Dingman Company Seeks President for Dallas Theological Seminary

April 4, 2019 – The Dingman Company, a Westlake Village, CA-based search firm, has been enlisted to find a new president for the Dallas Theological Seminary in Texas. Bruce Dingman, president of the firm, and David Gyertson, consultant for education and media, are leading the assignment.

The seminary wants a “godly, talented, energetic and visionary president” to join its leadership team, said the Dingman Company. With an anticipated starting date of July 2020, the next president will be expected not only to commit to the doctrinal position, institutional mission and purpose of the seminary but must also possess a strong and clear vision for what the Dallas Theological Seminary might achieve through innovation and strategic growth.

The Dallas Theological Seminary president reports to a board of incorporate members and serves as a voting member of the board, said the search firm. The president is responsible for leading the seminary and functions as the chief spokesperson and figurehead. As such, the individual must both embody and articulate Dallas Theological Seminary’s doctrinal position, mission, identity and vision.

Executive priorities for institutional health that best explain the position and role include doctrinal fidelity, faculty unity, student vitality and academic credibility. The role emphasizes campus community, enrollment stability, financial accountability, donor reliability, operational sustainability, and alumni and ministry connectivity.

Unique Skills Required

The president’s senior leadership staff includes: the executive council, vice president for campus operations, vice president for academic affairs, vice president of student life and dean of students, vice president for advancement and vice president for business and finance

The Dallas Theological Seminary’s next president will need a unique set of skills and experiences for the job, said the Dingman Company. Requirements include: a divine calling, agreement with the seminary’s statement of faith and mission, an earned terminal degree from a recognized institution, passion for people to know Jesus Christ and a relationship with Jesus Christ. Prospects should also be humble and driven, collaborative and decisive, and have experience leading a complex organization, among other traits.

Candidates holding strong promise will be asked to prepare a detailed resumé and respond to a candidate questionnaire, said the Dingman Company. The search consultants will then conduct personal interviews with the most qualified candidates and, if married, the spouse. Following those interviews, next steps include checking candidates’ references, verifying degrees, and completing a background check. In collaboration with Dallas Theological Seminary’s search committee, the list of candidates will probably be narrowed to about four individuals who then will be interviewed by the search committee.

Founded in 1924, Dallas Theological Seminary, is a professional, graduate-level theological seminary that seeks to provide training at the master’s and doctoral levels to prepare its students for a variety of Christian ministries. The seeks to encourage the pursuit of Christian scholarship at the highest levels of research befitting the mission of a theological seminary. While the doctrinal commitment of the seminary is intentionally evangelical, the seminary is looking to provide a contribution to a broader constituency through community, theological and ecclesiastical involvement, and dialogue. Over 2,450 students attend the seminary for their training.

A Well Established Firm

The Dingman Company, founded in 1979 by Bob Dingman, serves both secular and religious clients. They include private schools, colleges, universities and seminaries, mission organizations, broadcasting/media, church and para-church organizations, relief agencies and development organizations, childcare, social services and rehabilitation concerns.

The firm is currently leading other non-profit searches for a president for the Association for Biblical Higher Learning & Graduate School in Orlando, FL and provost for the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago.

Bruce Dingman, Bob Dinman’s brother, joined the firm in 1986, serving clients in diversified industries. In 1993, Bruce became president of the firm. He has worked with clubs, financial services, consumer products, manufacturing, travel, hospitality, aviation, and non-profits including Christian organizations and universities. Prior to joining the firm, he spent almost 20 years in the hotel, food service, and food distribution industries.

Dr. Gyertson has a broad and varied background in higher education, publishing, consulting, executive coaching, ministry and media. He has held senior leadership positions in religious, charitable and educational environments, including international and cross-cultural settings. Currently, he is associate provost and dean of the Beeson International Center at Asbury Theological Seminary in Kentucky, as well as a professor of leadership.

Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor; and Andrew W. Mitchell, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media