Springfield, Missouri---April 15, 2013---The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) has notified the presidents of the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary, Central Bible College, and Evangel University that their application to consolidate the three institutions has been approved.

"I am thrilled and thankful that the journey we began over 2 years ago has culminated in this moment," states Dr. George O. Wood, general superintendent of the Assemblies of God and chairman of the Transitional Board of Trustees for the consolidation.

The consolidated Evangel University will open fall 2013.  The Transitional Board meeting last month unanimously elected Dr. Carol Taylor, currently president of Vanguard University, Costa Mesa, CA, as president-elect of the university.  She will serve as chief executive officer and lead all consolidation efforts as plans move forward.  She begins her duties July 1, 2013.

In November 2010, the church's executive presbytery began a process to consolidate the three institutions.  Early in January 2011, the boards of directors of the schools met and agreed to appoint a Task Force that would provide a mission statement, core values, structure, governance and bylaws for the consolidated university. 

The Task Force report in May was sent to the boards and subsequently, in separate actions, approved by each.  This report then went in August 2011 to the General Presbytery and on to the biennial business meeting of the Assemblies of God.  Both bodies voted overwhelmingly to move forward with the consolidation.

Once approval from Assemblies of God business meeting in session was received, over 200 people from all three of the schools began working on various facets of the application to the HLC.  The 6,000-page report was submitted last June.

 
Wood expressed deep appreciation to Presidents Byron Klaus (AGTS); Gary Denbow (CBC); and Robert Spence (EU) who worked untiringly for this effort.  He also thanked the David Green family who donated $5 million to make the consolidation possible.

"Now our real work begins," he said.  "As we consolidate the student bodies, there will need to be much thought and effort given to developing the structure of the university." 

The Assemblies of God Theological Seminary will be embedded into the university and will have oversight of the School of Theology and Church Ministries within the university, including all classes both undergraduate and graduate.  This school will be the first to begin in fall 2013.  Other schools to be phased in as soon as possible are the Schools of Arts and Sciences; Behavioral Science; Business and Communications; and Fine Arts.

It is anticipated the full implementation of the consolidation will be completed by 2020.  During this time, the full structure of the university will be implemented and the vision for the school will be established in its most expanded form.

DR. CAROL TAYLOR

CHOSEN TO LEAD CONSOLIDATED EVANGEL UNIVERSITY

Dr. Carol Taylor, currently president of Vanguard University in Costa Mesa, CA, has been chosen president-elect and chief executive officer of the consolidated Evangel University, according to an announcement by Dr. George Wood, chairman of the Board of Trustees and general superintendent of the Assemblies of God.  The Higher Learning Commission recently approved the request to consolidate the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary (AGTS), Central Bible College (CBC) and Evangel University (EU), all owned and operated by the General Council of the Assemblies of God.

“I am extremely pleased with the board’s selection of Dr. Taylor to lead this consolidated university,” states Wood.  “I believe she is exactly what is needed to continue the process of consolidation and lead Evangel University forward as a strong, Pentecostal institution of higher learning.”  The vote on a secret ballot to elect Dr. Taylor was unanimous.

Dr. Taylor began serving as acting president of Vanguard in January 2009 and was named as its ninth president in July 2009.  Prior to that, she was provost/vice president of academic affairs at Vanguard since 2007.  Before joining Vanguard, Dr. Taylor served for seven years as the vice provost for undergraduate education at Biola University, 12 years in executive management at Educational Teaching Service (ETS) in Princeton, New Jersey, and has taught at various higher educational institutions at both the undergraduate and graduate school levels.

“Vanguard is a different university today than it was when President Taylor stepped up to lead it,” says David Oddo, chair of the Board of Trustees at Vanguard.  “Under her direction, Vanguard University has been transformed from a school in financial crisis and declining enrollment into an institution poised to exit its state of financial exigency and with record enrollments.”

An alumna of both Evangel University and the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary, Dr. Taylor also took classes at Central Bible College.  She holds a doctorate from Florida State University and received the Orange County Business Journal Women in Business Award in 2011 and was recognized two years running as one of top 20 professional women to watch in Orange County.   She has also served as a reviewer with Vanguard’s regional accrediting association (WASC) and in various roles with the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities for their study abroad programs and leadership development institutes.

She received the Distinguished Alumnus Award for 2012 from Evangel University.  She is an ordained Assemblies of God minister.

She will begin her tenure July 2013 as president-elect and chief executive officer of the school.  Dr. Robert Spence, who has served as president of Evangel has announced his intentions to take a sabbatical during the first semester of the 2013-2014 school year.  He will be the commencement speaker for 2014, completing 40 years of service as president.

“Dr. Spence leaves a rich legacy at Evangel University,” states Wood.  He has taken the campus from a group of scrappy government barracks to a beautiful campus of permanent buildings.  In addition, he has impacted thousands of students through his leadership and ministry.  His efforts the past two years as we’ve moved toward consolidation have been vital.  We couldn’t have done it without his help.”

Wood also expressed great appreciation to Presidents Byron Klaus (AGTS) and Gary Denbow (CBC) for their efforts.  “All of these men have a great passion for young people and for Christian higher education,” he said.

“The Original Couriers”, Dave, Duane & Neil,  will appear at Central
Bible College, 3000 N. Grant Ave., Springfield, MO, on March 18, 2013, in
the E.S. Williams Chapel at 10:15 AM. The event is open to the public. For
more information call the CBC Alumni Office 417-833-2551 Ext. 1207.

Dave Kyllonen, Duane Nicholson and Neil Enloe have again given
musical wings to their message of the Good News of Jesus Christ.  After
having begun in 1955 and continuing until 2000 as The Couriers, they have
reorganized as “Dave, Duane & Neil to re-establish the familiar sound that
has been uniquely theirs over the years.  Their personal appearances in
churches, concert halls, mission fields and countless other venues have
totaled over 10,000.  They have recorded over 500 songs on more than 50
albums and have personally delivered their messages in song to 80 nations
of the world, as well as all fifty United States and every Canadian province.

Dave, Duane & Neil  have been honored with three prestigious Dove
Awards from the Gospel Music Association.  Two of the awards, “Song of
the Year” and “Associate Member Award”, were bestowed upon Neil for
his original music composition, “(The Cross is my) Statue of Liberty”.  The
other award was given in recognition of their live concert recording,
“Ovation”, for being voted by their peers as the Gospel Music “Inspirational Album
of the Year”.  In 2009 Neil was inducted into the Gospel Music Association Hall Of Fame.

Amazingly, the old magic and the old sound never really left.  An evening
with Dave, Duane & Neil is an experience of joy and delight with a blend of
the old and new songs.  The pen of Neil Enloe has not been dulled by the
years.  Solid messages of the Gospel are still flowing from his talented mind
and heart. The rich, brilliant tenor voice of  Duane Nicholson still clearly
brings identity to their sound.  Dave Kyllonen still sings those deep notes
with command and preaches his heart out with excitement.

Dave, Duane & Neil are both a living history and a vibrant present.  The
message is truly timeless and it appears that the singers are too; now in their
56th year of existence as a Christian music group with all three of them being
original members.