Presidential Search Committee Formed

DTS Board Announces the Formation of a Presidential Search Committee

During the Board of Incorporate Members meeting on October 26, 2018, Dr. Mark L. Bailey announced his intention to retire in June 2020 from his position as president of Dallas Theological Seminary. His letter to the DTS community can be found here. Dr. Bailey believes that the timing for his upcoming retirement is right. In his letter to the Board he states: “The reasons for the timing of my decision are both personal and professional. . . .On the date of my announced retirement from the presidency, I will have served the Lord full time at DTS for 35 years and I will turn 70 later that fall. I believe God would have me devote more time to the love of my life—my wife, Barby—and to my two sons, their wives, and our six grandchildren. . . . Professionally, it was equally important for us to seek the Lord’s guidance in order to discern the right time to strategically and successfully pass the leadership baton with the least amount of interruption and with the best optimization. The two most influential factors are the current health of the seminary and its future needs. . . . God has kept his hand on the seminary all these years and I believe the time of transition for new leadership is right.”

Since becoming the fifth president in the 94 year history of DTS, Dr. Bailey has led the seminary in many notable achievements. From the time of his inauguration in 2001, student enrollment has reached record levels, with courses and degrees being offered in multiple locations, multiple languages (Spanish and Chinese), and through robust and growing online education. As a seminary, we are only six years from closing out our Centennial Campaign and there has been a tremendous response by generous donors. The financial condition of the seminary is very healthy. In addition to several major building renovations at the Dallas campus, the seminary has added two new apartment complexes and a new administration building. Dr. Bailey would be the first to say that God has done a great work through the incredible leadership team that serves with him at the seminary.

Although Dr. Bailey will be retiring as the seminary president at the end of the 2020 academic year, the Board has asked him to extend his work at DTS through his role as Chancellor. Dr. Swindoll will continue his involvement with the seminary as Chancellor Emeritus. Dr. Bailey’s gracious advanced notice gives ample time for an orderly search for and transition to his successor. The Board of Incorporate Members has authorized a search committee that is charged with recommending to the Board a successor to Dr. Bailey. The committee will be conducting a broad search outside of DTS as well as internal candidates. We ask that friends and family of the seminary be in prayer during this important time.

In addition to your prayers for God’s direction, we would also like to invite you to join the process. Over the next few months we will be seeking input from the seminary family and friends regarding qualities they feel are important in our next president. We would invite you to enter the process by emailing us at [email protected]. If you have recommendations of people that should be considered as a candidate, please use this email to communicate with us. We deeply value your input.

It is our hope that we will start the process of talking to candidates at the beginning of 2019. We estimate that it will take us six to nine months to narrow down the candidates to a few finalists. By the October 2019 meeting of the Board of Incorporate Members, we hope to present a candidate for a final vote.

We covet your prayers during this important time in the life of DTS.

David Stevens
Search Committee Chairman