Doctor of Ministry

Introduction to the Assessment Report

Every family has a self-proclaimed “official photographer.” At holiday celebrations and sporting events, during yearly vacations, on the first day of school and at graduation, this person faithfully insists that we pause to pose for “just one more” picture. Though we might complain about the inconvenience at the time, later on we are likely to be grateful for the photographer’s persistence, and for the visual history that accumulates over the years. We can understand this history most fully, and enjoy it most completely, when someone takes the time to group the photos by theme or by year. Stacks of photos that are filling up cabinets, boxes, and drawers take on a whole new meaning when seen in the context of a well-designed photo album. These become our treasure chests of cherished memories, books that we return to again and again in order to see and share who we are, where we have been, and where we would like to go.

The 2003 Institutional Assessment Report is a photo album of sorts – not a visual history, but a verbal one. This series of verbal snapshots captures the essence of Covenant Theological Seminary during its 47th year of ministry, covering each of its five major departments: Academics and Instruction, Student Services, Advancement, Business Administration, and Information Technology. The final section of the report addresses issues concerning Governance, and the Appendix indicates the performance of Covenant Seminary in light of the 2002 Strategic Plan.

The aim of this report is simple, yet comprehensive. Throughout its pages, we seek to portray the institution as it stood in 2003, highlighting any significant changes from previous years or any areas in which change was expected but did not occur. We also seek to account for the reason(s) these changes did/did not occur.

Family photos depict both our glory and our imperfections; likewise, this report depicts both our successes and our shortcomings over the past calendar year. We hope that readers will reflect on and respond to the contents of this report, because by reflecting on the past, we can best consider the future. Potential readers include the administrators, faculty, staff, and students of Covenant Theological Seminary, the Board of Trustees, accrediting institutions such as the Association of Theological Schools and the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and any additional parties with a vested interest in this institution.

The data for this report was gathered through a variety of means. Employees in every department were interviewed or surveyed regarding their work during 2003. Publications such as Covenant Magazine, the Seminary Catalog, the Faculty Manual, the Student Handbook, the Strategic Plan of 2002, and the Self-Study Report of 1997 also served as valuable resources, as did internal documents such as the Enrollment Data report and Financial Trends spreadsheet. In order to ensure the report’s accuracy and completeness, each of the major sections has been reviewed by members of the Executive Committee. Any questions regarding the origin or interpretation of a specific item in this report should be directed to Rebecca Rine, coordinator of the assessment project. 2003 Institutional Assessment Report COVENANT THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

This 2003 Institutional Assessment Report portrays the institutional health of Covenant Theological Seminary during its 47th year of ministry, covering each of its five major departments: Academics and Instruction, Student Services, Advancement, Business Administration, and Information Technology. The final section of the report addresses issues concerning Governance, and the Appendix indicates the performance of Covenant Seminary in light of the 2002 Strategic Plan.

We hope that readers will reflect on and respond to the contents of this report, because by reflecting on the past, we can best consider the future. Potential readers include the administrators, faculty, staff, and students of Covenant Theological Seminary, the Board of Trustees, accrediting institutions such as the Association of Theological Schools and the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and any additional parties with a vested interest in this institution.

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS

STUDENT PROFILE 3

ACADEMICS AND INSTRUCTION

Faculty Profile 7 Academic Departments 9 Programs of Study 10 Curricular Assessment and Revision 14 Academic Support Services 15 Access 17 Francis Schaeffer Institute 18 Youth in Ministry Institute 19

STUDENT SERVICES

Campus Community 19 Special Events 24 Graduate Placement 25

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Information Technology Services 26 Audio Visual Services 27 Instructional Design and Technology 28 Institutional Statistics 29

BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION Budget Performance 29 Endowment 30 Business Office and Human Resource Management 31 Physical Plant Department 31

ADVANCEMENT Admissions and Enrollment 34 Marketing and Creative Services 37 Development 40

GOVERNANCE Denominational Affiliation 42 Board of Trustees 42 Institutional Planning 42

APPENDIX 44

3 STUDENT PROFILE

Paper and ink, sentences and paragraphs, charts and graphs – none of these media is sufficient for getting to know the individuals and families who comprise the student body of Covenant Theological Seminary. Though nothing can replace first-hand knowledge of the people in the Covenant community, this Student Profile provides a useful sketch of the student body, capturing its general features and identifying current trends regarding enrollment, demographics, financial affairs, and distribution by degree. This section of the Assessment Report seeks to describe the student body of 2003 chiefly in quantitative terms, with subsequent evaluation of these statistics. Figures are based on the Covenant Seminary Enrollment Data report, last revised on December 8, 2003.

Enrollment

To understand the enrollment trends for 2003 and preceding years, we will consider statistics in five categories: Head Count, Full Time Equivalent, New Student Head Count, New Student Full Time Equivalent, and Unduplicated Annual Head Count. Within each category, we will highlight enrollment figures in the Seminary as a whole as well as in the M.Div. program, our flagship degree.

Head Count The Head Count, taken after Fall registration, indicates the number of students that attend Covenant Theological Seminary during the Summer and Fall semesters of a given year. Included here are the Fall 2003 Head Counts for credit students, non-credit students, and the composite total (“all programs”).

Head Count Fall 2002 Fall 2003 Credit 862 860 Non-credit 82 90 All Programs 944 950

With a total of 950 students, we see a 1% increase in enrollment since 2002 and a cumulative 3% increase over the past five years. This continues a 15-year trend of increased enrollment and solidifies our standing as the 12th largest seminary in the U.S. and Canada. Of the 950 students listed, 344 are enrolled in the M.Div. program, compared with 330 in 2002. This represents a 4% increase both over the past year and over the past five years.

Full Time Equivalent More important for assessing Covenant’s educational outreach and for tracking enrollment is the Full Time Equivalent (FTE) count. How is FTE different from the Head Count? The FTE is based on our definition of a “full-time student.” Within each academic program, ATS requires that a school specify a certain number of hours that equals “full-time” status. For instance, at Covenant, M.A. and Th.M. students must be enrolled for 14 hours a semester to be considered “full-time,” M.Div. students must be enrolled for 15 hours, while D.Min. students need enroll for only 9. For any given semester, we determine the FTE for a program by adding

5 up all the credit hours taken by Covenant students in that program and dividing this number by our set standard for full time status in that program. Since the FTE differs across programs, we must total the FTE’s in each program before obtaining a total for the Seminary at large. The FTE statistics give us a common method of comparison with other graduate institutions in terms of our credit hours sold and the health of the various programs.

The FTE total for the Seminary in 2003 is 445, a number that reflects no significant change from our 2002 total of 443. However, this number does reflect an overall increase of 30% over the past five years (from 343 in 2002). The M.Div. program exhibits a 4% increase since 2002 and a 25% increase during the past five years.

New Student Head Count Two hundred and forty-six new students entered Covenant Theological Seminary in 2003. This number is down 8% from 2002, and down 19% over the past five years. The M.Div. new student enrollment dropped from 88 in 2002 to 83 in 2003, a decrease of 6%. This represents a 16% decrease over the past five years.

New Student Full Time Equivalent Although the New Student Head Count has decreased over the past few years, the New Student FTE has actually increased. The total of 130 New Student FTE’s denotes a 1% increase since 2002 and a 15% increase over the past five years. Likewise, the M.Div. is experiencing an increase in New Student FTE: 7% since 2002 and 40% in the past five years. This means that while fewer new students are coming to Covenant, the ones who do come are taking more credit hours on average.

Unduplicated Annual Head Count The unduplicated annual head count portrays the total number of students who enroll in classes at Covenant Theological Seminary over the course of an academic year. The total for the ’02- ’03 academic year is 1112, a 4% increase from the prior year. The M.Div. Unduplicated Annual Head Count is up 6% from 2002.

Thus, when evaluating Covenant’s enrollment statistics for 2003, we can identify the following trends: A 15-year trend of increased enrollment. Substantial growth in FTE, partially attributable to the fact that fewer people are pursuing part-time studies. A slight drop in New Student Head Count, but an increase in New Student FTE, partially attributable to the greater commitment of entering students to get through the program in a timely manner and to the greater number of students who pursue dual degrees. An increase in the Unduplicated Head Count in the M.Div. and in all programs.

Demographics

The demographics of a population, in this case of the student body of the Seminary, give us a sense of that population’s heritage, background, values, and beliefs. This section of the report

6 contains information on the gender, ethnicity, geographic origin, and age of Covenant students, as well as information on students’ marital status and denominational affiliation.

In 2003, 72% of the credit students were male and 28% were female. This statistic indicates a 5% increase in the percentage of female students over the course of the past five years. Among the new students in 2003, 62% were male and 38% were female. This indicates a 10% increase in the percentage of new female students over the course of the past five years (but no significant change over the last four years).

Data regarding the ethnicity of Covenant students indicates a strong majority of white students (86%), with blacks (5%), Asians (4%), Hispanics (1%), and Native Americans (0.1%); non- resident aliens who did not report a specific ethnicity (3%) comprise the remainder of the student body.

The students of 2003 hail from 44 states and 21 countries. Of the 860 credit students, 43 are classified as “internationals.” The data below specifies the regional origin of the students at Covenant Theological Seminary.

Credit Students International Students by Home Region by Home Country Latin Int'l West/ Canada Students Northeast America/ Southwest 10% 6% 5% Midwest Caribbean 12% Asia/ 18% 19% Pacific 43% Lower Middle South East 17% Missouri Upper South 0% Europe 28% Africa 14% 15% 13%

Over the past five years, the average age of Covenant students has remained close to 35 (34.9 is the actual figure for 2003). The average age of M.Div. students is somewhat lower at 30.28, while the average age of new students for 2003 is 30.9.

At Covenant Seminary, we believe that when the Lord calls a married student into ministry, He calls a family. For this reason, we provide services such as the Family Nurture Program described later in this report (see page 22). How many of our students fit into this “married” category?

Married Students Men Women All Students 79% 61% Full-time Students 71% 42% New Students 71% 55%

7 This means that on average, 21-29% of our men are single, and 39-58% of our women are single (figures vary depending on the categories listed above).

Covenant Theological Seminary rejoices in its oversight by the caring congregations of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). As the national seminary of the PCA, Covenant is the only seminary whose Board of Trustees is elected by and submits to the governance of the PCA. Covenant admits students from the PCA and many other denominations. Evangelical students from other churches are welcome and are well represented in the student body, as seen on the following graphs.

All (Credit) Students MDiv S tudents by Denomination by Denomination 5% 5% 4% 2% 2% 1% 13%

16%

7% 54%

8% 10% 63%

10%

PCA Other Reformed PCA Other Reformed Baptist Other Evangelical Baptist Other Evangelical Charismatic Mainline Charismatic Mainline Other/Unknown Other/Unknown

Thus, when evaluating Covenant’s demographics for 2003, we can identify the following trends: An increase in the number and percentage of female students, partially attributable to our Spouse Tuition Scholarships, to programmatic offerings that prepare women for non- ordained ministry, and to advantages such as on-campus housing for single female students. A breakdown by ethnicity that reveals an ongoing predominance of white students, with small but stable populations of black, Asian, and Hispanic students. A consistent draw from many areas of the country and international community. A majority of students that originate from the PCA, with significant populations from other Reformed and Evangelical churches and a relatively small percentage of students from charismatic, mainline, or unspecified denominations.

Financial Affairs

For the 2003-04 school year, tuition covers 51.9% of the cost of providing the various degrees. Students taking classes pay $296 per credit hour, an increase of 8.8% ($24/hr.) from the previous year. At this rate, the total tuition for an M.Div. degree is approximately $30,488.

8 At present, approximately 10% of our students borrow in order to pay for some portion of their education cost.

The Seminary offers on-campus and off-campus housing with rent significantly below market value. For more information on student housing options, see page #.

