UPDATED: Louisville Seminary calls Michael Jinkins as its ninth President

     “Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary has an exciting vision, the kind that catches your breath,” he said. “I am drawn to its vision for building an inclusive seminary community in which people can gain theological education to prepare them to serve God in an increasingly pluralistic world. Among many aspects of the Seminary’s vision, I am excited about the Black Church Studies program, continuing to expand the Scholarships for Excellence program, and teaching students how to prepare worship within a global context.”
     Sharps added, “Dr. Jinkins’ passion to articulate a vision for the future of seminary education and the broader church in a world of religious diversity led our committee to a unanimous recommendation. We are very excited about continuing the vitality and strength of our Seminary’s future under his thoughtful, collaborative, and intuitive leadership style.”
     Currently, Dr. Jinkins is academic dean at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, where he has served in administration and as a professor since 1993, and as dean since 2004. He has been ordained in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) for 29 years and joined the Austin Seminary faculty following 14 years in pastoral leadership and mission service in congregations in Irving, Itasca, and Brenham, Texas, and in Aberdeen, Scotland.
     Austin President Theodore J. Wardlaw said, “Austin Seminary has been blessed mightily by Dean Jinkins’ vision, energy, discipline, and inspiring leadership.  He has led the Academic Affairs work of this institution to new heights. Moreover, Michael has been a wonderful colleague and dear friend, and I will deeply miss him.  In this new appointment to a sister seminary, however, I am convinced that Michael Jinkins’ gifts will be well-matched for Louisville’s needs, and this will be great news for Louisville, for the work of theological education in this time, and for the church.  I look forward to working with him in a larger arena.”
     Jinkins received a BA from Howard Payne University, an M.Div. from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, a D.Min. from Austin Seminary, and the Ph.D. from King’s College, University of Aberdeen, Scotland. The author of more than one hundred published papers, articles, and reviews, he has also authored twelve books, including: Invitation to Psalms (Abingdon Press, 2008), the participant book in Abingdon’s popular Disciple Bible Study video series; and Letters to New Pastors (Eerdmans Press, 2006). He is the author of Called to be Human: Letters to my Children on Living a Christian Life, (Eerdmans, 2009).
     Jinkins was a founding member of the Academy of Religious Leadership, and served as an associate editor and board member of its journal, the Journal of Religious Leadership, from 2001-2006. He is currently directs the Colloquy for Theological School Deans of the Wabash Center. He has also conducted research in conjunction with the Pulpit & Pew project of Duke University Divinity School. He is a past editor of Insights: The Faculty Journal of Austin Seminary.
     Regarding those credentials, Sharps summarized, “Michael Jinkins possesses the array of experience, instincts, wisdom, patience, intellect, and temperament that is required of a successful seminary president,…he understands the vocation and calling of a pastor and the training and equipping necessary for effective pastors, and …he is one of the most promising academicians and administrators in the Presbyterian family of seminaries.”
     “He is a complete package – gifted scholar, experienced administrator, and personable colleague with a passion for theological education. What makes him most attractive for our community is that he is committed to exploring the breadth of what theological education can be,” said Dr. Debra Mumford, faculty representative on the committee and the Frank H. Caldwell Assistant Professor of Homiletics.
     “I am thrilled that Michael Jinkins is coming to join us at LPTS as President,” added LPTS Dean and Professor David C. Hester, who also served on the search committee. “We have worked together over the last five years as deans of our respective seminaries, and I have come to respect him deeply for his keen insight and wisdom, his well honed administrative skills, and his always honest and warmly embracing way of relating to others—friends, faculty, and staff.”
     Echoing the search committee’s appreciation for Dr. Jinkins’ experience, combining administrative leadership with academic scholarship and pastoral leadership, Trustee Dan Ellinor of Tulsa, Okla., chair of the Board’s Seminary Relations Committee, said, “We are moved by his call to theological education, the church, and the LPTS presidency, and we are eager to support him in his new leadership.”