Covenant News

Kersten Accepts Nomination as Executive Director of Ministry

CHICAGO, IL (April 17, 2001) - David W. Kersten, pastor of First Covenant Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, is the candidate for the position of executive director of the Department of Ministry of the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC).

Kersten will replace Donn E. Engebretson, who is the candidate for the position of executive vice president of the denomination. Both positions require approval of the 116th Annual Meeting in June.

Kersten's 500-member congregation learned of his decision this past Sunday. His selection by the Board of the Ministry follows months of intensive searching and deliberation.

"I feel honored," Kersten said of the opportunity. "We've had a unique pastoral life. This is an opportunity to take that experience and bring it to bear in caring for pastors." Kersten said he looks forward to helping address issues in areas of women in ministry, diversity and urban ministry, among others.

"I am very pleased," said ECC President Glenn R. Palmberg of Kersten's nomination. "Dave is an experienced, skilled leader with extensive parish experience. He is an excellent communicator and a wise and sensitive pastor. His long-standing commitment to racial justice, women in ministry and other such issues offers support for some of our most important growing edges as a church."

Palmberg praised Kersten's work as president of the Covenant Ministerium. "I am grateful for his willingness to accept this nomination."

Kersten was ordained in the Evangelical Covenant Church in 1982. He served as youth pastor of Evanston Covenant Church in Evanston, Illinois, from 1977-1979 and again in 1982, serving as a student intern from 1979-1981 at Greenwood Covenant Church in Summerdale, Alabama. He served pastorates in Bethany Covenant Church of North Miami, Florida (1982-1985), and Highland Covenant Church in Bellevue, Washington (1985-1996), prior to his pastorate in St. Paul.

He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from North Park University (then college) in 1977 and a Master of Divinity from North Park Theological Seminary in 1982. He received a Doctor of Ministry in preaching from the Association of Chicago Theological Schools (North Park) in 1997.

Kersten has served a number of Covenant boards and commissions, including Board of Ministry, Board of Benevolence, Minnehaha Academy Board of Education, North Pacific Conference Board of Christian Education, Southeast Conference Board, the Christian Action Commission, Covenant World Relief Commission and the Task Force on Ethical Guidelines for Covenant Ministers, among others.

He and his wife, Sandra, have three children: Andrea, a senior at North Park University; Peter, a senior at Minnehaha Academy; and Genevieve, a junior at Minnehaha Academy.

"The executive director of the Ministry . . . represents a crucial and defining leadership role within our denomination," Kersten said in reflecting on the considerations that helped guide his decision. "The slowly emerging role of women in the church, the multicultural setting of our society, the urbanization of the world and the redefining of pastoral identity necessitated by these demanding circumstances require strong and sensitive leadership. These dynamics, coupled with the ongoing functions and responsibilities of the position, create a very challenging and rich opportunity for service. This is an exciting time to be entering into dialogue."

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