Distribution by Degree

Among the 860 students listed in our Head Count for 2003, the breakdown according to programs is displayed below:

D.Min. Th.M. M.Div. M.A.C. M.A. Certificate Non-Degree 15% 2% 40% 11% 26% 5% 1%

Also of interest is the breakdown of 2003 graduates according to program:

D.Min. Th.M. M.Div. M.A.C. M.A. Certificate Non-Degree 4% 3% 43% 19% 25% 6% N/A

The M.Div. remains our flagship degree and the focus of our institutional endeavors. The percentages listed above include certain students who pursue both the M.Div. and an M.A. or M.A.C. simultaneously.

ACADEMICS AND INSTRUCTION

FACULTY PROFILE

One of Covenant’s chief strengths is its faculty. Our Board and Administration have gathered a community of “pastor-scholars” who teach our students with both their words and their lives. Every member of Covenant’s faculty is a highly qualified teacher who also possesses considerable ministry experience. The pastoral background and orientation of Covenant’s faculty strengthens the practical dimension of instruction throughout the curriculum and enables faculty to model a pastoral approach to every class. As a result, students regularly report that classes challenge not only minds, but also hearts. In addition, this pastoral outlook produces a special degree of faculty unity and harmony, which enables the faculty corporately to model biblical community for students.

The following profile is based on the state of the faculty and administration at the end of 2003. The 2002-03 academic year saw a substantial reorganization of the faculty administrators. Formerly, the Vice President for Academics, Dr. Donald Guthrie, was assisted in his administrative duties by an Associate Dean for Academics and a Dean of Faculty. Near the end of 2002, plans for departmental cutbacks were finalized, and these cutbacks resulted in the departure of the Associate Dean for Academics. The Dean of Faculty also left his position in order to assume a local pastorate. Dr. Guthrie assumed the title and responsibilities of the Dean of Faculty. Diane Preston, who had previously served as the Registrar, became the Associate

9 Dean for Academic Advising, and her assistant, Denise Weber, was promoted to the position of Registrar. Also, Luke Bobo was added as the Assistant Dean for Training Ministries and the Director of Field Education. Thus, the final configuration is such that Dr. Guthrie leads as Vice President for Academics and Dean of Faculty, and is assisted in various capacities by the Associate Dean for Academic Advising and the Assistant Dean of Training Ministries.

At present, Covenant Seminary employs l8 faculty members under contract; of these, 94% hold a terminal degree. Twenty-two adjunct or part-time professors supplement the full-time faculty. Four of the regular faculty members, all of whom hold a terminal degree, carry administrative duties. The following charts indicate the faculty’s distribution by rank as well as their distribution by longevity.

Rank Number of Faculty Years at Covenant Number of Faculty Professor 8 0-5 5 Associate 5 6-10 4 Assistant 4 11-15 4 Full-time Adjunct 1 16-20 2 Part-time Adjunct 22 21-25 1 Professor Emeritus 3 25+ 2

Faculty members who have taught for at least six years become eligible for a sabbatical leave of either a half or a full year. The chart below indicates the sabbatical rotation for 2003-04:

Name Department Date Robert Vasholz Old Testament Spring 2003 Jerram Barrs FSI/Christian Studies Fall 2003 Robert Peterson Systematic Theology Fall 2003 Jack Collins Old Testament Spring 2004 Bryan Chapell Practical Theology Spring 2004 Michael Williams Systematic Theology Spring 2004

In addition to their teaching responsibilities, faculty members at Covenant Theological Seminary also seek to minister through the written word. Listed below are the faculty members with works that were published or in progress during 2003.

David Chapman “Marriage & Family in Second Temple Judaism” in Marriage and Family in the Biblical World (IVP) Jack Collins Science and Faith: Friends or Foes? (Crossway) Nelson Jennings Theology in Japan: Takakura Tokutaro (1885-1934) (UP) Harold Mare Background Dictionary to the New Testament: Matthew through Revelation (Christian Focus) Robert Peterson Adopted by God: From Wayward Sinners to Cherished Children (P&R) Hell Under Fire, with coeditor Chris Morgan (Zondervan)

10 Why I Am Not an Arminian, with coauthor Michael Williams (IVP) Michael Williams Why I Am Not an Arminian, with coauthor Robert Peterson (IVP) Richard Winter The Pursuit of Excellence and The Perils of Perfectionism (IVP)

Presbyterion: Covenant Seminary Review, the academic journal of Covenant Theological Seminary, is also published twice yearly, in the spring and fall. Covenant Seminary faculty and others write articles, short contributions, book reviews, and book notices to edify pastors and elders in the Presbyterian Church in America and beyond. A faculty committee provides peer- review of submissions and Dr. Robert Peterson, Professor of Systematic Theology, serves as editor of the journal, which is included in standard indexes for religion, theology and biblical studies.

As mentioned earlier, the esprit de corps of our faculty is unusually strong. Professors and administrators are united in their desire to fulfill our mission for the glory of God.

ACADEMIC DEPARTMENTS

The faculty of Covenant Theological Seminary is organized into five major departments: Old Testament, New Testament, Church History/World Missions, Systematic Theology, and Practical Theology.

Old Testament *Robert Vasholz, Professor Jack Collins, Professor Jay Sklar, Assistant Professor

New Testament *Hans Bayer, Associate Professor David Chapman, Assistant Professor Greg Perry, adjunct professor

Church History/World Missions *David Calhoun, Professor Nelson Jennings, Associate Professor

Systematic Theology *Robert Peterson, Professor Jerram Barrs, Professor David Clyde Jones, Professor Michael Williams, Associate Professor

Practical Theology *Phillip Douglass, Associate Professor Bryan Chapell, Professor Donald Guthrie, Associate Professor Richard Winter, Professor Zack Eswine, Assistant Professor Dan Zink, Assistant Professor * Denotes Department Chair

According to the Strategic Plan of 2002, the full-time faculty list will likely be expanded as Vice President for Academics Dr. Donald Guthrie seeks to hire additional faculty members. The anticipated approval of the M.A.E.M. program (see page 13) will require another faculty member with expertise in the field of educational ministries. Faculty members have committed to searching for and hiring minority faculty whenever possible, in order to match the increasingly diverse profile of our student body, our denomination, and the Church at large.

PROGRAMS OF STUDY

Doctor of Ministry

The Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) program is a 30-unit degree designed to be completed over six years through attendance at five-day intensive courses offered during January and Summer terms. Its essential goal is to enable students to draw upon biblical, historical and theological ministry resources and to attain a higher degree of professional competence in the practice of ministry. This program is tailored to the needs of persons active in ordained ministry. The traditional distinctives of the D.Min. program include Christ-centered teaching, an emphasis on community, commitment to the Bible as God’s Word, and participation in the Reformed theological heritage.

Dr. Zack Eswine, Director of the D.Min. program, reports encouraging developments in the program during 2003. The curriculum expanded to include four new classes: “Spirit Empowered Ministry,” “The Politics of Ministry Practice,” “Contemporary Issues in Evangelical Theology,” and “Calvin’s Institutes for Pastors.” Two proposed classes, however, “Ministering to the Aging” and “Martin Luther for Pastors,” did not generate sufficient student interest for a first offering. Students can anticipate the addition of four new classes during ’04 and ’05, including “Technology and Ministry Practice,” “The Practice of Church Discipline,” “New Testament Word and World,” “Grace Centered Leadership,” and “Pastors: Pursuing Excellence or Perfection?”

The program is adopting a more pastoral administrative structure through four key activities: The planning of regular messages at ministry lunches during the D.Min. class weeks, a recent implementation that has brought about a positive response from students. The development of a new and initially successful means of tracking student progress through a program with CAMS and Word. The revision of DM896 (D. Min. Ministry Project/Dissertation Supervision) to place greater emphasis on critical thinking and writing. Additional changes may include requiring a first draft of the dissertation proposal as the final assignment for the class. The search for a part-time assistant to provide a proactive presence with students and to aid in timely perusal of proposals and dissertations. In addition, the D. Min. Dissertation Handbook has been newly revised in 2003 to provide better guidance throughout the dissertation-writing process. These changes have been made in response to the reality that D.Min. students, all of whom are distance-education students, need ongoing personal support throughout their studies.

The development of a D.Min. brochure in the Summer of ’03 and the D.Min. presence at the Fall Pastor’s Conference in October both served to facilitate recruitment efforts. The formation of a plan for greater representation at Conference and Presbytery meetings, perhaps by means of a booth and personal visits by Dr. Eswine, is in progress.

Master of Theology

The Master of Theology (Th.M.) program is a 30-unit degree that gives Master of Divinity graduates the opportunity for further study in areas of particular emphasis. The Th.M. equips students in research, teaching, and writing, and prepares them for a teaching/preaching career and/or Ph.D. studies. Covenant offers two degree programs: the Th.M. in Exegetical Theology and the Th.M. in Biblical and Pastoral Theology. Either program may be completed in as little as one year.

The program currently supports 33 active enrollees and four inactive students. Five students graduated in May 2003, and three in December 2003.

The program administrators, led by coordinator Dr. Hans Bayer, are pursuing certain modifications to the current state of the Th.M. Still in process is the move to require the English Conversation Aptitude Test (TOESL) as an admission standard for international students. Remedial English classes are required for those who do not meet the standards. Also, the Curriculum Committee discussed a preliminary proposal to develop a modular Th.M., which would increase the accessibility of the program for students living outside of St. Louis. Once this format is fully approved, a focused advertisement campaign will follow. Additional advertising will inform current M.Div. students about the Th.M. program.

Master of Divinity

Since its founding, Covenant Seminary has focused its ministry on training pastors and missionaries through its Master of Divinity (M.Div.) program. The M.Div. offers students the most vocational flexibility and is the focus of our placement efforts. The 103-unit curriculum can be completed in three years, but many students take four years due to family, church, and job responsibilities. Two tracks are available: the ordination track and the non-ordination track. Students in either track may concentrate in Biblical Studies, Christian Education, Christianity and Contemporary Culture, Counseling, Music and Worship, Theology, World Mission, Youth Ministry, General Studies, or Church Growth, Planting, and Renewal.

M.Div. students must demonstrate sufficient knowledge of the Bible by either passing the Bible content exam or taking the “Bible Content Overview” course. Students are also advised to come under the care of their presbyteries or the church body responsible for approving ministry candidates within their denomination. In addition, 300 hours of supervised field education experience is required of all M.Div. students.

13 The most important developments in the M.Div. program during 2003 fall under the heading of “Curricular Assessment and Revision” (see page 14).

Master of Arts in Counseling

The Master of Arts in Counseling (M.A.C.) is a 60-unit degree program that includes 30 hours of theological and theoretical background for counseling and 30 hours of classroom learning (including 6 hours of practicum). Distinguishing characteristics of the program include the development of a theoretical and practical foundation for counseling within a Biblical framework, dialogue with secular and Christian professional counselors, a deeper understanding of each student’s own dignity and depravity, and the diverse offering of practicum sites in and around the city of St. Louis. The repeated opportunity to apply the principles learned in class is one of the hallmarks of this program. Upon leaving Covenant, students are well prepared to begin the practice of counseling. Over the last 8 years, 98% of Covenant’s Master of Arts in Counseling graduates have found career placement after graduation.

The M.A.C. fulfills Covenant Seminary’s mission by helping students understand what they were made for, how to apply God’s principles to all areas of life, and how to live more effectively in a way that pleases God. The current focus of the second year of the program is case-based so that students can adequately explore the interaction between first principles and real life application. This year, a record 29 students are enrolled in the second year of the program.

A continuing challenge for M.A.C. faculty and administrators is the growing demand for this program. The members of the faculty desire to keep the program at its current size in order to maintain their existing level of personal involvement in student supervision and guidance. To facilitate this plan, refined admissions procedures have been devised and implemented. These procedures establish higher selectivity with regard to prospective students.

