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I wish you the very warmest greetings and God’s blessings as we head into this New Year! By way of introduction, I have served as the Chair of the Board of Trustees for DSF over the past year and a half. During my tenure, I have had the privilege to witness the incredible dedication of the board and the amazing transformation that has happened, and is happening, in the lives of the students who are supported by our organization. I come from a lifetime of higher education, retiring after 40 years as a professor of Entomology at the University of California Riverside (UCR). In addition to working with farmers to solve their “bug” problems, I mentored graduate and undergraduate students throughout my professional career, serving as the student advisor and Vice Chair for our department, as the Associate Vice Provost of Undergraduate Education, and the Director of UCR’s Honors and Study Abroad programs. My passion for working with students has spilled over into my faith journey, having directed and counseled many years of summer and winter camps.
When I “received the call” from Interim Executive Director Belva Brown Jordan to consider joining the DSF board back in 2021, I remember thinking that DSF occupied a unique place in the world of higher education, supporting students on their journey to become leaders in a myriad of faith-based ministries. I soon came to realize that I had only a cursory grasp of what it was. DSF has weathered a difficult past but with the hard and sometimes painful work of individuals who have served previously on the board, DSF has emerged strong. We are more vibrant than ever, and we are supporting amazing students. The current board is active and engaged in the work required to strengthen the organization and support the mission: “to support the formation of emerging theological leaders.” Our board is led by an Executive Committee that includes Vice Chair Lindsey Jacobs; Secretary Rev. Wally Hoeger; Treasurer and Finance Chair Tom Messick; Education and Resources Chair Rev. Larry Morris; Nominating Chair Rev. Don Dewey; and Development Chair Rev. Dr. Jonathan Hall. Along with Executive Director Rev. Dr. Christy Newton, we develop the policies that enable us to reach our mission. In my time as Chair, I have experienced our board ratifying strong vision and identity statements that spell out exactly what DSF is about. We strive to be an innovative leader in supporting theological leaders by providing financial and educational support to students. We struggled and landed on five core values that are the underpinning of what we do and how we do it: diversity, inclusion, integrity, innovation, and generosity. As we are witnessing an erosion of public support for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs across the country, our core values are more important now than ever. They provide the foundational framework within which we make decisions within the organization.
There is a lot to share about our recent work. We completed a successful search for our new Executive Director, and Rev. Dr. Christy Newton has brought an elevated excitement to the board through her creative leadership and amazing communication style. Christy has orchestrated a new staff structure, with Rev. Siobhan Lopez (Program Coordinator), Jess Kim (Managing Director), and Erin Zavala (Development and Communications Manager). This team is the right size for our organization, and God knew just who we needed to fit those positions. DSF is also in the middle of restructuring our Certificate Program, which is planned to be offered in Korean, Spanish, and English with a tentative launch in the fall of 2025. Another major accomplishment for DSF is the selling of our San Diego property, which should close in the first quarter of 2025. This action is significant for DSF, as it signifies that we no longer are in the property management and rental business. Now we can focus our attention on the mission of our organization. Our financial position is strong, and with the guidance of Tom Messick, we have a sound business model that will support us well into the future. And with Erin Zavala’s creativity, we have a new logo and visual appeal to our website and communications.
While we know that the future of theological education may be a bit hazy, we are confident that DSF is in the right place to be a part of that future. If you haven’t had a chance see what DSF has been up to, I encourage you to peruse the website, annual reports, and newsletters to see the writings of our students and graduates, and you will witness their thoughtful and spirit-filled insights that reflect where they have come from and where they are going. This new generation of leaders has visions for the future of our churches and our communities and they are ready to go to work to make change where change is needed. And at this time of uncertainty in many aspects of our lives, I have been inspired by the words of wisdom and hope from those who DSF supports. And to all of you who have contributed to DSF, thank you so very much for your gifts of time, talent, finances and prayer. Your support is multiplied many times over in the work DSF is doing to enrich the lives of our students.
Peace be with you,
Tom
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