From: Darrell128@aol.com Date: Sat, 17 Jun 1995 04:07:39 -0400 Subject: NR 065: Synod Ratifies Calvin College, Seminary Leaders NR #1995-065: For Immediate Release Two "B's" for Calvin: Synod Ratifies Appointments of Byker and Bekker as College President, Seminary Academic Dean GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (June 15, 1995) URNS - When Calvin College and Calvin Seminary open for classes in the fall, each will have a new face in its top leadership. Calvin College will see Dr. Gaylen Byker replace 20-year veteran president Dr. Anthony Diekema, and Calvin Seminary will see Dr. Gary Bekker fill the shoes of retiring academic dean Rev. Wilbert Van Dyk. In his June 15 evening synodical interview before a sizeable audience of friends, family, and college faculty, Byker responded to a question about his personal faith by describing his background growing up in a conservative Christian Reformed family in the Grand Rapids suburb of Hudsonville, reacting against his upbringing in early adulthood, and returning to Calvin College and Grand Rapids as a committed Christian after service as a military officer in Vietnam. "I've always been active in my church and in Christian schools, and I've always sought to be explicit in my commitment to the faith that I have," said Byker. Byker indicated that he wanted to see Calvin College retain its Christian commitments and said the college's control by the Christian Reformed denomination was helpful in maintaining that commitment. "We don't need to be a Duke or a University of Michigan," said Byker. "I think there is a very important place in American higher education for distinctive education." Byker will bring an unusual background to his new position: although he holds an earned academic doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania and both a masters degree and a law degree from the University of Michigan and has some college teaching experience, most of his recent professional life has been spent in the business world. Formerly an investment banker, Byker is currently a Texas natural gas company executive responsible for financial matters. Asked about the success of his business endeavors, Byker noted that he had raised approximately $120 million for his current company during the last two and a half years - an amount greater than the entire annual Calvin College educational and general budget of $43 million per year. "I see my primary role in relationship to the faculty is making it easier for them to do what they do," said Byker. Approval by synod was the last step in the approval process for Byker, who will take the reins of the 3800-student school when the academic year begins this fall. Earlier in the morning, synod approved the appointment of Dr. Gary Bekker as the new academic dean of Calvin Seminary. An ordained Christian Reformed minister, Bekker comes to his new position from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Wenham, Massachusetts. In his synodical interview, Bekker noted that his New England context had made him very aware that many old and established churches were no longer preaching the gospel. "As a society we appear to be morally adrift," said Bekker. "If a minister of the gospel doesn't learn to interpret the text [of Scripture], not anything else is really going to do a lot of good." Cross-References to Related Articles: #1994-008: President Diekema Announces Retirement from Calvin College #1995-008: Calvin College Announces Texan Finalist in Presidential Search Contact List: Mr. Tim Penning or Mrs. Bonny Wynia, Christian Reformed Synodical News Office Calvin College, 3201 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 * O: (616) 957-8652 * FAX: (616) 957-8551 To Reach Delegates During Synod: (616) 957-6000 Pre-Recorded CRC Synod Hotline: (616) 957-8654 Grace Achterhof, Chairperson, Calvin College Presidential Search Committee O: (616) 459-7555 * FAX: (616) 459-9810 Phil De Haan, Director of Media Relations, Calvin College 3201 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 * O: (616) 957-6000 * F: (616) 957-8551 * E-Mail: DEHP@Calvin.edu Ms. Beth Swagman, Abuse-Prevention Director, Christian Reformed Church in North America 2850 Kalamazoo Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49560 * O: (616) 246-0735 * FAX: (616) 246-0834 ------------------------------------------------ file: /pub/resources/text/reformed: nr95-065.txt .