Master of Arts, Exegetical Theology

The Master of Arts, Exegetical Theology (M.A.E.T.) is an academic and research degree that prepares students pursuing academic leadership for advanced study at the doctoral level. A thesis is required for this language-intensive program.

Currently, fewer than 5 students are enrolled in this program, some active and others inactive.

No changes were reported for 2003.

Master of Arts, Theological Studies

The Master of Arts, Theological Studies (M.A.T.S.) provides biblical and theological training that equips lay people to bring an informed Christian perspective to a variety of callings and non-ordained ministries. This 60-unit degree may be taken with a general studies track or with emphasis in any of the following: Christian Education, Christianity and Contemporary Culture, Counseling, Music and Worship, World Mission, or Youth Ministry. During the final semester

14 of this program, students write a senior essay, revising the testimony and statement of goals that they submit upon application to the program. This essay helps the students summarize what has been most important to them while at Covenant and helps Covenant Seminary improve the program and better meet students’ goals.

The Curriculum Committee is considering a reduction in the number of hours required for the M.A.T.S. in order to make the degree more accessible and to distinguish it from the proposed M.A.E.M. (see below). No substantial changes were reported for 2003.

Graduate Certificates

Graduate certificates equip lay people with biblical and theological training to bring an informed Christian perspective to a variety of callings and non-ordained ministries. Each requires the completion of 30 units of study. Four ongoing certificate programs are in place: Biblical and Theological Studies, Christianity and Contemporary Culture, World Mission, and Counseling.

A new certificate program is currently under development. In January of 2004, we will begin a collaborative program with The Center for Bioethics and Culture (CBC), a not-for-profit 501c(3) based in St. Louis and Oakland, CA, in order to provide a new Graduate Certificate in Bioethics. This Certificate is designed for individuals who wrestle with the myriad of bioethics issues created by the technological advances in the health care industry and will equip individuals with the tools necessary to understand, evaluate, and respond to current and emerging issues from within a biblical framework. Coursework is designed to provide a foundation in ethics, theology, and contemporary culture, and apply this foundation to specific issues involving medicine and related scientific research.

Forty-two people attended classes in pursuit of a graduate certificate this year. This number is down 25% from last year, and 31% from five years ago. This is most likely attributable to the overall decrease in spendable income for potential students. Many either commit full-time to a graduate program or elect to pursue training through other venues.

Proposed Master of Arts in Educational Ministries

In November of 2003, Covenant Theological Seminary petitioned the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS) to add the Master of Arts in Educational Ministries (M.A.E.M.) to Covenant’s accredited degree offerings. A similar petition will be submitted to the Higher Learning Commission for approval from the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, of which Covenant is also a member. Covenant hopes to offer this 50-unit degree beginning in Fall 2004.

This degree requires 150 hours of field education, and will be offered in conjunction with local churches of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) as well as other educational ministries in order to afford students the valuable experience of participating in ministry as they gain the educational foundation needed to understand their ministries in the historic and contemporary

15 life of the church. The degree also includes a Capstone Project that is designed to give the students an opportunity to synthesize their coursework in relation to ministry experience.

With the M.A.E.M., Covenant Seminary will provide additional support to pastors by training non-ordained leadership for the important educational ministries of the church. The M.A.E.M. is designed to provide students interested in the educational mission of the church with critical training in theological foundations, educational theory, and the practice of educational ministry. These ministries encompass work with children, youth, women, colleges/universities, seniors, adults, and music/worship. Covenant believes that these ministries should be led by theologically informed, well-trained individuals who understand the church and want to use these ministries to support the mission of the church under the leadership of the church. Qualified and dedicated leadership in these areas will free pastors to focus on other ministries in the church.

In order to implement this program, Covenant Seminary will seek one full-time faculty member who specializes in education as well as several adjuncts who can teach classes on educational ministries. The J. Oliver Buswell Library also plans to increase holdings to support student and faculty research in these areas.

CURRICULAR ASSESSMENT AND REVISION

The Curricular Assessment and Revision Project began two years ago. Methods of assessing the curriculum include, but are not limited to, personal interviews with faculty concerning the content and goals of their courses, alumni surveys regarding students’ experiences at Covenant Theological Seminary, end-of-course evaluations from students, and creation of a “levels of competence” rubric that assists faculty and administrators in matching targeted learning objectives with the mission statement of Covenant Seminary.

The process of assessment is an ongoing one, and is now coinciding with efforts to revise the curriculum. The chief goal of these revisions is to increase our co-curricular training by integrating the academic curriculum with aspects of community and spiritual formation. How extensive is the scope of these revisions? Initial changes have affected only the M.Div. program, but will eventually extend to the M.A.’s, the D.Min., the Th.M., and the Graduate Certificates (the former two have been addressed in committee discussions, whereas the latter have yet to be addressed).

How have these revisions been accomplished thus far? One change is a more intentional effort to offer classes that are “team taught,” a move which incorporates both faculty and administrators into the instructional process and enhances the co-curricular aspects of our training. For instance, Donald Guthrie and Tasha Chapman team taught the class “Educational Ministry of the Church,” and the new Covenant Theology course was team taught by Jack Collins and Michael Williams (with other faculty and administrators attending regularly to contribute as well). In fact, the Covenant Theology course and its second-semester companion, “Cultural and Biblical Hermeneutics,” (both are required for M. Div. Students) are the most significant manifestations to date of the work of the curricular revision committee. The content

16 of the course includes discussions on the topic of Covenant theology and prolegomena as well as various subjects related to adjusting to life in seminary (study skills, financial planning, etc.). Also, M.Div. students in these courses must now attend mandatory spiritual formation groups organized around the contents of the classes. These “Covenant groups” are led by faculty, administrators, and senior M.Div. students. By connecting the academic content of the class with the community of the Covenant groups, Covenant Theological Seminary hopes to promote the integration of students’ beliefs with their lives (see page 20 for more information on Covenant groups). Eventually, this effort will extend to the remainder of the M.Div. curriculum as well as to the entire curriculum at Covenant Theological Seminary.

Another aspect of curricular revision is syllabi revision. Using the “levels of competence” rubric mentioned above, faculty members are receiving training about how to match course content and objectives with the stated educational goals of Covenant Seminary. Our Administrative Assistant for Academic Assessment addresses these topics through one-on-one interviews and reviews with the faculty and through periodic presentations at the faculty meeting. This effort toward syllabi revision should result in greater continuity between educational principles and classroom practices.

The final element of curricular revision implemented in 2003 is a substantial change in class scheduling. In recognition of our students’ commitment to weekend and midweek service in the local church, we modified our class scheduling to reserve Monday mornings, Wednesday evenings, and Friday afternoons for study or other out-of-class activities. Students are responding positively to this change.

ACADEMIC SUPPORT SERVICES

J. Oliver Buswell, Jr. Library

The mission statement of the J. Oliver Buswell, Jr. Library reads as follows: As an integral component of Covenant Theological Seminary, the Buswell Library seeks to undergird the Seminary's mission by providing resources for training servants of the Triune God to walk with God, to interpret and communicate God's Word, and to lead God's people. This is done primarily through the provision of materials and services, including their intellectual, technical and physical organization, together with their ongoing management, interpretation, and preservation. These materials and services are provided in accord with the research, teaching, and ministry needs of the various constituencies of the Library. From the standpoint of these constituencies, the purpose of resources and ease of their use serve to guide the Library's pursuit of its mission.

Staff members of the Buswell Library report numerous accomplishments during 2003; the following is a representative list:

Development of the Library’s collections and personnel. Cataloguing of the Tait Rare Book Room collection, the last remaining collection that had not been catalogued.

17 Rebarcoding the collection in order to reduce errors in processing and handling of the Library collections. Library web site redesign. Creation of new resource guides for students (both electronically and on paper). Reorganizing the Library office area to facilitate workflow. Submitting all Doctor of Ministry projects from Covenant to the Research in Ministry database. Installation of security gates to protect the Library collections. A systematic evaluation and building of the reference collection of commentaries to provide better access to important commentaries. Maintenance and advancement of partnerships with other libraries, as indicated below. More students, awareness & resources, along with OCLC and now MOBIUS (statewide library system with direct borrowing and courier service) account for the growth.

LENT to other libraries BORROWED from other libraries 1984-85 15 31 1989-90 24 9 1999-00 411 518 2002-03 1971 1943

Library administrators are also working on many projects such as a serials inventory, catalog and database cleanup, web pages for D.Min. and Access students, grant applications, a new brochure and web page for the Tait Rare Book Collection, revision and updating of network and web resources for students, and the creation of a handout for writing exegetical papers. Future projects include greater collaboration with Bridges catalogers by providing a workshop on rare book cataloging, as well as other educational events. Likewise, creating additional resource guides and completing an inventory of the collection are priorities for 2004.

Other goals for 2004 include the following: Collecting workflow procedures in a central manual. Completing minor preservation work on the rare books. Updating the Bridges Cataloging Committee website. Improving the serials history notes and serial records. Learning to catalog “integrating resources,” a new category of material. Improving the budget, particularly upgrading course support acquisitions & databases and remuneration for certain staff. Replacing a critical full-time staff member. Implementing in-class bibliographic instruction for M.Div. and M.A. programs. Establishing support for the new M.A.E.M. degree and the Bioethics certificate program. Further analyzing collection preservation issues, such as UV damage. Cultivating collaboration with faculty members in collection development and in research. Completion of main collection shift.

The ongoing pursuit of further funding for the Library is a chief concern for the Vice President for Academics and Instruction and for the Library administrators. Both the serials collection

18 and the monograph collection must be increased significantly to match the increase in student enrollment; this, in turn, will require a significant increase in funding. The Library is seeking funding from foundations while maintaining careful stewardship of the current budget. Also, a means of continual, formal self-assessment (apart from annual personnel evaluations and required reports) is needed in order to ensure maximum administrative efficiency.

The Scribe, Covenant’s Resource Center for Theological Writing

The Scribe is a new resource for faculty and students at Covenant Seminary. The mission of the Scribe is to promote the practice of writing within the Christian community, with particular emphasis on the seminary community.

To this end, the Scribe is committed to: Developing resources to support student writers Offering one-on-one and small group sessions with writing consultants Enriching the writing pedagogy of faculty members, and Exploring and advancing the role of writing in theological contexts.

One full-time employee and 3 part-time student workers staff the Scribe, which officially opened at the end of November this year. Student response was positive and surveys indicate that students found this resource quite useful. Prior to the opening of the Scribe, a series of 6 “Writing Well” seminars was offered on Monday mornings; attendance averaged 15 to 20 students per seminar, many of whom were returning adult and/or first-year students. The Scribe also offered support to M.Div. students in the Covenant Theology class through multiple presentations and provision of writing aids.

Goals for 2004 include increasing student awareness of the Scribe’s resources, creating an online component to the writing center, promoting ongoing consultant training, developing electronic and paper handouts on a variety of writing topics, and establishing greater collaboration with the faculty.

ACCESS

Covenant Seminary’s distance learning program, Access, is built on over 14 years of experience with site-based distance education and is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) and the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. In 2001, Covenant Seminary proposed and received approval from ATS to operate with an exception to their student residency requirements. The Access program was established to apply this low residency model to distance learning. Students may earn a full 60-credit Master of Arts in Theological Studies without relocating to St. Louis by enrolling in individual courses that are facilitated by an approved mentor and attending three one-week intensive classes at the St. Louis campus. Completed coursework may also be applied to the M.Div., or a Graduate Certificate.

During 2003, a number of significant changes were made to the program. In January, Dr. Brad Hough, our Chief Information Officer, became the program's director. Dr. Hough brought an

19 expertise in distance learning to the program, having developed online models of teacher support for his dissertation. In April, the program delivered a progress report on library resource availability for the Access program to ATS, a report that was subsequently approved. In May, the program's fee structure was modified to match main campus tuition and eliminate the media fee for audiotapes and study guides. Also in 2003, Access conducted its customary two weeks of residency classes, including a practical theology course in January and the introductory residency in August. For Fall term, a new faculty member was assigned to be the liaison between students and the faculty. Professor Greg Perry will now advise students completing their Capstone projects.

