Corban hired a marketing consulting group, Spirit Media, last September to do a feasibility study and market analysis for the Puget Sound region. Its primary goal was to determine the best way in which Corban could operate a selfsustaining presence that meets the needs of the region. The data and information are being used to drive decision-making going forward. However, one of the key points Spirit Media made was that it was imperative to find regional partners who will support the university presence. In November Corban announced its partnership agreement with Mars Hill Church to offer an undergraduate Bible certificate. Corban is also working with Western Seminary of Portland and Mars Hill to develop a joint M.A./M.B.A. program. These two programs will provide greater versatility in educational offerings spanning both undergraduate and graduate degrees. Plans beyond these include launching an executive M.B.A. in the Bellevue area.
begun a training partnership for pastors in Cameroon, Africa. Corban now helps prepare leaders in one of the most strategic regions of the world. As things move forward on the sale of the Tacoma campus, Corban will move the School of Ministry graduate programs to Salem in fall 2014. Both face-to-face and online programs will be offered at the Salem campus. Some School of Ministry professors will be retiring while others will move to either the Salem or Bellevue
Johnson (D.Min. Western Seminary) and Annette Harrison (Ph.D. University of California Santa Barbara) lead the missions program. Greg Trull (Ph.D. Dallas Theological Seminary) serves as dean and oversees both the undergraduate and graduate programs. Beyond their academic credentials, these professors bring years of vocational ministry experience as pastors, authors, church planters, ministry leaders and Bible translators. Students will also have access to part-time professors with specialized expertise in world religions, communications and missions.
President Sheldon C. Nord states, “I invite you to pray for me and for Corban University. The landscape in higher education is changing rapidly and we need to be responsive to those changes. We also find ourselves pursuing a Christian mission in a post-Christian society. Navigating through court decisions and legislation The former Bellevue Community College campus was purchased by Mars Hill Church and is that challenge our core being renovated for the Mars Hill Schools site. It will be the new home for Dr. Leroy and Karen beliefs and responding Goertzen who will assist in teaching and administration of the new Bible Certificate Program to secular groups and being launched there this fall. Dean of Global Initiatives, Dr. Janine Allen, will also be based in organizations (who have Bellevue, traveling from nearby SeaTac to our partnerships around the world. agendas that are hostile to us) takes wisdom, grace campuses under the administrative and courage. I believe in our mission Corban continues to prioritize ministry direction of Dr. Greg Trull. to ‘educate Christians who will make a training and is currently looking for difference in the world for Jesus Christ.’” other partners in the Puget Sound By moving the graduate programs to area with whom it can offer additional Salem, students will have the opportunity By moving its graduate program to seminary-level degrees and course to study with more of Corban’s excellent Salem, Corban is able to offer additional offerings. In fact, more students are faculty. Tim Anderson (Ph.D. Trinity benefits to students. The Salem now involved in ministry training than Evangelical Divinity School) and Kent library has 110,000 books and 575 when Corban merged with NBS. At the Kersey (Ph.D. Southwestern Baptist periodicals, many of which focus on time of the merger, there were about Theological Seminary) lead the systematic the fields of biblical studies, theology 240 student credit hours at the Tacoma theology program. Gary Derickson and ministry. Further, students will campus. This semester, there are more (Ph.D. Dallas Theological Seminary) be able to take advantage of global than 380 student credit hours in our teaches Greek and is department chair opportunities in Cameroon, Israel and campus and online programs. This figure of the biblical studies department. Allen Great Britain plus summer overseas does not include our Doctor of Ministry Jones (Ph.D. Saint Andrews) teaches ministries. This summer Corban will send students or our Salem students in the Old Testament and Hebrew. Sam Baker teams to Spain, Czech Republic, France, combined Fast Track Program. Since (Ed.D. George Fox University) heads Philippines, Ukraine, Honduras and the merger, the School of Ministry has the Christian ministry department. Paul Southeast Asia. 11