By Robert Dilday
Alistair Brown announced June 15 he will resign as president of Northern Baptist Theological Seminary at the end of the next academic year.
Brown, who has been president of the seminary in suburban Chicago since September 2008, will spend the next 12 months on sabbatical leave, with his resignation taking effect in June 2016.
“It’s with much sadness but also a sense of rightness that I have submitted my resignation from the presidency of Northern to the trustees of Northern Seminary,” Brown said in a press release. “By the time we leave, Alison [his wife] and I will have been with Northern for the largest part of eight years. Being president here has been one of the greatest privileges of my life. I am thankful to God that he called us, grateful for the colleagues with whom the work has been shared, and excited about all that lies ahead for the seminary.”
Brown’s tenure at Northern had a profound impact on faculty, staff, and students, said Karen Walker Freeburg, chief operating officer and vice president of academic affairs.
“When Alistair arrived on campus to serve as Northern’s 10th president, it was within a few weeks that we clearly understood why God had brought him here to serve in the development of leaders for Christ’s church. His wisdom regarding how to release gifts for leadership among the staff and cabinet changed the face of Northern. Within two years you could see evidence of a team working at full capacity. Creativity, wisdom and joy became the marks of our life together. New program development and partnerships emerged which impacted not only Northern but informed other ATS schools.”
During his sabbatical year, Brown will fulfill speaking engagements and complete several seminary projects, according to the press release. Meanwhile, the seminary’s board of trustees will initiate a process to select a new president.
Founded in 1913 on Chicago’s west side, Northern moved to its present campus in nearby Lombard, ill., in the 1960s. The seminary is affiliated with the American Baptist Churches USA.