Even while maintaining the strengths of Access, Covenant Seminary seeks to improve this program. The staff is working to streamline the interaction between students and the Seminary both operationally and academically. Goals related to this purpose include: developing a more comprehensive training guide for mentors, increasing mentor/faculty communication, and initiating contact with each Access student at least once a year to update their academic plan in light of their additional responsibilities and to provide encouragement and prayer for their current and future circumstances.

FRANCIS SCHAEFFER INSTITUTE

The mission of the Francis Schaeffer Institute (FSI) is to train God’s servants to demonstrate compassionately and defend reasonably the claims of Christ upon the whole of life. FSI trains seminarians and Christians at large how to winsomely engage the world with the gospel and manner of Jesus Christ.

FSI offers courses and training events throughout the academic year. In 2003, the Institute hosted two Schaeffer Lecture Series, one on multiracial churches and one on the Christian’s role in the political renewal process. Also hosted were Friday Nights at the Institute, meetings that use local bookstores as a forum for addressing an array of topics from a Christian world view. Also in 2003, FSI published two issues of the Perspectives newsletter. This newsletter recapitulates the contents of the “Friday Nights” lectures.

Three main goals guided the efforts of FSI throughout 2003; these goals also apply to the upcoming year. The first is to diversify the Institute’s audience and speakers. The second is to attract new donors. The third is to build relationships with like-minded organizations. With these goals in view, FSI intends to seek funding from a major foundation over the course of 2004.

The leadership of FSI envisions the development of two new programs in addition to the established ministries mentioned above. FSI hopes to launch “Movie Nights at the Institute,” which will train seminarians how to affirm the creational and redemptive aspects of film while critically discerning the evil aspects. The other new ministry will be based on the city ministry described in Acts 28:30-31. In this passage, the Apostle Paul welcomes strangers in his home, answers their questions, and teaches them about Jesus Christ. Students who pursue this ministry

20 will live in the city, earning field education credit and “on-the-job” apologetic training while following the model in Acts.

YOUTH IN MINISTRY INSTITUTE

The mission of the Youth In Ministry Institute (YIMI) is to help youth and people who work with youth to walk with God, to know and show His world, and to lead God’s people. YIMI seeks to affirm the legitimacy of youth ministry; in doing so, YIMI is gradually shifting its focus toward the training of future youth pastors.

YIMI administrators and staff completed several exciting projects during 2003. A year and a half of planning culminated with the Connect Conference in February 2003. The twofold purpose of this conference was to train youth pastors how to “pastor” youth in the current postmodern milieu and to affirm the covenantal role of youth pastor as a legitimate calling. At this conference, the first of its kind sponsored within the PCA, over 300 youth pastors attended lectures by noted youth culture experts and workshop leaders. The subsequent Summer Youth Conference in June encouraged junior high and high school students to think and live in light of the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

In addition to these conferences, YIMI sponsored several Ministry Lunches on youth or pop culture and invited guest presenters to advise students about how to position themselves for future employment. One such presenter was Dean Conkel, the National Coordinator for Youth and Family Ministries at Christian Education and Publications. YIMI also revamped its website to promote easier navigation and access to resources.

What will YIMI seek to achieve during 2004? Potential activities include incorporating a youth workers’ track into the Summer Youth Conference, collaborating with FSI to sponsor a lecture series on bringing up children in the postmodern age, producing a new brochure, and further updating the website to reach out to youth and youth pastors. Within the seminary community, YIMI will continue to offer training on youth or pop culture and will establish mentoring partnerships between full-time youth ministers and current students.

STUDENT SERVICES

CAMPUS COMMUNITY

Student Life

Chapel Chapel services provide a regular time for students, spouses, and faculty to gather for community-wide worship, prayer, and teaching. In most chapel services, professors, local pastors, and distinguished guest speakers preach while students lead worship. At certain times, chapel is used for topical presentations rather than as a worship service. Chapel formerly occurred 3 times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, but the new schedule changes

21 have reduced that number to twice a week (on Tuesdays and Fridays). However, the new schedule has allowed for an expanded chapel time from 40 minutes to 45 minutes.

The Chapel Coordinator from Student Services is responsible for planning chapels, including the synchronization of musicians, speakers, and other participants. The Coordinator is also creating folders for easy access to bulletins, music, and related items that contribute to chapel planning.

Covenant Groups Covenant Groups are weekly opportunities for students to meet with faculty members and fellow students in a small group setting for mutual encouragement, prayer, and growth in grace. Covenant Groups are intended to promote meaningful relationships rooted in the truth of the gospel, foster an awareness of corporate interdependence in the seminary community, and to provide an opportunity and atmosphere for mutual support and sharing of personal needs and requests that leads to deepened fellowship.

Changes in the set-up of Covenant Groups have brought about greater student participation this year. In prior years, the Seminary offered an average of 10 Covenant Groups each semester; attendance was optional and groupings were based on the common interests of the participants. Eight groups of this type continue to meet concerning topics such as “Chaplaincy,” “World and Urban Missions,” “Church Planting, “ and “Being a Godly Husband.” Following the new model, precipitated by changes in the M.Div. curriculum and Covenant Theology course (see page 14), the Fall class of M.Div. students was placed into 10 Covenant Groups of 12 students each, and attendance became mandatory. Not only faculty members and administrators, but also senior M.Div. students now lead these groups in discussing the concepts and principles introduced in class. This model enhances the students’ experience of the many facets of ministry, feeding not just their minds, but also their hearts as they build relationships and explore classroom topics in a group setting. Group leaders report a notable increase in students’ attendance, personal commitment, and vulnerability in engaging with the topics at hand.

Ministry Lunches Ministry Lunches are designed to promote community and expand students’ knowledge on a wide range of subjects. The lunches provide a casual setting in which students are introduced to special interest speakers who address topics concerning the application of truth to life and ministry. Topics range from multiracial church planting, to maintaining one's devotional life while in ministry, to what senior pastors look for in assistant pastors, to ancient Egyptian history.

With the new class schedule implemented this fall, we have two ministry lunches per week on Tuesdays and Thursdays with the option of a third ministry lunch on Fridays if the need arises. Student Services coordinates the logistics for these lunches and continues to look for ways to advertise these events and encourage student involvement. The average attendance at ministry lunches is 60-70 students.

22 Student Council Student Council is elected by the student body each spring to serve in the following school year (August through May). It serves in an advisory way to the faculty, administration, and Board of Trustees with regard to academics, students, and student life. The Student Council is also a service group to the student community at large. Student Council meets weekly to pray and to discuss issues at hand. The 11-member Council is comprised of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, International Representative, M.A. Representative, M.A.C. Representative, Women’s Representative, First-Year Representative, Senior Representative, and two Middler Representatives. Dean of Students Mark Dalbey, Academic Vice-President Donald Guthrie, and President Bryan Chapell regularly communicate with Student Council. Mark Dalbey serves in an ongoing advisory role and attends most meetings.

The goals of the current Student Council, which is led by Student Body President Brig Jones, are to enhance our students’ learning experiences, to enhance our faculty’s teaching experiences, and to enhance our administration’s serving experiences in order to enhance the world’s receiving experiences. To accomplish these goals, the Council is carrying out a three- step plan that involves building community, improving communication, and enhancing care. These ideas were generated from the collective passions and visions of the current members of the Council. The ’03-’04 Council has organized community-building special events such as an appreciation luncheon for administrators, a mentoring program and ministry lunches for new students, the annual Christmas Banquet, and campus cook-outs (see page 24 for more information).

In addition to the above, Student Council is responsible for coordinating budget approval and distribution for all student-led organizations, which includes the Women's Student Fellowship, the Student Missions Fellowship, and the Archaeology Club. Beginning in Spring '03 and continuing to the present Student Council has given helpful input and feedback on the recent curriculum and schedule changes at the seminary.

International Community International students comprise approximately 6% of the student body at Covenant Seminary. Their peculiar needs are met both through Student Services and by the International Student Advisor in the Department of Advancement (see page 36). Student Services employs Susan Bayer, wife of German-born professor Hans Bayer, to serve the international community. She meets one-on-one and in groups with international women (as well as a few American women with overseas experience or plans to travel overseas) in order to assess their needs, offer encouragement, and provide practical help whenever possible. Under her leadership, the Tuesday “Soup Kitchens”, provided during the cold months of the year, raise proceeds for the needs of current and graduated international women.

In addition to these ongoing relationships, work has begun on an International Student Handbook that will ease the cultural transition for incoming students. Proposed topics include the following: what to do for preparation while still in the home country, what to expect upon arrival in the U.S. (both initially and long term), and what to think about for re-entry to home country (for example, questions of identification now that one is changed through experience

23 abroad). The Handbook will also review the requirements that students must meet in order to maintain their student F-1 visa status, based on the standards set by the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services. A partial version of this Handbook should be available in Fall 2004. This is part of a continual and much-needed effort to orient newly arrived international students to the Covenant community and the larger St. Louis community. Another prospective resource is an Adopt-a-Family program to partner incoming families with currently residing families.

Intramurals In 2003, flag football, golf, and basketball were the most prominent intramural sports at Covenant Seminary. Approximately 90 students participated in the Fall flag football league. Student Services anticipates coordinating basketball and golf tournaments in the Spring of 2004; other potential sports include softball and Frisbee golf.

Rivendell Rivendell, the campus coffee shop, is adjacent to the student lounge and gives students an informal place to fellowship before and after class.

Free Store The Free Store receives donations of clothing, children’s toys, and small household items. It is open to seminary students and their families on Wednesdays and Fridays each week. The current manager spends up to five hours a week sorting through items and maintaining the store. Volunteers reorganized the store on Campus Day, removing unwanted items and increasing the accessibility of available items. A system for tracking donated items so that they can be removed from the store after a reasonable waiting period is under consideration. Also under consideration is an improved system for storage and retrieval of out-of-season or extra items.

Family Life

Flowing from a deep sense of commitment to the family, Student Services directs a unique Family Nurture Program designed to focus specifically on the needs and interests of married students (and those preparing for marriage), their spouses, and their children. This program includes a variety of opportunities for support groups, fellowship, learning, and general preparation for the joys and challenges that ministry brings to family life. Described below are the Family Nurture and Childcare Events during 2003.

Family Nurture Events The Family Nurture Program sponsored a number of successful events over 2003. The first of these was the Family Nurture Conference in March, led by the Rev. Tuck Bartholomew, assistant pastor at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, and his wife, Stacy. The Conference had a two-fold theme: “Nurturing Our Marriages and Families while in Seminary and in Ministry” as well as “Families and Singles: Building Community and Ministering Together.” Once the fall semester began, Family Nurture welcomed students through two key events led by faculty, faculty wives, and seasoned students: the Ladies Autumn Brunch, with 98 in attendance welcomed new women, and Brats, Bonding, and Brotherhood, with 80 in

24 attendance welcomed new men. Both of these events gave students the opportunity to learn from those who had been in their shoes and to get to know one another better.

During October, Family Nurture hosted the first of several “Vignettes,” in which FSI, Family Nurture, and the Women’s Student Fellowship invite speakers to address topics concerning women in ministry. This initial session featured Jennifer Lahl, a minister’s wife, mother, and founder of the Center of Bioethics and Culture in California. In November, Family Nurture invited Dr. and Mrs. Guthrie and Dr. and Mrs. Chapman to lead a seminar on “The Secrets of a Han-Hao Marriage.” The seminar leaders offered reflections and answered questions about how to pursue a “Han-Hao” or “great” marriage. December brought about a special luncheon for female graduates and the wives of male graduates. A similar luncheon will be scheduled for the May and December graduations of 2004. The 2004 Family Nurture Conference will address the theme of "Strong Relationships with Family and Friends while in Ministry. Plans are also in process for the welcome events for the fall semester.

