Southeastern University selects Chris Palmer to lead College of Ministry and Theology

Southeastern University has appointed the Rev. Chris Palmer as dean of the Barnett College of Ministry and Theology.

Palmer, who begins July 1, will oversee the university’s ministry and theology programs, including faculty and students at the Lakeland campus and partners within the SEU Ministry Network, the school said in a news release.

“The accelerating change in culture has produced great need for both faithful scholars and impactful ministry practitioners,” Palmer said in the release. “I’m committed to serving SEU in order to ensure our students are shaped to be both.”

Palmer has served as dean of students for Theos Seminary in Franklin, Tennessee, and dean of theology at Austin Christian University in Georgetown, Texas. In those roles, he helped craft subscription-based online seminary models, developed curriculum for bachelor’s and master’s level courses and taught several ministry and theology classes, the release said.

Palmer has 18 years of ministerial experience in pastoral care and spiritual leadership to local Assemblies of God congregations. He has done missionary work in over 40 countries.

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He serves as an adjunct professor for the Moody Bible Institute’s Theological Seminary in Chicago.

Palmer is in the final stages of his Ph.D. program in philosophy and religion from Bangor University in the United Kingdom. He also has a master of Theological Studies in Exegetical Theology from Moody Theological Seminary and a bachelor of arts in pastoral studies from North Central University in Minneapolis, the release said.

“When looking for someone to step into this role, we desired a leader who truly understands the direction that higher education is heading,” Southeastern University President Kent Ingle said in the release. “We needed someone who could carry out an ambitious vision while fulfilling our commitment to serve the local church I have no doubt that Palmer will find new and innovative ways to deliver education and train the next generation of ministry leaders.”

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Southeastern selects leader of ministry and theology programs