Nazarene Theological Seminary

Dr. Jerry Lambert		Dr. Ron Lush

Nazarene Theological Seminary is pleased to formally announce the addition of Dr. Jerry Lambert (since March of 2008) and Dr. Ron Lush (April 2010) to its leadership team. According to NTS President Dr. Ron Benefiel, “The roles in which Dr. Lambert and Dr. Lush serve are key in the development of NTS as a Missional Seminary, as the focus on global initiatives and the development of the multi-campus seminary are central to our planning for the future. Their experience and expertise will help ensure that we are providing the very best support possible for these developing programs.”

DR. JERRY LAMBERT

Dr. Jerry Lambert began working with NTS in March of 2008. Serving as Director of Global Initiatives, Lambert works with the global consortium of Nazarene seminaries and graduate schools of theology, exploring the sharing of resources, faculty and student exchanges, collaborative programs, and forums to enhance theological cohesion in the growing global Church. The eight schools participating in the consortium are: Africa Nazarene University, Asia Pacific Nazarene Seminary, Brazil Nazarene College, Korea Nazarene University, Nazarene Theological College Australia, Nazarene Theological College Manchester, Nazarene Theological Seminary (USA), and Seminary of the Americas (Costa Rica). You can read more about the global consortium, including the funding provided by the Henry Luce Foundation, at www.nts.edu/global-consortium. Additionally, Lambert works with NTS in seeking funding sources to aid NTS in fulfilling its mission to be globally-oriented. He builds relationships with foundations, family trusts, and individual donors interested in the development of theological and missional education for pastors and church leaders.

Lambert is also currently serving as Chancellor of African Nazarene University (Nairobi, Kenya); Director of Development for Nazarene Theological College (Manchester, England), and as Consultant to the President for Korea Nazarene University (Chanon City, Korea). Previously, Lambert devoted nearly 50 years of service to the Church of the Nazarene as pastor, district superintendent, and college president; including 14 years as Commissioner of the International Board of Education.

Lambert earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Southern Nazarene University (SNU) and the Bachelor of Divinity Degree from Nazarene Theological Seminary. He also has received an honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree from SNU. In 1988, Lambert graduated from the Harvard University Institute for the Management of Lifelong Education. Lambert and his wife, Verla (Oke), live in Overland Park, Kansas; they have two daughters and six grandchildren.

DR. RON LUSH

Dr. Ron Lush serves NTS in the role of Director of the Multi-Campus Seminary, a new initiative whereby students can take NTS Master of Divinity (M.Div.) Degree coursework, toward completion of the M.Div., by taking courses on the campuses of Mount Vernon Nazarene University and Southern Nazarene University beginning this fall (program subject to the ratification of the respective governing boards and approval of NTS’ accrediting agency). In this capacity, Lush will be responsible for connecting with the faculty and administration at host campuses, helping to implement recruitment strategies, and connecting with students to ensure that outcomes of the NTS M.Div. degree are being met in this new program. To learn more about the Multi-Campus Seminary, and to view a list of other schools in dialogue with NTS about future participation, visit www.nts.edu/multi-campus-seminary.

Dr. Lush is also the President of Global Initiatives, Inc., an organization formed in 1993 with a mission “To serve leaders, and equip and mobilize leaders to serve,” domestically and internationally. He also currently serves as adjunct professor of Christian Leadership at Olivet Nazarene University, and as consultant to the Center for Pastoral Leadership at Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU). Previously, Lush pastored 4 local churches, and served as Director of Development and Assistant to the President for Institutional Advancement at PLNU.

In addition to the M.Div. degree he earned from NTS, Lush earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Northwest Nazarene University; has completed a two-year post graduate program in Pastoral Leadership from the Columbus Cluster - Methodist Theological Seminary, Trinity Lutheran Seminary and, Ashland Seminary; and, received the D. Min. Degree with a focus in cross-cultural leadership development from Western Seminary. Ron and his wife Kay (Vanderpool) live in Phoenix, AZ; they have three children and twelve grandchildren.