Childcare Events Free childcare for Covenant students and their families is generally provided in the Log Cabin, which can house up to 15 children at a time. Regular ministries include Mom’s Morning Out on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, a monthly Parents’ Night Out on Friday or Saturday nights, and childcare for students in the Spiritual Ministry and Formation class on Monday nights and in the Marriage and Family class on Tuesday nights. Childcare is also available for the International Women’s Group, for special events such as graduation, baccalaureate, and the Christmas Banquet, and for numerous family nurture events. Also provided are a low cost pre- school playgroup program on Tuesday and Thursday mornings and ballet & tap lessons for interested children.

Not only do the childcare events in the Log Cabin serve to support individual families, but they also build up the Covenant community as parents, workers, and children develop deeper friendships and enjoy the fellowship of the Christian community.

Publications

The Courier The Courier is the weekly newsletter of Covenant Seminary, distributed to faculty, staff, and students. The 8.5 x 14 (front and back) tri-fold brochure contains a calendar of the week’s special events as well as announcements about academics and community life. This year, circulation averaged approximately 650 per printing.

Pictorial Directory The 2003 Pictorial Directory went out to all main campus students in October. This publication is produced yearly, with an addendum distributed in January, and includes student and faculty pictures, phone numbers, and local and email addresses. Last year, the format was changed to incorporate larger pictures; this change was sustained this year with no further alterations.

25 International Student Handbook See above entry on “International Community” (page 21).

SPECIAL EVENTS

Orientation and New Student Welcome Covenant Seminary’s Orientation seminars provide incoming students with an overview of the many facets of the Covenant community. Student Services and the Office of the Registrar typically work together to offer 3 such sessions each summer, with an additional session in January for those who enter in the Spring. Speakers at these seminars include faculty and administrators as well as students.

During the first two Summer sessions, pre-registration was available for interested students. The students in the final session, which took place immediately prior to the Fall semester participated in the regular registration process. An additional Orientation was held in August for new international students so that their special needs and questions could be addressed.

In addition to these Orientation seminars, Student Services also sponsored a Welcome Reception in the Fall. This event allowed new students (from the previous spring and current fall term) and their spouses to meet the faculty, participate in a worship service together, and receive encouragement from students such as Tim Jones and student body president Brig Jones. Seminary President Bryan Chapell also addressed the new students. Approximately 250 people attended this service and the subsequent meet-and-greet dessert reception.

Community Events Traditional community events include picnics, special worship services, Campus Day, the Day of Prayer, and the Christmas Banquet.

Student Council hosts two picnics each school year – one in the fall to start off the year and one in the spring to close the year. The Council provides burgers, brats, hot dogs and buns, while the faculty, staff, and students bring a salad, side dish or dessert to round out the fare. In a similar fashion, Student Services hosts three picnics during the summer in order to help students keep in touch and to introduce new students to the Covenant community. Student Services also holds two worship services followed by a dessert social during the summer months.

Faculty, staff and students at Covenant look forward to the two days each semester that are reserved for community renewal – Campus Day for physical renewal and the Day of Prayer for spiritual renewal. Campus Day is a time for upkeep and improvement of the campus facilities. Student Services works in conjunction with the Physical Plant Department to plan and coordinate this event. Due to heavy rain during the Fall Campus Day, some projects had to be delayed, but PPD still led members of the Covenant community in activities such as brush chipping, gutter cleaning, wall cleaning, interior window cleaning, hall cleaning, tree planting, bridge demolition on the South Campus, and furniture inventory.

26 During the Day of Prayer, worship leaders direct the community in individual and corporate prayer. The February event, part of the Student Missions Fellowship Conference Week, focuses on missions-related prayer needs. The guest speaker in February of 2003 was Dr. Alonzo Ramirez, campus minister at the National University of Cajamarca in Peru, pastor on the Cajamarca church planting team, and Director of Church Planting for the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Peru. In September, newest faculty member Professor Greg Perry gave the message Keep Watch from Matthew 25:1-13. Those who attended this meeting participated in corporate worship and prayer, spent time in private prayer and meditation, and then reconvened to worship together before enjoying a time for lunch and lingering fellowship. These Days of Prayers serve to unite the community through a shared inward focus and outward expression of that focus.

The annual Christmas Banquet, hosted by Student Council, is usually held at Twin Oaks Presbyterian Church on the first Friday in December. This catered, semi-formal event is a fun time of interaction among students, faculty, and staff as well as a special time to celebrate and sing of the joy and blessing of Christmas. Students can earn free tickets by decorating tables; judges award prizes for the best-decorated table in several categories. Approximately 300 people attended this year’s event.

Graduation The graduating class of 2003 consisted of 150 candidates for the degrees displayed below: Graduate Certificate 8 Master of Arts 38 Master of Arts in Counseling 29 Master of Divinity 65 Master of Theology 4 Doctor of Ministry 6 Total Number of Degrees 150

Student Services, in conjunction with the Office of the Registrar, directed the Commencement Exercises on Monday, May 19, at the First Evangelical Free Church in Manchester. The Rev. John Yenchko, Senior Pastor of the New Life Presbyterian Church in Glenside, Pennsylvania, delivered the Commencement Address.

GRADUATE PLACEMENT Covenant Seminary bears placement responsibilities for the M.Div. and M.A.C. degrees. Placement statistics for the past 5 years are below:

Program 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 M.Div. 100% 100% 100% 96% 100% M.A.C. 92% 96% 94% 100% 92%

Should ATS approve the proposed M.A.E.M. (see page 13), Covenant Seminary will also assume placement responsibilities for these graduates.

27 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES

Information Technology Services (IT) provides for the information technology needs of the faculty and staff of Covenant Theological Seminary, and increasingly supports student needs as well. IT maintains and develops the Seminary network, desktops and laptops, applications, web site, and telephone system. The three main divisions within IT are desktop support, network administration, and application development.

Desktop Support

The Desktop Support staff makes sure that the faculty, staff, and students of Covenant Theological Seminary are able to use the technology that is available to them. This includes installing new programs, computers, and printers as well as troubleshooting the existing hardware and software. Accomplishments during 2003 include the following: Adopting an Acceptable Use Policy, which establishes comprehensive guidelines governing faculty, staff, and student use of the Seminary’s computing resources. Upgrading hardware and software of 13 computers in the student lab. Designing an asset tagging system to track our inventory, assigning a number to each piece of technological equipment on campus. Replacing outdated technology (Windows 9x systems) with newer, more secure technology (Windows 2000 or Windows XP). Identifying ways to cut printer supply costs for staff. Implementing campus-wide Software Update Service (automatically installs critical updates that formerly had to be installed manually). Instituting EZSave power saving policy, which turns off computer monitors after they have been idle for five minutes.

Network Administration

Network Administration sustains the various networks associated with Covenant – phone, email, computer, and printing networks. Many significant changes to our networks were made this year. Migrated to an active directory, a more secure method of housing user and email accounts. Implemented a web filtering solution that prevents anyone using our network from visiting sites with inappropriate content. Created student email accounts for the first time, which also necessitated a username change for all faculty and staff. Installed wireless technology in the library. Providing wireless network access for student housing remains an important goal for 2004. Installed a phone system back-up plan that saves our phone configuration nightly; in case of an emergency that would take the phone system down, we will no longer have to reset every connection by hand, but could be up and running again in a few hours. Upgraded the print server, improving printing speed across the campus.

Application Development

An “application” is a computer program with a user interface. Application developers create applications that are user-friendly and that also meet professional standards of accessibility and usability. The three main areas for application development during 2003 were the Comprehensive Administrative Management System (CAMS), the Student and Faculty Portals (specific interfaces for CAMS) and the Covenant website.

In an effort to centralize and standardize data collected by multiple offices and used in multiple ways across campus, we have recently migrated to the Enterprise version of CAMS. CAMS is a student record database that can be searched in any number of ways, depending on the type and amount of information desired. This system enables quick, easy access to large quantities of data and eliminates unnecessary duplication of data collection.

While implementing CAMS, our Webmaster and our Application Development Administrator customized two key portals, or web-based windows, into CAMS, one for students and one for faculty. These portals must be accessed with a username and password. Both portals provide the personalized educational information relevant to the individual who is logged on. This may include grades, coursework, financial information, unofficial transcripts, and the like.

Through the portals, Faculty and Students can also make use of iCourse, which enables online interaction among students and faculty outside of the traditional classroom. Faculty can post important documents on iCourse and students can retrieve these documents at will. Also, students may participate in discussion forums or may view their most recent grades through iCourse. iCourse replaces BlackBoard as a supplement for distance education, saving money in licensing fees and contributing to increased functionality across the board. Creating Version 2.0 of iCourse is a significant goal for 2004. Also, other portals for users such as the staff and alumni of Covenant are under consideration.

The seminary’s website has also undergone many changes in 2003, many of which are invisible to the person browsing our site but are essential to the proper functioning of the site. Covenant’s site is now hosted on campus rather than being hosted by a vendor; this reduces the risk of uncontrollable down time for the site and reduces the overall cost of operation. Also, the homepage and navigation have been revised to improve usability and performance. Our Webmaster is working towards meeting industry standards in these areas. In the more visible arena, the website now contains fewer pictures and smaller pages than earlier versions, thus enabling users to access the pages more quickly than before.

AUDIO VISUAL SERVICES

Audio Visual Production

Thanks to the work of Audio Visual (AV) Services, the scholarship and ministry of Covenant Theological Seminary is preserved for an audience that extends beyond the physical or temporal

29 space of classes and chapel services. AV Services produces recordings of chapel services, lecture series, FSI lectures, and many classroom lectures. One of AV’s chief services is to the Access students at Covenant. AV records and produces main campus classes for use by the Access program and also converts courses from audiotape or videotape to CD and/or DVD. Five courses were converted during 2003, with fourteen remaining to be completed.

In addition to producing the materials for Access classes, AV serves the wider Covenant community by recording chapel messages and class lectures. Formerly, individuals who wanted to request a particular message or lecture had to order the tape or video from Covenant, but AV is now converting lectures and sermons to MP3 format and offering them free of charge via the student portal and/or the Seminary’s website. This frees up the AV staff from the responsibility of manual reproduction of resources and makes the resources readily accessible to a much wider audience than just those few who would call to request a specific item by name.

Another significant project for the AV Services department entails the production of the Covenant of Grace CDs for the Advancement Department. AV Services records, edits, and produces these 60-minute compilation CDs (see page 38).

Classroom Technology Support

The Classroom Technology Support staff works to ensure that the AV equipment on campus is available and functioning well whenever it is needed. They monitor the condition of our equipment and attend to its upkeep on a regular basis. During 2003, the entire sound system in the chapel was updated or replaced, significantly improving the audio quality and recording capabilities in that venue.

Duplication and Shipping

The Duplication and Shipping staff is responsible for the physical delivery of resources recorded by AV Production and requested by individuals. They primarily reproduce Access course materials and chapel messages for students as well as the general public. A CD printer was recently acquired in order to print directly to the disc, saving the time and cost of printing and applying separate labels. The emphasis of our Duplication efforts is shifting from analog audio/videotape reproduction to digital CD/DVD/online reproduction.

INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY

The Instructional Design and Technology Department strengthens and enhances all manner of instruction at Covenant Seminary. This is accomplished by providing the seminary’s faculty and programs with practical advice, training, and assistance in use of technology for teaching, and by developing online educational tools and media.

The most significant project of 2003 was the development of a course management system to replace Blackboard. IT Services and Instructional Design worked together to develop iCourse. Unlike Blackboard, iCourse is integrated with CAMS, eliminating the need for time-consuming data reentry. iCourse also supports a wide range of instructional models, from hybrid classes to

30 fully online classes. In May of 2003, iCourse was deployed for use by the distance learning students, and was rolled out to main campus students in September, 2003.

