faculty news Jack Willsey For more than two decades, Jack Willsey, D. Min., has lived Corban’s mission: “To educate Christians who will make a difference in the world for Jesus Christ.” As a professor of ministry at the Corban University School of Ministry in Tacoma, retirements
Wash., he has seen his students go on to lead and plant churches, and serve on the mission field at home and abroad. Now, after 22 years of service, he will retire in May. “What has distinguished Jack’s teaching is his challenge to students to read and think reflectively, using a form of Socratic discussion to help them develop and use informed theological categories,” said Provost Matt Lucas, D.A. “These discussions have gone far beyond the classroom as Jack continues to serve as a mentor in ministry and theology to students past and present worldwide.” Willsey graduated from Corban in 1963 and earned a master of theology from San Francisco Baptist Theology Seminary in 1969. Throughout his career, he taught
at seminaries in the U.S. and Asia before returning to, and retiring from, his alma mater. “In my time working with Jack, I have appreciated his sense of humor, and his broad and deep knowledge on a variety of subjects,” Lucas said. “He has an insatiable desire to learn and grow. Particularly noteworthy is Jack’s familiarity with theological and biblical literature, which is the result of his renowned reading and listening regimen. “Yet, perhaps more than anything, students and fellow faculty members have appreciated and respected his humble, unassuming attitude reflected so genuinely in his study and teaching of the truth,” he added.
Russ Glessner After 37 years of service with the Corban School of Ministry, Professor of Ministry Russ Glessner will retire, but he doesn’t plan to sit back and watch the world go by. retirements
Instead, the long-time educator and Army veteran said he is looking forward to spending time with his family and seeing where God will lead him next.
He taught theology, Greek and New Testament courses at Corban and has previously served as library director and academic dean.
Glessner started his career at Northwest Baptist Seminary in 1977 after graduating from Dallas Theological Seminary and working as a professor at the Word of Life Bible Institute. Since then he was at NBS, except between 1981 and 1984 when he moved to Aberdeen, Scotland, to do postgraduate work in New Testament studies.
Glessner also enjoyed teaching overseas in the two seminaries started by the Northwest Baptist Seminary Extension in Bangalore, India, and Bangladesh Theological Seminary. While serving as academic dean (1995-2008), Russ oversaw the move of the Bangladesh school to independence in 2005.
His teaching career was characterized by several passions, including his students. He invested himself in them.
“In my time working with Russ, I have appreciated his close attention to detail, concern for doctrinal accuracy and dry sense of humor,” he said. “His ability to recall names, places and dates is remarkable and serves him well in his ongoing ministry to Corban alumni and others.”
“Among his peers and students, Russ is known for his constant effort to be as fresh and current with the course material as possible,” said Corban Provost Matt Lucas, D.A. “He has often said that he has never taught the same course twice.”
The Jack Willsey and Russ Glessner reception will be held Saturday, May 10, 2:00 p.m., Temple Baptist Church in Fircrest, WA. RSVP by April 25 to Karen Goertzen, kgoertzen@corban.edu
20