After an extensive search process by the Board of Trustees, Christian Theological Seminary is excited to announce that Dr. David M. Mellott has been named the Seminary’s seventh president. His tenure will officially begin on July 1, 2019. Since 2011, Dr. Mellott has served as Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dean, and Professor of Theological Formation at Lancaster Theological Seminary in Lancaster, PA. An ordained minister with the United Church of Christ, Dr. Mellott provides an especially unique perspective for the ecumenical Indianapolis campus; he grew up with roots in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and was previously ordained a Roman Catholic priest in 1982.
Dr. Bill Kincaid, Interim President and Herald B. Monroe Associate Professor of Leadership and Ministry Studies, noted that Dr. Mellott brings significant leadership experience in theological education and “a personal temperament for the opportunities and challenges before us. His teaching interests, advocacy efforts and passion for social justice initiatives reflect the historic impulses and stated values of Christian Theological Seminary. I very much look forward to working with him when I return to the faculty,” said Kincaid.
“Dr. Mellott joins CTS at a vibrant and promising moment in an institutional history spanning more than 160 years,” said Liz Klimes, Chair of the CTS Board of Trustees. “The Seminary’s innovative programs including a first-of-its-kind PhD, distinctive models of advancing pastoral care, counseling and theological leadership, and a forward-thinking partnership with Butler University. We’re excited to see how Dr. Mellott’s leadership will help CTS serve as a flagship North American Seminary,” noted Klimes.
Dr. Mellott said he is compelled by the Seminary’s legacy of integrating a rich theological education with a vision to serve the common good. “Christian Theological Seminary has long been a regional and national leader in delivering ecumenical theological education that serves the world,” he stated.
He added the Seminary’s culture and legacy of inclusiveness is particularly relevant today. “Christian Theological Seminary’s commitment to racial and gender justice is now, as much as ever, essential to being faithful, authentic and engaged,” said Dr. Mellott. “I am honored to serve as president of such a distinguished school with a substantial mission to serve the world.”
Upon embarking on his new role as president at CTS, Dr. Mellott will reside in Indianapolis with his husband, the Rev. Lance Mullins.
Dr. Mellott’s CV can be read here.
Read the official press release about the announcement here.
For a glimpse into the way Dr. Mellott thinks about theological education and the future of seminary, watch his Fall 2015 Convocation address at Lancaster:
