“The Seminary has made a fresh and bold choice of its next president. Julius Medenblik is an ecclesiastical entrepreneur – a Christian leader of proven accomplishment in the church”

The Calvin Theological Seminary (CTS) Board of Trustees has unanimously approved Rev. Julius Medenblik to be the eighth president of the 134-year-old seminary.

He is slated to succeed current president Cornelius Plantinga Jr. who leaves office at the conclusion of the 2010-2011 school year. The appointment is subject to interview by the CRC Board of Trustees and final ratification by the Christian Reformed Church Synod in June of this year.

Medenblik is Senior Pastor of New Life Christian Reformed Church in New Lenox, Ill., which he helped found. Under his leadership, the church has grown from four members to more than 700. He is also involved in leading church planting efforts of the denomination and was recently chair of the CTS Board of Trustees.

He holds a BA degree from Trinity Christian College, a juris doctor with honors from the University of Florida Law School and a Master of Divinity from Calvin Theological Seminary. He was nominated for the post by an 11-member search committee.

Search committee chair, the Reverend Kevin Adams said, “We are unanimous in our support for Jul, because we feel he possesses in abundance the gifts needed to promote the Seminary’s unique mission in a variety of contexts. He brings a desire to know students, listen to faculty and staff, and cultivate partners outside the Seminary in order to serve the church.”

“I am humbled and energized by this opportunity,” said Medenblik. “Calvin Theological Seminary is deeply rooted in and nurtured by the church. We have a great opportunity to use those roots to nourish preachers and church leaders for the ministries and new opportunities that await us in the mission field around each and every one of us.”

In an interview, he added: “I have been blessed to serve God and His Church in an abundance of settings and positions … I am energized to join the Seminary community in connecting theological excellence with pastoral sensitivity and insights as we serve together in the mission that God has before us.”

Current CTS President Plantinga noted, “The Seminary has made a fresh and bold choice of its next president. Julius Medenblik is an ecclesiastical entrepreneur – a Christian leader of proven accomplishment in the church and, as chair of Calvin Seminary’s trustees, already a leader of the Seminary. As a trustee, he helped to shape the Seminary’s new calendar and curriculum, so I’m confident he will steer our ship in the same direction he helped set for it. I look forward to working closely with Jul during the transition from one president to the next, and I will do so with joy.”