NR #1996-041: Calvin College Appoints Cornelius Plantinga as Dean of Chapel Dr. Cornelius Plantinga Jr. has been named the first-ever Dean of the Chapel for Calvin College. Plantinga currently serves as professor of systematic theology at Calvin Theological Seminary. He is a noted author, theologian and speaker and is well-known as an advocate for Christian education. His book, "Not the Way It's Supposed to Be: A Breviary of Sin," has just been named the 1996 Book of the Year by Christianity Today. NR #1996-041: For Immediate Release Calvin College Appoints Cornelius Plantinga as Dean of Chapel by Phil de Haan, Calvin College Media Relations Distributed by United Reformed News Service GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (March 11, 1996) URNS - Dr. Cornelius Plantinga Jr. has been named the first-ever Dean of the Chapel for Calvin College. The appointment will be effective July 1, pending approval by the school's Professional Status Committee and the Calvin College Board of Trustees at their May meetings. "It's exciting," Plantinga said. "I have to sort through some things - there's a job description, but I still have to learn the actual rhythm of the position. What really attracts me to the job is trying to help in making the Christian faith big and bright and explicit on campus. Christian colleges are like gardens; they need to be tended. It's a big project to integrate Christian faith into the life of a campus. You need to keep at it. I'm looking forward to joining that project." Plantinga currently serves as professor of systematic theology at Calvin Theological Seminary. He is a noted author, theologian and speaker and is well-known as an advocate for Christian education. His book, "Not the Way It's Supposed to Be: A Breviary of Sin," has just been named the 1996 Book of the Year by Christianity Today. Plantinga's new appointment will put him in the rare position of working for both Calvin College and Calvin Theological Seminary. In addition to having faculty status at Calvin College and teaching undergraduate courses, Plantinga also will retain faculty status at Calvin Theological Seminary and teach a core course at the seminary annually. Plantinga will report directly to first-year Calvin president Dr. Gaylen J. Byker in his new role as Dean of the Chapel. Byker called the appointment of Plantinga "compelling." "Since taking office in September, I have become increasingly persuaded that the leadership that could be provided by a Dean of the Chapel is needed at Calvin College," said Byker. "As we address the opportunities and challenges that confront us, we must never lose sight of our calling as an institution of Christian higher learning in the Reformed tradition. To have someone in our midst whose task is 'to offer prophetic challenge and priestly support to the Calvin community in keeping its deepest commitments, educational activities and life practices headed in the same direction of holy obedience to God's Word' will help to keep our community connected and centered on our mission and commitments. After prayerful consideration, both Neal and I are convinced that the remarkable fit of his interests and the college's needs signaled a calling for him to fill this position." Although Calvin College has not before had a Dean of the Chapel, the school has had a campus chaplain almost since its existence. Present chaplain Dale Cooper works closely with students on campus and is excited about the new Dean of the Chapel position and Plantinga's arrival this summer. "Neal is a person of extraordinary gifts," said Cooper. "I'm just elated to have him as a colleague, someone with whom I will work closely. We'll be working toward common spiritual goals with a vision to making Calvin College a better place for all who spend time here." Among the primary responsibilities of the Dean of the Chapel are: to encourage and equip the faculty as individuals and departments to model and hence to foster thoughtful, passionate Christian commitments; to oversee a regular schedule of worship opportunities that contribute to both the personal and corporate edification of the Calvin community; to advise the president and senior leadership of the college about the congruence between the community's culture and the mission; to work collaboratively with the college chaplain on common concerns for fostering the lively piety needed at Calvin College; to teach one to two courses per year in the contextual disciplines with the approval of the president; and to serve the college as an ambassador to constituents through preaching and teaching engagements. "It's a very challenging task, and an exciting one," said Plantinga. "I'm grateful for the opportunity to join others in trying to lift up the Christian faith on campus - to show its force and beauty for all of human life, including academic life. I couldn't pass up the chance to be part of that. I'm also excited about working with this new administration. With Gaylen and Joel Carpenter (slated to become Calvin's new provost this summer) there's a lot of energy and a lot of vision." A 1963 graduate of Grand Rapids Christian and a 1967 graduate of Calvin College, Plantinga was an English major as a Calvin undergraduate and planned to pursue that discipline after earning his bachelor's degree from Calvin. In the fall of 1967 he used a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship to go to Yale where he planned to do graduate work in English. That fall, however, he endured what he calls "a personal and spiritual crisis" and that struggle, as well as the mentoring of the now- deceased Douglas Nelson, a Presbyterian minister, led first to a rededication on Plantinga's part to Christianity and then a commitment to go to seminary and enter the ministry. In 1967 Plantinga returned to Calvin Theological Seminary and in 1971 he graduated and entered a four-year stint as a pastor in Webster, New York. In 1975 he began Ph.D. studies at Princeton Theological Seminary, finishing in 1979 and then beginning his career as a professor at Calvin Theological Seminary. Plantinga, who turned 50 this past Valentine's Day, is a member of Woodlawn CRC where he also is an associate minister. His wife Kathleen is an elementary school teacher at Kelloggsville Christian School. The couple has two sons: Nathan, a second-year law student at the University of Michigan, and Adam, a member of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in Houston, Texas. Plantinga is following in the footsteps of both a brother and his father in taking a post at Calvin College. Cornelius Plantinga Sr., now deceased, taught psychology at Calvin from 1950 to 1974, while Alvin Plantinga, now at Notre Dame, taught philosophy at Calvin from 1963 to 1984. Cross-References to Related Articles: #1995-065: Two "B's" for Calvin: Synod Ratifies Appointments of Byker and Bekker as College President, Seminary Academic Dean #1996-017: Pew Charitable Trusts Director Named to Calvin College's Second Highest Post of Provost Contact List: Phil de Haan, Director of Media Relations, Calvin College 3201 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 O: (616) 957-6475 * H: (6160 241-4061 * F: (616) 957-8551 * Pager: (616) 680-1958 * E-Mail: DEHP@Calvin.edu _______________ Dr. Gaylen Byker, President, Calvin College 3201 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 * O: (616) 957-6100 Dr. Joel Carpenter, Director, Pew Charitable Trusts 2005 Market St., Philadelphia, PA 19144 * O: (215) 575-4730 Rev. Dale Cooper, Chaplain, Calvin College 3201 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 * O: (616) 957-6244 * H: (616) 457-3473 Dr. Cornelius Plantinga, Jr., Professor of Systematic Theology, Calvin Theological Seminary 3233 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546-4387 * O: (616) 957-6024 * H: (616) 247-1990 * FAX: (616) 957-8621 ------------------------------------------------ file: /pub/resources/text/reformed: nr96-041.txt (rev.950324) .