Office of the President Updates

Dr. David Gyertson, in his message titled “Wesleyan Foundations for Faithful Callings: Worship in the Beauty of Holiness,” shares how “holy worship” has always been a hallmark of the Wesleyan tradition. He shares how genuine, theologically rich worship is emphasized in John Wesley’s instruction and embodied in Charles Wesley’s hymnody. Drawing on Psalm 96 and […]

Dr. David Gyertson, in his message titled “Wesleyan Foundations for Faithful Callings: Nurtured in Community,” shares how the Wesleyan renewal movement is informed by the scriptural themes of mutual interdependence and communal living. These themes throughout scripture are rooted in the Trinity itself as the mutually interdependent three persons in one Godhead. Dr. Gyertson shares […]

Dr. David Gyertson, in his message titled “Wesleyan Foundations for Faithful Callings: Serving Sacrificially,” shares how the Wesleyan renewal movement is informed by its uncompromised convictions of Biblical essentials and fueled by “agape” love. That love willingly surrenders its own rights, privileges, needs and opportunities to serve the least, the left and the lost, and […]

Dr. David Gyertson’s All Saints’ Day Chapel message titled “Wesleyan Foundations for Faithful Callings: Loving Fully & Freely,” challenges us to embrace the call to leadership grounded in Biblical truths and historical Wesleyanism, with renewed minds, sanctified hearts, and loving hands. Drawing from Philippians 2 and the concept of “kenotic leadership,” Dr. Gyertson emphasizes the […]

Dr. David Gyertson’s Chapel message, “Wesleyan Foundations for Faithful Callings: Thinking Deeply,” challenges us to embrace the call to leadership grounded in Biblical truths, sanctified hearts, and minds transformed by Christ. Drawing from Philippians 2 and the concept of “kenotic leadership,” Dr. Gyertson emphasizes the importance of humility, service, and community in fulfilling the Great […]

This paper proposes an early mimetic Christological model of Christian Leadership in Roman Philippi by exploring the judicial, rhetorical structure and the social function of the Philippians hymn (2:5-11) as a cursus pudorum (course of ignominies) that stands in stark contrast to a cursus honorum, the formalized sequence of public offices in first-century Roman cities. […]

David J. Gyertson, Ph.D. Interim President & Affiliate Professor of Leadership Formation and Renewal Fall Convocation September 3, 2024 Welcome to our 101st year Time to review our “ebenezers” Thanks to Steve O’Malley for his centennial history We are a “community called” to five distinctives: 1. We are a community called to the Great Commission […]

“The Kenosis Covenant: Wesleyan Perspectives on Leadership Formation and Renewal” by David J. Gyertson, Ph.D., explores a holistic approach to leadership rooted in Wesleyan theology. This document outlines the need for leaders to integrate learning, loving, and serving through a renewed mind, sanctified heart, and sacrificial service. Gyertson emphasizes “kenotic leadership,” inspired by Jesus’ humility […]

Reluctantly, I knocked at the back door of the parsonage. Revival services were underway in the home mission outpost of the holiness congregation located in Timmins, Ontario, in northern Canada. In recent months, my mother had come in contact with the pastor. Knowing that her twelve-year-old son could benefit from that same exposure, she volunteered […]