The Instructional Design and Technology Assistant is responsible for iCourse administration, continuing education support for faculty with regard to technology and teaching, and editing and updating study guides for the Access program. By the close of 2003, study guides on three classes (“New Testament History,” “Psalms and Wisdom Literature,” and “Life and Letters of Paul”) had been edited, and several others were in progress. Also completed was an iCourse manual that addresses both student and faculty concerns.

Ongoing projects in Instructional Design include one-on-one faculty training, a quick reference manual for student email accounts, a self-paced tutorial for the student portal, interactive questions for the Access course “Life and Teachings of Jesus,” and minor file revisions on other Access courses. Potential future projects include presentations to the faculty on “How to Setup Your Course Using iCourse” or “How to Use PowerPoint Effectively in Teaching.”

INSTITUTIONAL STATISTICS

Institutional statistics are one important means of tracking trends and developments at the Seminary. These statistics are regularly compiled and shared with both external and internal constituents.

Each year, Covenant Seminary generates several reports for our accrediting agencies, the Department of Education, various research organizations, and educational advocacy and marketing survey groups. These reports contain information regarding our academic programs, our personnel, and our physical and financial resources.

We also generate reports for internal use; these reports help us modify existing policies and procedures to better meet the needs of students and to better achieve our mission. These institutional statistics contribute significantly to our planning processes.

BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

BUDGET PERFORMANCE

Fiscal Year 2003 (June 30) SUMMARY: The fiscal year ended with a surplus of $175, after transferring $138,000 of surplus to Renewal & Debt. The size of the operating surplus was due to our cost-cutting efforts. We just reached the Annual Fund goal, after a special appeal was done late in the year.

Revenues from tuition and fees came in about $11,000 (0.33%) under the September revised budget. The Annual Fund (Gifts & Grants) made goal after a first-time, special appeal was made. Restricted gifts used were above budget by about $19,000, because of higher than budgeted spending for YIMI related to the large conference. Other Income was higher due to the YIMI conference fees and rent income from the South Campus property. Auxiliary income

31 was 4.9% below budget. Leaving out the restricted income lines, Total Revenues were $7,317,299, exceeding budget by $22,059 (0.27%).

Expenses (leaving out those covered by restricted gifts and the unmandated transfer) were $7,179,124 or $138,175 (1.89%) under budget. A surplus of $175 was the result after the transfer to the Renewal & Debt Fund. These funds can be used to pay for capital projects that are not in the new budget, or to help us make budget in the next year.

Fiscal Year as of December 31 Overall, there was a surplus for the first half of the 2003-04 fiscal year of $59,429. This is $2,164 worse than budget and about $74,000 worse than this time last year. This result is primarily due to both tuition and gifts and grants being below budget.

Revenues: For the year, Revenues (not including restricted funds) were $157,519 below budget. The tuition, fees and other income numbers were $62,567 below budget. Gifts & Grants (Annual Fund) were $75,206 below budget. Revenue from Auxiliary Enterprises came in about $16,481 below budget, due to lower than expected revenues from the apartments and guest housing.

Expenses: Educational & General spending was $141,049 under budget for the year. Student Aid scholarship expenses were under budget by $16,562. Auxiliary Enterprises were $1,046 over budget for the half-year mostly because of higher insurance and utility costs. Overall, expenses were $155,355 under budget.

ENDOWMENT

In 2003 administration for the endowment assets was moved to TIAA-CREF Trust Services, headquartered in St. Louis. The administration for the trusts had been moved the previous year to TIAA-CREF. This change consolidates administration and reporting in one place and provides administrative and investment management resources that were previously not available. Also, the Board of Trustees approved the Administration’s plan to cut the endowment spending rate to 5.0%, beginning with the FY 2003-04 budget.

Fiscal Year Data (6/30) 2002 2003

Endowment Investment Performance -2.45% 1.05% Endowment Assets $20,927,369 $20,071,507 Total under Management $23,451,798 $22,521,051

Calendar Year Data (12/31)

Endowment Investment Performance -6.14% 19.47% Endowment Assets $19,825.463 $22,104,827 Total under Management $22,119,676 $24,716,696 BUSINESS OFFICE AND HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

The Business Office provides support for the seminary community in a variety of ways, interacting with all faculty, staff, students, vendors, and any other parties with whom we have business relationships. This office is responsible for monthly payroll processing, employee benefit administration, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and reconciliation of the seminary’s financial affairs. Additionally, this office participates in student registration, year- end tax reporting for employees, students, and donors, and the annual financial audit. Other projects occur in relation to the progression of the fiscal year, the calendar year, and the academic year. The Business Office works closely with each department on campus on a daily basis.

The Business Office is pleased to report that the 2003 audit by our auditors, Humes and Barrington, resulted in the best management report received in several years. The auditors reviewed the procedures, policies, and records of the Business Office and found very few areas that needed improvement. Also, the first major update to the Staff Manual since 1998 was completed in 2003. The Staff Manual is now available on-line at the intranet site.

As the Business Office looks ahead to 2004, they hope to establish a new position that would bolster the human resources management and institutional research functions.

PHYSICAL PLANT DEPARTMENT

The Physical Plant Department (PPD) supports the mission of Covenant Theological Seminary by working to develop and maintain the physical properties of the campus and to initiate all the planning, design, engineering, estimating, procurement, construction and installation of equipment and furnishings that are necessary to meet current and future program needs. The Department is divided into six main categories: Facilities and Operations, Grounds, Maintenance, Housekeeping, Guest Services, and Mail.

Facilities and Operations

As the office responsible for overseeing the Physical Plant Department, the Facilities and Operations Office deals daily with many behind-the-scene issues and details in order to keep the seminary operating smoothly. As Covenant Theological Seminary continues to grow in many areas, Facilities and Operations management seeks to accommodate this ongoing expansion as it relates to the equipment and furnishings on location. The Facilities and Operations Office, led by Director Larry Abeln and Assistant Director David Brown, coordinates the multiple activities that are vital to sustaining the Seminary’s capacity to serve its constituents. These activities extend from obtaining new office furniture to overseeing the renovation of the chapel to envisioning and enacting long-range plans for the betterment of the Seminary.

Many hours and much labor are put into researching potential purchases, speaking and meeting with vendor representatives, and looking at samples and designs before final decisions are made. Once this process is complete, the information is presented to various administrators for their approval. All ordering, delivery and installation scheduling is coordinated as needed. This

33 includes assigning special projects to one or more of the departments within PPD and making arrangements for outside contractors for large or emergency repairs.

With the acquisition of several properties over the last few years, the responsibility of overseeing the care and management of the seminary’s property has increased dramatically. This is particularly true regarding the issue of the ever-increasing “deferred maintenance” list. Facilities and Operations tries to determine what is achievable either by in-house staff or by hiring outside contractors to meet the various needs of the Covenant community. Maintenance, Grounds, Housekeeping, and Facilities and Operations are constantly at work to address current needs and emergencies. The Facilities and Operations Office realizes the role it plays in making sure the seminary continues to operate and function smoothly and strives to provide a service that is in line with the Institutional Program and Mission Statement.

One of the chief achievements for 2003 was substantial progress on a new Campus Master Plan (see page #). Facilities and Operations facilitated many of the meetings that contributed to this Plan and also worked closely with the planners throughout the project. Another important task was the acquisition, installation, refurbishing, or relocation of furniture in key areas such as the Financial Aid Office, Business Office, Development Office, Access offices, Admissions, YIMI, and the President’s Conference Room, among others. Below are additional examples of the work of Facilities and Operations during 2003: Began updating locks to work under the same master key system. Created an acquisitions plan for library artwork. Installed security gates in the Library. Oversaw Chapel Auditorium renovation. Contributed to parking and traffic management.

As 2004 approaches, Facilities and Operations will focus on several goals. They will continue to change the locks mentioned above, to acquire appropriate artwork, and to work on parking and traffic management. They will also seek to conduct an ergonomic audit of each department in order to make recommendations regarding furniture and office configuration. Improvements to Edwards Hall, Chapel Classroom 1, and the Facilities and Operations storage space are envisioned, as are many other projects.

Grounds and Equipment

Maintaining and improving the grounds at Covenant Theological Seminary is an important and necessary job that sometimes yields visible results, but other times remains hidden. During 2003, Grounds workers completed projects in several key areas, including the Gulf Drive apartments, student housing, the chapel, the South Campus, and general upkeep of equipment. At the Gulf apartments, the installation of three new concrete patios and further work on the drainage system now helps to alleviate ongoing water problems. On campus, students in the RUF House benefit from a new sidewalk that connects the deck to the driveway. A knee wall designed to keep the soil in place is controlling erosion around the Chapel building. On the South Campus, a replacement bridge is now in place. Other on-campus improvements include the addition of a gravel parking lot, new signs across campus, the removal of two large oak trees

34 that were diseased, the acquisition of a snow blower and leaf vacuum, and many smaller items that contribute to the day-to-day functions of the Seminary. Goals for 2004 include implementing a training program for new employees, increasing administrative effectiveness, and heightening daily observations to ensure neatness and cleanliness on campus.

Maintenance

Maintaining and improving the facilities at Covenant Theological Seminary is another essential role fulfilled by PPD. Our Director of Maintenance/Operations reports numerous accomplishments by the Maintenance staff in 2003, a few of which are listed below: Moved YIMI office to lower level of FSI. Fifteen family apartment move-outs processed. Assembly and installation of three teakwood benches on campus. Annual sprinkler inspection. Chapel renovations, including flooring, wiring, and construction of a portable stage. Repainting in the Administrative Building. Coordination of Campus Day projects.

In addition to their regular maintenance duties, the staff participated in several training seminars on topics such as loss prevention, heat-stress management, First Aid and CPR, and American Education Disabilities certification.

Housekeeping & Environmental Services

The Housekeeping staff keeps the seminary running through continual research into environmental compliance issues, provision of cleaning supplies, apartment turnover, and attending to recycling practices, among other things. During 2003, carpets were cleaned in the seminary apartments, the Library, the Chapel classrooms, four other classrooms, the administrative building, and the archeology building. Housekeeping also set up and restored classrooms for use by two D.Min. sessions, two Access sessions, three Board meetings, the YIMI sessions, and the Baccalaureate service. Larger set-up and restoration projects surrounded two campus days, two registration sessions, two Days of Prayer, numerous ministry lunches, and various evening or weekend conferences. The department also began tracking parking tickets for the first time.

What will the Housekeeping staff focus on during 2004? The Director of Housekeeping and Environmental Services lists at least 29 goals, some of which are as follows: developing a training program for new employees, standardizing equipment use across campus, creating floor plans of all offices and classrooms, increasing the full-time Housekeeping staff, and continuing education for current employees.

Guest Services and Mail

As the Seminary is growing, the demands of providing guest services is growing, as is the volume of our incoming mail. Due to these increases, each of these areas entails a much greater responsibility than it previously did. A new Supervisor of Guest Services and Mail was trained

35 during 2003, and is working to improve both Guest Services and the mail system, updating them to meet our current needs.

Guest Services ensures that overnight guests have a comfortable and enjoyable stay at Covenant. To improve these services, all storage areas were reorganized in 2003, with new storage containers added and items relabeled for easier retrieval. Guest Services makes continual efforts to create a welcoming environment for visitors, and is considering providing a comment card so that guest feedback can be more easily stored and tracked.

The most important changes in the mail system are the attempts to standardize delivery times and procedures and to reduce the number of people who handle the mail once it arrives at Covenant. Future goals include designing a computer database that will contain mail-related information about current and former students as well as continued reorganization of the department to streamline the mail delivery process.

ADVANCEMENT

ADMISSIONS AND ENROLLMENT

The Admissions Office contributes to the overall mission and vision of Covenant Theological Seminary by developing grace-driven relationships with prospective students in order to offer wisdom and counsel as they discern God's call upon their lives. For those who are called to pursue theological education, the Admissions staff strives, through God's grace, to serve the prospective student well by anticipating their questions and needs and providing timely communication for them to make appropriate decisions.

