The Rev. Jody Hill will be the next president of Memphis Theological Seminary, the Board of Trustees announced October 7, 2019. Hill will take office on January 1, 2020.

Memphis Theological Seminary, located in mid-town Memphis since 1964, educates and sustains men and women for ordained and lay Christian ministry in the church and the world. The seminary offers the Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Christian Ministry, Master of Arts in Youth Ministry, and the Doctor of Ministry degrees. It is an ecumenical ministry of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

Board Moderator, the Rev. Kip Rush stated, “We are pleased Jody accepted our offer to lead the seminary. He brings many attributes needed at this time. Fundraising and strategic planning, two of his strengths, are vital to our future, but we value most Jody’s love of our Lord Jesus Christ and his desire to work to bring the Kingdom of God to earth.”

Hill, a long time pastor in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and the Presbyterian Church (USA), currently serves as the Vice President for Community Relations for Blue Mountain College in Blue Mountain, Mississippi. At Blue Mountain he has been responsible for a successful strategy to foster community engagement and increase fundraising.

“I am eager to continue the visionary leadership of Memphis Theological Seminary that began this ecumenical mission of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church fifty-five years ago,” said Hill. “I believe MTS is at a pivotal place in seminary education because students are immersed in the work of ministry while they attend classes.” Rev. Hill also supports MTS’s diversity in the areas of race, gender, age, and backgrounds. He added, “We consistently educate students from at least twenty-five different denominational backgrounds. The commitment to unity and diversity makes this seminary a unique leader in theological education for the Christian Church and the world we serve.”

Rev. Hill grew up in the Mt. Zion Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Falkner, Mississippi, and he is a direct descendant of Ephraim McLean, a founding member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in 1810. He is also the New York Times best-selling author of 38: The Chucky Mullins Effect. Jody currently lives in Corinth, Mississippi with his wife Monya and their two sons Noah and Luke. Jody currently lives in Corinth, Mississippi with his wife Monya and their two sons Noah and Luke.

The Rev. Dr. Susan Parker, who has been serving as Interim President since August 2018 stated, “Jody is a fine choice to lead MTS. His faith is an inspiration to me and many others. I truly believe he is called to be at this place at this time.”

Look for updates to this post.

See also: The Daily Memphian