Press Releases
News Release: For Immediate ReleaseSalt Lake Theological Seminary Appoints Dr. James Munter As New Interim PresidentFounding president Ken Mulholland to focus on research and teaching intercultural studiesSALT LAKE CITY, September 13, 2004 – The Board of Directors of Salt Lake Theological Seminary today announced that founding president Ken Mulholland will redirect his focus at the school to research and teaching within the area of intercultural studies. Dr. James Munter has been appointed interim president of the seminary. Since its beginnings as a school for biblical and theological studies in 1984, the seminary has been led by its founder, president Ken Mulholland. “After 20 years of planting the seeds of growth for the seminary, I’m ready to turn my focus to my academic interests,” says Ken Mulholland. “Now it’s time for someone with the skills appropriate to this season of growth to see the seminary through its next stage of development.” Mulholland will take a one-year sabbatical to pursue completion of his PhD in history. He will return as Professor of History of Missions, at which time he will also start up and direct a new Intercultural Studies program at the seminary. Dr. Jeff Silliman, Chairman of the seminary’s Board of Directors announced the appointment of Dr. Jim Munter as interim president, effective next month. “I see God’s providence in the timing of Ken’s decision and the availability of Jim Munter to serve in this role,” Silliman said. “I have every confidence in his abilities to take up the leadership of the school at this time in its development.” The board will begin the search for a permanent replacement for Mulholland at its fall meeting, Silliman added. In October, Dr. Munter will retire from thirteen years of service as senior pastor at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Sandy, Utah. “Having served as a parish pastor in the Salt Lake Valley these past thirteen years I have become increasingly convinced that our Christian community needs a spiritually strong and vibrant seminary to prepare men and women called to serve as spiritual leaders in Utah,” said Munter. “My vision is that Salt Lake Theological Seminary will play a vital role in establishing an even deeper unity in the gospel of our Lord Jesus, lived out in love and servant-hood among all Christian communities of Utah.” Dr. Munter was born and raised in Nebraska. He earned a Bachelor of Divinity degree from Trinity Seminary in Columbus, Ohio then went on to serve congregations in Ohio, Nebraska and Colorado. He left parish ministry for a while to become the development director for Lutheran Family Social Services of Colorado. In 1990, he was called from there to Utah, to serve as pastor at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. He holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago.
About Salt Lake Theological SeminarySalt Lake Theological Seminary is an inter-denominational graduate school of biblical and theological studies, engaged in the training and development of Christian leaders. The seminary offers Masters and Doctoral degrees for professionals preparing for ministry or already actively engaged in ministry work, as well as various Diploma and Certificate programs for students studying at the non-graduate level or for personal enrichment. Classes, courses, seminars, workshops and conferences are also offered to meet the needs of the broader Christian community. More information can be found on this web site. ### For more information contact: |