October 10, 2024
ONTARIO, Calif. — Trustees approved the creation of the Jeff P. Iorg School of Christian Leadership at Gateway Seminary during the fall board meeting on Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 7-8, 2024.
Named after former seminary president and current CEO of the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention, Jeff Iorg, the school represents both the legacy and the future of Gateway Seminary, said President Adam Groza.
“The Iorg School builds on the foundation of Gateway’s long commitment to shaping ministry leaders who expand God’s kingdom around the world,” said Groza.
“Jeff Iorg is the namesake of this school, not only due to his 20 years of faithful leadership at Gateway Seminary, but his extensive experience leading churches and his continued service to Southern Baptists through his leadership at the EC.”
The Iorg School will be led by Dr. Jim Wilson, who will begin his new role as the William O. Crews Chair of Leadership on Jan. 31, 2025, and will continue to serve as director of Gateway’s Doctor of Ministry program during the search for his replacement. Crews, the namesake of the faculty chair, served as Gateway’s president from 1986 until Iorg’s tenure began in 2004.
“The school creates a bridge between the academic community and frontline ministry leaders,” said Alex Stewart, dean of the faculty.
The Iorg School is founded on a $2.1 million endowment. Initially, it will focus on growing existing programs at Gateway such as the executive Doctor of Ministry program and Bridging Leadership Initiative, a short-term training program for visiting Korean pastors. The Executive D.Min. program will offer cohorts in English, Korean and Mandarin. The school will also host a new lecture series and serve as a publishing hub on biblical leadership.
Groza also reported to the trustees strong enrollment growth, expanding partnerships and a healthy financial position due to a clean audit and the receipt of significant financial gifts.
Comparing fall 2023 to fall 2024, Gateway saw a 9% increase in student enrollment and a 10% increase in credit hours delivered. Total new student enrollment increased 16% and hours delivered to new students increased 20% over the same period. Through teaching sites and partnerships with local ministries, the Seminary is now offering in-person classes in Sacramento, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, Hong Kong and Taiwan, in addition to established campuses in Denver, Phoenix, Vancouver, and Fremont, California.
“I want to commend [new vice president of enrollment] Dr. Ferguson and her staff on their excellent work in a year of transition,” Groza said.
In addition to $900,000 donated towards the Iorg School, Groza reported a $2 million gift to the Go Grant Fund, bringing the total endowment amount to $4 million. The Go Grant provides all qualified students the opportunity to go on a fully funded, international mission trip through Gateway’s Beyond Program.
During the 2023-2024 fiscal year, revenue exceeded expenses by $964,000 due in part to non-cash gifts. The seminary also received a clean audit.
“Brothers and sisters, your seminary in the West is healthy and focused on our mission,” Groza said.
In other trustee news, Allan Loder has been approved as the new director of online education. Loder earned his Ph.D. in New Testament from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and has served as an instructional design specialist at the College of the North Atlantic in Newfoundland, Canada for 19 years.
Following the trustee meeting, Gateway celebrated its 80th anniversary on the campus lawn in Ontario, California, with a free community festival featuring music provided by California Baptist University students, carnival rides, and food trucks.