The administration and staff of the Admissions Office is going through the painstaking yet rewarding process of transferring from paper-based to electronic modes of record-keeping. In addition, they are working together to update the comprehensive admissions processes for each degree program offered at Covenant. This work has already been accomplished with regard to the M.A.C. program; the next program to be considered will be the M.Div.

During 2004, the Admissions Office will focus on the following goals: Endeavor to meet the enrollment projections for Spring and Fall 2004. Develop and implement internal policies and procedures to streamline daily workload. Develop more individualized tracks to better provide pertinent information to prospective students. Develop a more customer-oriented internet interface to better market Covenant. Identify means to support the primary conduits for recruiting students. Identify and lay the groundwork for developing relationships with other organizations with the goal of providing new conduits for recruiting students. Continue to develop a comprehensive admissions policy.

The following discussion addresses four key responsibilities of the Admissions Office: Recruitment, Campus Visits, International Student Advising, and Housing.

Recruitment

The Admissions Office seeks to admit the appropriate number of quality students in order to train the next generation of ministry leaders for expanding the kingdom of God, per annual goals and objectives. This is accomplished by the following: Serving and caring for prospective students from initial contact, through the application process, to the point of matriculation. Improving internal policies and procedures to better serve the prospective student and the needs of the Seminary. Solidifying current strategic relationship with denominational agencies and other friends of the Seminary (denominational agencies, colleges, para-church organizations, board members, etc.) to provide a steady influx of prospective students. Identifying additional strategic relationships to develop as a conduit for providing prospective students.

Recruitment goals for 2003 were met in that Covenant demonstrated sustained growth in both Head Count and FTE (see page 3 for full details). However, the projected enrollment figures were not reached.

Campus Visits

When prospective students plan to visit Covenant Theological Seminary, the Admissions Office makes every provision for an informative and inexpensive stay. Prospective students can stay on campus for up to two nights free of charge. During their visit, students may take a campus tour, meet with the Director of the Admissions Office, visit a class, talk with a professor, and enjoy a meal with a member of the staff at Covenant. In 2003, 306 prospective students took advantage of this service.

The reservation process for campus visits was streamlined during 2003 as office staff updated the Guest Housing system. Future projects may include a campus visit manual and continued transfer from paper to electronic record-keeping, which will facilitate easy scheduling and communication with potential visitors.

Financial Aid

The goal of the Financial Aid office is to further the mission of Covenant Seminary by practicing good stewardship of the financial resources entrusted to it for the students’ benefit. A secondary goal is to encourage the students to practice good stewardship of the financial resources the Lord has provided them. Our financial aid staff seeks to model a servant’s attitude and the love of God to prospective students, current students, and staff and to encourage them in their walk with God.

The chief responsibilities of the Financial Aid Office are to award scholarships in an equitable manner, to work with students to help them meet their financial responsibilities, and to help

37 the seminary maintain compliance with Title IV regulations. Some of the ways that these responsibilities are accomplished include publishing the Financial Aid handbook, educating other departments about Title IV regulations, and counseling students about loans and scholarships.

Seeking to offer more effective guidance for students, the Financial Aid Office has recently initiated a new counseling program for debt management. The purpose of this project is to reinforce debt management practices for students and help them budget for school. A new form has been created for students who are taking out loans. This form shows how much the student will owe upon graduation, how large his or her monthly payments will be, and what salary he or she will need to adequately cover this expense. In addition, the Financial Aid team is making progress on the Scholarship Policy Manual, which is being revised in light of many new governmental regulations. This revision will most likely be completed during 2004.

During 2003, Dave Wicker and Eric Richards represented the Seminary at a meeting in Chicago for all Kern Scholar schools. As a result of the Kern Foundation’s generosity, we were able to offer twice as many scholarships as in 2002, receiving a total of 12 full scholarships for ‘03/’04. This increase was based on the quality and performance of previous Kern scholars at Covenant.

With these and additional scholarships, Financial Aid accounted for 32.91% of the cost of tuition during the ‘02/’03 school year, and we anticipate that this will increase to 33.11% for next year. A total of $1,130,554 in scholarships was awarded for the ‘02/’03 school year, and the projected figure for ‘03/’04 is $1,201,273, based on students’ projected class schedules.

Housing

Covenant Seminary currently maintains on campus housing for 66 singles and 37 families. Sixty-eight families reside in off campus housing at either Gulf Drive or Atherton, which are also maintained by Covenant Seminary’s Housing Coordinator.

The Housing Coordinator also handles on campus housing for D.Min. residency weeks, Access residency weeks, and FSI Summer Study weeks.

Potential improvements in the current administrative process include standardizing the lease format for all sites as well as revising the housing handbooks, combining them into one book that applies to all properties.

International Student Advising

International students comprise approximately 6% of the student body at Covenant Seminary. Their peculiar needs are met both by the International Student Advisor in the Admissions Office and through Student Services. These two sources of international student support are working together to create the International Student Handbook (full details on page 21). In addition to this resource, the International Student Advisor is revising the International Student Prospectus, a condensed version of our catalog. Also under revision are the various

38 materials that international applicants receive from the Admissions Office. Efforts to improve the Handbook, Prospectus, and other correspondence with international students are ongoing.

MARKETING AND CREATIVE SERVICES

The Marketing and Creative Services Office fosters the long-term health of Covenant Theological Seminary by integrating our campus-wide communications plan in a timely and cost-efficient manner, by improving our graphic identity system, and by increasing our online interaction and web-based functionality.

Some of the responsibilities of the Marketing and Creative Services staff are as follows: implementing the Integrated Communications Plan, coordinating lists for Development officers, acknowledging tax-deductible gifts, increasing team members’ skill levels and capabilities, and coordinating conferences and other official public gatherings in such a way that Covenant’s mission is effectively illustrated to visitors.

On April 4, 2003, Marketing and Creative Services installed the new Integrated Communications Plan, which describes the key features of our campaign in the local, regional, and national media. Prior to the creation of the Plan, no uniform guidelines existed; thus, our message to the public was often diluted or was not easily identified with its source. Thus, the primary goal of the Integrated Communications Plan is to foster the long-term health of the institution by using a consistent image to promote awareness of Covenant Seminary. The Plan articulates guidelines for external communication, listing key goals, communication pieces, production costs, and a distribution schedule. The Plan also sets forth the branding guidelines for Covenant Theological Seminary.

Another key accomplishment for the Marketing staff this year is the significant improvement of donor software. The development database module is being converted, and the new system will provide more detailed reporting and faster access to key decision-making criteria.

Goals for the upcoming year include improving marketing capabilities by better utilizing CAMS Enterprise to develop new reports, coordinating the annual Fall Pastor’s Conference, and providing practical resources for pastors through online “Covenant Resources” and through a new quarterly newsletter.

The Creative Services team is also implementing changes in response to donor trends and the Integrated Communications Plan. The following list of key publications, events, and communications pieces provides an overview of the various means through which the Marketing and Creative Service staff interacts with the constituents of Covenant Theological Seminary.

Academic Catalog The 2002-2004 Catalog matches the design of Covenant Magazine and is now undergoing revision of copy and graphics based on changes in rules and recommendations over the past two years. The 2005-2006 Catalog will be completed in the fall of 2004.

Brochures Continuing to bring our marketing materials in line with the branding guidelines laid out in the Integrated Communications Plan, during 2003, the Creative Services staff developed new brochures about the Francis Schaeffer Institute, the D.Min. program, and the Capital Project for Community Expansion. New brochures will be developed over the upcoming year in keeping with this trend.

Covenant Magazine Covenant, the Magazine of Covenant Theological Seminary, seeks to express the “Covenant Experience” by reporting on aspects such as the teaching, prayer, community life, and student profiles at Covenant Seminary. Primary targets include current and future donors, alumni, PCA pastors and churches, and other friends of the Seminary. Covenant is distributed to approximately 14,000 constituents at each of its quarterly printings and is free of charge upon request.

In the Covenant of Grace CDs Covenant of Grace CDs are relationship-building communications pieces that help us maintain correspondence with current donors and reestablish correspondence with lapsed donors. The content of these CDs springs from the Covenant community; typically, a single CD includes a main sermon, an excerpt from a lecture or another sermon, short readings or prayers, and music produced by Covenant alumni or students. Four CDs were produced in 2003. The “Shepherds of God’s Flock” CD, featuring pieces by Dr. David Calhoun and Dr. Mark Dalbey, was distributed to the General Assembly in addition to the normal donor base. Another CD entitled “Love the Lord” went out in September, and the Christmas CD focused on the message of Ephesians.

Newsletters Various newsletters serve to keep Covenant’s stakeholders informed about events sponsored by Covenant. These include the “Did You Know?” Updates, Perspectives, and SEE. The “Did You Know?” Updates are letters from President Bryan Chapell that share real-life stories about students and alumni who have been transformed by Covenant ministries and are now transforming the world. 20,000 constituents received these newsletters on a quarterly basis. Perspectives, which goes out twice a year to approximately 5,000 people, is the newsletter that shares the news of FSI. SEE, the YIMI newsletter, went to 1,200 youth pastors and church leaders once last year, but will be replaced with an e-newsletter. An electronic means of delivery was deemed more appropriate for updating youth workers about the resources and ministries of YIMI.

In the Covenant of Grace Radio Show Early in 2003, Covenant broadcast a new radio show entitled In the Covenant of Grace. This program aired weekly in St. Louis and was also available via the web. The programming, which consisted of a half-hour of preaching by Dr. Bryan Chapell, was intended to reach out to non-

40 PCA constituents and potential donors. When this outlet did not prove to be a productive means of contact with the community, the show was discontinued.

Lifetime of Ministry Series Covenant recognizes our need to maintain life-transforming contact with our alumni as well as to initiate interaction with potential stakeholders outside of the existing Covenant community. Seeking to reach out to these groups, in January of 2003 we began the Lifetime of Ministry Series, advertised by means of Covenant magazine and our website. Over 40 people responded, 50% of which were new attendees to the Seminary. Joining existing January-term classes, Lifetime of Ministry participants were able to experience the teaching of Covenant professors. Also in conjunction with this series, we introduced our new electronic registration system, which offers attendees an immediate registration confirmation form via email, saving time and resources.

Fall Pastor’s Conference The first Fall Pastor’s Conference took place on October 15-17, 2003. The conference was developed as part of Covenant’s renewed effort to support and learn from pastors who are serving in all stages of ministry. Speakers such as Dr. Bryan Chapell, Dr. Ramesh Richard, Rev. Michael Campbell, and Dr. Donald Guthrie led general sessions on topics related to the Conference theme: “Reaching Hearts with the Gospel in a Changing World.” Conference attendees also participated in breakout discussions and shared several meals on campus. The Fall Pastor’s Conference was a sizable first step towards our goal of enriching the Covenant community by reaching out to alumni and pastors.

Men’s Bible Study A local St. Louis Men’s Bible Study takes place bi-monthly, giving donors and their friends a key opportunity to experience the teaching of Covenant professors. Approximately 80 men meet for breakfast and study the Word of God together. This year, Dr. Jay Sklar, Assistant Professor of Old Testament, spoke on “Seeing Jesus in the Old Testament.”

Family Conference The PCA’s Ridge Haven Conference and Retreat Center, located in the beautiful North Carolina mountains, is the cite of our yearly Family Conference. The 2003 Conference was led by Covenant professors Dr. Mark Dalbey and Rev. Zack Eswine. Drs. Robert Peterson and Michael Williams will teach from the Bible during the 2004 Conference.

In addition to the annual family trip to Ridge Haven, Dr. Bryan and Mrs. Kathy Chapell will host a church history trip to Ireland and Scotland from June 21 to July 2, 2004.

Website Our homepage, covenantseminary.edu, offers an overview of Covenant Theological Seminary and provides a conduit to deliver both the written and audio teaching of the Seminary to a wide audience. This audience ranges from prospective students to alumni, from the church to the general public. We are constantly working to integrate our website with our other communications to present consistent messages and themes.

