Foundation President to Serve as Interim President at Phillips Theological Seminary

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – In November 2023, the Board of Directors of the Christian Church Foundation, Inc., (“Foundation”) appointed Rev. Matt Rosine as president-elect to serve as successor to Rev. Gary W. Kidwell. Since that time, Rosine and Kidwell have diligently worked together to ensure a smooth leadership transition no later than the end of 2024.

Following the April 2024 announcement that Dr. Nancy Claire Pittman would retire as president of Phillips Theological Seminary (“Phillips”) on September 28, 2024, the Phillips’ Board sought the expertise of Kidwell to assist in their leadership transition, through service as Phillip’s interim president.

“It is understandable that Phillips would seek out Gary to help during their leadership transition. I, and the Foundation, have been fortunate to have a long transition time since my call as president-elect. While we might selfishly want Gary to stay at the Foundation longer, we know God is calling him to new ministry,” said Rosine.

“Gary’s willingness to postpone his retirement is a testament to his ongoing call to ministry and service of God’s church, which has benefitted the Foundation and the entire denomination,” said Rev. David Yonker, chairperson of the Foundation’s Board of Directors.

While acknowledging his prior plan to be fully retired by the end of 2024, Kidwell noted, “I am as surprised as anyone to receive this call from Phillips, and I am humbled by the opportunity to serve as the interim president.” “I have always loved a quote from Fred Rogers (Mr. Rogers), ‘Often when you think you are at the end of something, you’re at the beginning of something else.’ God has a way of calling us to ‘something else,” said Kidwell.