

“I hold it a deep honor to come alongside our incredible faculty as we continue to serve our students and the local church at the highest levels of innovation and excellence,” said Owen. “In this new season, we will be focusing on leading the initiative for sustainable ministry and a renewed emphasis on pastoral training.” In order to accomplish this goal, the Barnett College will be officially launching the Center for Sustainable Ministry in the fall of 2022. “There is a great need in the educational sector for some sort of framework for health and sustainability for our leaders in ministry,” expressed Owen.

The center will work with the university’s over 200 church partner sites to collect data and research with the intent to assess what today’s pastors need to succeed. With these findings, they will be able to build tools and resources for ministry leaders to navigate subjects such as burnout, finances, marriage, counseling and more.

Owen pointed out, “God is always speaking to us. These resources will allow us to create a mechanism in our fellowship that can guide us through the discernment of the spirit of God in our lives.”

In addition, there are plans for the center to introduce new graduate degrees in spiritual formation, as well as a certificate in spiritual direction.

“Our central purpose in the Barnett College is the proficient training of pastors,” said Owen. “As we begin to further the work of the center and partner with other organizations with similar missions, we will use these instruments to raise up the next generation of world changers to bring the gospel across the globe.”