Bill Wilder is New Executive Director By Krisan Marotta Chair, Board of Directors Center for Christian Study
INSIDE Transformed by the Truth A Parent's Perspective
Praxis V13 N1
Spring 2009
Pr axis
Evangelicals and Racial Reconciliation
O
n behalf of the Center for Christian Study’s Board of Directors, I am delighted to announce that Bill Wilder, a gifted teacher in biblical studies and theology as well as a beloved graduate fellowship leader, was named Executive Director of the Study Center Krisan Marotta on February 5. Bill (photo by Sarah Cramer) was serving as acting Executive Director until his appointment last month. Bill comes to the position of Executive Director with ten years of dedicated service at the Center for Christian Study. In 1999 he joined the staff as Director of Graduate Ministries, working with the Darden, Law, and Graduate Christian Fellowship students, and teaching and lecturing at the Center. In 2006, he was named Director of Educational Ministries, which enabled him to oversee the Center’s Faith & Life educational programs while also providing him more time to teach and write. Bill’s pastoral heart and his enthusiasm for teaching has made him a soughtafter teacher in the University community and Charlottesville. Understanding the challenges and opportunities of the University environment, he has a passionate desire to minister to students, the ability to apply biblical theology to current culture, and a real heart for evangelism. Bill earned his M.Div. from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and his Ph.D. in Biblical Studies at Union Theological Seminary in Virginia. After graduating from Union Seminary, he and his family spent two years at the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary in Ogbomosho, Nigeria, where he taught courses in Greek, Hebrew, theology, history, literature, and
exegesis. He was also actively involved in church ministry, including preaching, evangelism, and teaching throughout Nigeria. Bill is married to Nicolien, a charge nurse at U.Va.-HealthSouth. They have four children: Valerie, 20, a second-year at U.Va.; Tom, 17; John, 15; and Anna Lena, 12. Bill and his family live in Crozet. They are members of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Charlottesville. As Executive Director, Bill succeeds Drew Trotter, Executive Director and President of the Study Center since 1987. Drew has accepted a position as National Director for Centers for Christian Study, International, and Executive Director of the Consortium of Christian Study Centers, though I am glad to say that he and Marie will remain in Charlottesville. We are grateful for Drew’s long service to the Study Center even as we look forward to this new chapter in the Study Center’s history. I am also grateful for the dedication and hard work on the part of the Search Committee. We entered the search process assuming God could bring us anyone, and that the successful candidate would have to prove himself or herself best for this job. Those of you who know Bill will not be surprised to learn that he rose to the challenge, exceeded our expectations, and impressed us with his vision and leadership. Our nationwide search gave both the Board and the staff confidence that Bill is the best person to lead the Study Center and to build on its rich forty-year ministry to the
Bill Wilder (photo by Sarah Cramer)
Continued on page five