A growing trend in web development is the shift from information-oriented sites to resource- oriented sites. In keeping with this trend, we have added a searchable database to our website that contains over 200 audio and print messages. Now, resources that were previously committed to providing individuals with audiotapes or transcripts can be redirected as people begin to access the PDFs and MP3s on the web.

The Marketing staff is currently researching the impact of web interaction on contact with prospective students. Recently, fewer potential students have contacted the Seminary, but of those who do make the effort, a greater percentage turns out to be “solid” contacts. This experience suggests that interested students may make early judgments about the Seminary based on the contents of the website, without ever contacting the Seminary in person. Web designers will continue to examine this trend and will seek to revise the website accordingly. Online registration is another area that will receive attention in the upcoming year.

DEVELOPMENT

Annual Fund

The annual fund consists of yearly donations from individuals, churches, and organizations, and is used to fund the annual operating expenses of Covenant Seminary. Each year, the Annual Fund provides needed resources for scholarships, faculty salaries, library acquisitions, and other ongoing ministry needs.

Despite the fact that in April of 2003, the annual fund was $137,880 behind the goal, the goal of $1,785,000 was exceeded by the end of the fiscal year. An analysis of the gifts reveals that the average giving of individual donors increased 6.1% from the prior year, while the average giving of institutional donors dropped.

The annual fund budget for ‘03/’04 is $1,680,000. As of December 31, 2003, giving to the annual fund was $75,206 behind the budget target. This is due to a decrease in major gifts (gifts over $10,000). However, we are thankful to report an 11% increase in gifts of less than $1,000. The Advancement Office, which is currently in the process of rebuilding its development team, continues to seek donors who share our mission and have the gift of giving.

Covenant Theological Seminary Foundation

Through a strategic partnership with TIAA-CREF Trust Services, the Covenant Theological Seminary Foundation offers the finest trust management services with minimal fees. The Foundation offers guidance and information about Charitable Trusts, Annuities, and other highly effective ways to steward financial resources. The Foundation encourages people to invest in a mission that crosses geographical and generational lines, a mission that is exponential and eternal.

42 In 2003, the Creative Services staff began development of new promotional materials for the Foundation. These materials will be completed by April of 2004.

Capital Campaign

The Development Office initiated a new $3,500,000 Community Expansion Campaign in 2003. We have current commitments of over $1,500,000 towards the minimum target of $1,800,000 which needs to be raised by Dec. 31, 2005. This first phase of the campaign covers the $1,000,000 bank loan that was used to purchase a nine-acre tract of land near campus; the remaining $800,000 will be used to purchase a second piece of land that will connect the existing and newly-acquired properties. The second phase of the campaign will provide for additional classroom space and for other projects as outlined in our 2002 Strategic and/or 2003 Master plans.

Grants

Grants of $1,000 or more received during the ‘02/’03 fiscal year:

Grantor City State Amount Bank of America Corporation Atlanta GA 3,000 Eber O. Reese Foundation Lancaster PA 12,000 PCA Foundation Lawrenceville GA 101,680 St. Louis Community Foundation St. Louis MO 8,000

Grants of $1,000 or more received during the ‘03/’04 fiscal year:

Grantor City State Amount Bank of America Corporation Atlanta GA 3,000 Eber O. Reese Foundation Lancaster PA 12,000 Harris Harper Family Foundation, Inc. Richmond IN 7,000 Kern Family Foundation Waukesha WI 63,616 Lilly Endowment, Inc. Indianapolis IN 2,000,000 PCA Foundation Lawrenceville GA 101,680 St. Louis Community Foundation St. Louis MO 8,000

We are particularly pleased to announce the $2,000,000 grant from Lilly Endowment, Inc., which is devoted to Sustaining Pastoral Excellence. The grant will provide for the nurturing of pastors through three programs: renewal retreats, vocational discipleship retreats, and pastor-in- residence retreats. Cooperating partners in this effort include Reformed Theological Seminary and Westminster Theological Seminary. We will work together with these institutions to create lifelong learning and renewal opportunities for pastors and to refine seminary education.

GOVERNANCE

DENOMINATIONAL AFFILIATION

Covenant Theological Seminary is the national seminary of the Presbyterian Church of American, and as such, Covenant is the only seminary whose Board of Trustees is elected by and submits to the governance of the PCA. The General Assembly (national ruling body) of the PCA elects and oversees the Board of Trustees. The General Assembly reviews all actions of the Board through Board Minutes and other key documents; the Minutes, budget, and other recommendations are formally approved by the General Assembly, though in recognition of the Board’s fiduciary responsibility, this approval is for “audit purposes only” (see Rules of Assembly Operations for more information). The President offers an annual summary report of the Seminary’s activities to the Committee of Commissioners and the entire General Assembly.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Authority for the governance of Covenant Seminary is clearly vested in its Board of Trustees. This authority (both legal and ecclesiastical) is clearly stated in the Seminary’s Articles of Incorporation, its Bylaws, and the Rules of Assembly Operations of the PCA. The Seminary’s Board consists of 24 trustees elected in classes to four-year terms by the General Assembly of the PCA. Denominational polity requires trustees to be ordained as teaching elders (ministers) or ruling elders (lay leaders) of the PCA. However, up to two members of each class or 20% of the full Board may be elders of denominations with which the PCA is in ecclesiastical fellowship. During 2003, the Board met three times. The major themes of these meetings were the Master Plan, the Student Profile, and a Profile of the Church.

INSTITUTIONAL PLANNING

2002 Strategic Plan

Covenant Theological Seminary serves the triune God by his grace and for his glory. The past decade of fulfilling our mission has brought both great blessings and significant challenges. Stewarding the blessings of enrollment growth while protecting the quality and community of our institution is a challenge that we particularly aim to address. As stewards of these blessings and in response to this challenge, in 2002 Covenant Seminary developed a Strategic Plan with a number of short-, mid-, and long-range goals. These goals were intended to guide, but not to limit, our fulfillment of our mission.

For an assessment of the performance of Covenant Theological Seminary in light of our stated goals in 2002, see Appendix A.

2003 Master Plan

The Campus Master Plan underwent major revision in 2003. Working closely with Christner, Inc., a regional architectural firm, key administrators assessed our current strengths and

44 weaknesses in order to determine which projects command our most immediate attention and which should be reserved for long-term implementation. The result of this massive undertaking was a comprehensive Campus Master Plan in four phases that describes the path that we will potentially follow in developing our campus and resources over the next ten to fifteen years. This Plan will be reviewed by the Board in 2004.

45 APPENDIX

STRATEGIC PLAN UPDATE

This update on the 2002 Strategic Plan measures our progress in the categories of Educational Programs and Seminary-Wide Programs.

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS

Covenant Theological Seminary fulfills its mission primarily through four types of educational programs. Through our initial pastoral training program we prepare men for full-time vocational ministry as pastors. This is accomplished through the M.Div. (ordination track) and is the core of our training ministry. The seminary also has an ongoing commitment to ongoing pastoral training by means of our Doctor of Ministry degree, alumni training opportunities, and continuing professional education. Specialized ministry training is designed for those entering vocational ministry other than pastoral ministry. This training is provided through programs such as the M.Div. (specialized ministry track), the M.A. (Theological Studies), the Master of Arts in Counseling, and the Master of Theology. Finally, non-vocational or lay training occurs through a variety of programs such as the Graduate Certificate, M.A. (Theological Studies), conferences, and other lifelong learning opportunities.

Following are charts reflecting our short-range, mid-range, and long-range goals in each of these areas of training; those in Bold have been achieved, while those in Bold Italics have been partially achieved. The accompanying paragraphs offer a discussion or explanation of the highlighted accomplishments.

Short-Range Goals (0-2 years) Initial Pastoral • Curriculum revision (sectioned core, more electives) plus field ed. revision and more pastor Training involvement in training • Hire professor of Biblical Studies and an additional professor (priority on minority faculty search) • Café/student center (short-term: Founders Hall) • Develop plans for “community within community” • Develop tutoring/writing center and study skills center (in the library) • 70% of entering full-time M.Div. students in ministry upon graduation • Develop an international student team to assess and serve the needs of international students Ongoing Pastoral • Host first alumni week conference fall 2002 Training • Annual youth pastor’s conference • Start program to help pastors train their leaders • Develop coordinated program for grads during the first five to ten years post-graduation including annual retreats Specialized • Develop an MA in specialized ministry Ministry Training • Revise the MATS curriculum (to make it shorter) • Consider modular Th.M. • Research plan for Ph.D. in exegetical preaching

46 Non-Vocational • Establish annual conferences as coordinated national events (e.g., FSI lectures, Lay Ministry preaching lectures, and family nurture lectures) Training • Enroll 200 Access students in degree program • Establish new administration/organization for Access with oversight of Academics and Enrollment appropriately

Mid-Range Goals (2-5 years) Initial Pastoral • Consider school of pastoral ministry, world/cross-cultural mission (include urban ministry), Training counseling, and lay ministries with additional professors (related to curriculum revision) • Host pastor or scholar in residence annually (especially consider ethnic minorities/missionaries/ non-western church leaders) • Aid presbyteries in development of alternative credentialing program • Hire field ed./placement/intern coordinator • Hire additional faculty (priority on minority faculty search) • Develop a faculty exchange program to bring qualified instructors to campus for short periods (e.g., with Covenant College, minority professors); also cooperative agreements/student exchange programs with other schools Ongoing Pastoral • Hire lifelong learning coordinator Training • Develop marriage and family seminars for pastors • Further develop program to help pastors train their leaders Specialized • Hire female associate dean of students Ministry Training Non-Vocational • Increase Access enrollment to 350 Lay Ministry • Make Access responsibility part of faculty role or hire Access faculty Training • Develop additional lay training resources for those students for whom Access is too rigorous

Long-Range Goals (5-20 years) Initial Pastoral • Build a more comprehensive student center/grill/eatery Training Ongoing Pastoral • Develop full-blown continuing education center Training Specialized • Consider niche MA’s in different areas Ministry Training • Develop YIMI into a more curriculum-based program Non-Vocational • Increase Access enrollment to 500 plus students Lay Ministry Training

SEMINARY-WIDE PROGRAMS Grants received/pursued.

Seminary-Wide Short-Range Goals (0-2 years) • Purchase land adjacent to seminary • Commission architectural plans for campaign • Hire full time grant writer • Increase annual fund growth to keep up with inflation • Apply for “pastoral excellence” grant from Lilly • Establish and implement communications plans and procedures • Explore denominational partnership opportunities—Covenant College, MNA, MTW, RUF, CE&P • Research registration online • Hire part time president’s office assistant

47 • Develop plan for more extensive trustee recruiting and development • Conduct organizational review as it relates to cross-departmental functioning, especially in the church relations area (e.g., D.Min., Access, alumni, continuing ed.) • Establish checkpoints (qualitative & quantitative) that will inform decisions regarding future growth

Seminary-Wide Mid-Range Goals (2-5 years) • Commence another capital campaign/hire director • Increase minority scholarship funds • Begin construction of classroom/office building and convert Founders to a community center • Construct student housing building • Hire director of Human Resources and Finance (may be combined with subsequent entry) • Hire director of Institutional Research and Assessment (may be combined with prior entry) • Hire full time tech support (IT Services—24/7) • Hire second Covenant Foundation planner • Begin to endow maintenance/facilities and health insurance • Add staff in registrar’s office, financial aid, business office, PPD, and library • 50th anniversary activities • Fund summer scholarships • Build parking lot or garage • Install a wireless campus network and purchase a digital storage network • Hire creative production manager • Build conference/D.Min. housing and expand maintenance building • President’s house renovation

Seminary-Wide Long-Range Goals (5-20 years) • Reduce endowment draw to 5.5% annually • Build administration building • Add library staff and resources