Covenant News
Nystrom to Share Time with Seminary, PSWC
CONCORD, CA (April 12, 2004) - North Park University Prof. David Nystrom is now doing double duty for the Evangelical Covenant Church through a unique collaboration between the Pacific Southwest Conference (PSWC) and North Park Theological Seminary (NPTS).Nystrom, who has family and church connections with PSWC congregations in Northern California, will serve as part-time professor of Biblical studies with NPTS, teaching January and summer intensive classes at the seminary's main campus in Chicago and also at various West Coast sites. He will also serve the conference as a preacher and teacher, according to PSWC Supt. Evelyn Johnson. He will begin his new duties this summer after serving as the university's professor of Biblical studies and as an at-large preacher/teacher for the denomination.
A native of California, Nystrom grew up in Peninsula Covenant Church in
Redwood City, a suburb of San Francisco. He later served in staff
positions both at Peninsula Covenant and University Covenant in Davis.
His new role with the conference will include preaching and teaching
assignments, developing and leading basic courses for pastors and laity
focused on the character of the Covenant, and mentoring young leaders.
Nelly Bothi in the PSWC office will handle scheduling for Nystrom's
preaching and teaching assignments within the conference – she can be
reached by email at nelly.bothi@pswc.org.
"In college my professors told me I ought to be a college professor, and my pastors told me I ought to be a pastor," said Nystrom, an ordained Covenant pastor who also serves as a columnist for The Covenant Companion. In reflecting on the upcoming transition that also includes his wife, Kristina, and their family, he noted, "I took both lines of advice seriously, and my sense is that God was - and is - leading me down both paths. Since college I have been a pastor with university connections, and a university professor with pastoral connections. I think this (new position) is me. This new task gives me the opportunity to explore this in new ways.
"In my 12 years at North Park I have turned down several job offers at other schools, in part because Kristina and I felt called by God to come to NPU, and in part because this is where I can serve God in the Covenant Church," Nystrom continued. "This new opportunity was attractive to us because it combined teaching, pastoral responsibilities and the chance to be closer to family. I am excited about the opportunities and challenges that are before us."
Steve Graham, dean of faculty, said the Nystrom transition will give added visibility to a school that has become more versatile than ever in educating current and future pastors. "Our mission is to serve the whole Covenant church, our primary constituency," he said. "And it's obvious not everyone can come to Chicago for what we're doing. We're trying to become more accessible for folks who can't come to Chicago and relocate and we want to make resources available, especially with the West Coast, where the Covenant is growing most rapidly.
"He (Nystrom) will help us stay closely in touch with people on the West Coast and what they need," Graham continued. "It's very much a two-way connection and David is particularly suited for that because he's appreciate in that conference and is appreciated by our seminary as well."
North Park Theological Seminary has more than 300 participants in on-campus intensive classes via the Covenant External Orientation Program to help people working toward various academic degrees and credentialing. Through North Park West, a cooperative venture with the North Pacific Conference, external orientation classes are also being offered in Oregon and Washington.
SemConnect, the seminary's distance learning program, has significantly expanded its curriculum since it began in 1999. Director Allyson Dickie administers a full-scale program serving about 100 students this year.
For more information about the seminary and its programs, call Kim Sangster at 773-244-6211 or email seminary staff at semadmissions@northpark.edu.
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