Baylor University’s Truett Seminary Announces the Selection of Jack Bodenhamer, DMin, as Assistant Dean of External Affairs
WACO, Texas (September 6, 2023) – Baylor University’s George W. Truett Theological Seminary announced today that Jack Bodenhamer, DMin, has been selected to serve as assistant dean of external affairs. In his new position, Bodenhamer will guide and supervise Truett Seminary’s Church Network, W. Winfred Moore Center for Ministry Effectiveness, Office of Ministry Connections, Online Certificate Program, and Program for the Future Church. He will also intentionally collaborate with, among others, the Seminary’s Kyle Lake Center of Effective Preaching and Faith and Sports Institute.
“After an extensive, protracted search that attracted a considerable pool of highly qualified candidates, both the search committee (comprised of Julie Covington, Beth Ann Hargis, Jenny Howell, and Dennis Tucker) and the Truett faculty and staff writ large enthusiastically commended to me Rev. Dr. Jack Bodenhamer to serve as our next assistant dean of external affairs. Having done my own due diligence, I am also convinced that Jack is qualified, prepared, and well-suited for this significant and strategic role,” said Truett Dean Todd D. Still, PhD. “Jack has flourished in his previous work for us in the Office of Ministry Connections and the Truett Church Network. As a known, trusted, skilled, and valued team member, I have every good reason to believe that he will also be highly effective in engaging and serving Truett’s expansive, current external constituencies and in helping us to connect and to partner with others, too, as we continue to carry out our mission of equipping God-called men and women for gospel work and witness both near and far.”
As a current member of the Truett family, Bodenhamer serves as the director for the Office of Ministry Connections assisting students and alumni in discerning their call to ministry and discovering ways to serve the church. Before joining the Truett staff in 2017, he served as the senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Elm Mott, Texas, the minister of Youth and Education at Trinity Baptist Church in Sweetwater, Texas, and in a number of other ministerial roles. Dr. Bodenhamer holds degrees from Howard Payne University (BA), Hardin-Simmons University (MDiv), and Baylor University (DMin) respectively.
“I am excited to step into this new role at Truett Seminary and look forward to continuing the good work that has been done through the external affairs office,” said Bodenhamer. “Truett possesses a unique role in 21st century Christianity and is poised to serve the church through the many offerings of our outwardly facing offices. I believe that the work of the Center for Ministry Effectiveness, the Program for Future Church, the Certificate Program, and Ministry Connections offers opportunities for empowering and equipping of students, alumni, and our friends around the state, nation, and globe. The Center began more than 25 years ago with the mission to ‘strengthen and enable Christian ministers to carry out their callings effectively,’ and while many things have changed in the landscape surrounding ministry, our commitment remains the same. I am humbled to join in on this grand endeavor.”
The news of Jack Bodenhamer being named assistant dean of external affairs at Baylor’s Truett Seminary has been warmly received by many. The following voices are representative of those who have learned of this announcement.
Representative Endorsements Regarding the Appointment of Jack Bodenhamer as Assistant Dean of External Affairs at Baylor’s Truett Seminary
“I am thrilled with Dr. Bodenhamer’s hire as the assistant dean of external affairs at Truett Seminary. Jack is uniquely suited to succeed in this role. He has served in multiple congregational roles, including senior pastor. He has ably led the Office of Ministry Connections, which has grown in both scope and effectiveness under his leadership. Jack has a proven ability and willingness to support and equip alumni and friends across the spectrum of Truett’s bandwidth. I am confident Jack will continue Truett Church Network’s mission of supporting and equipping pastors and their churches for the challenges they face!” – Matthew Homeyer, DMin, senior pastor, Trinity Baptist Church, San Antonio, Texas
“Dr. Bodenhamer is a gifted administrator, a trustworthy leader, and a tireless networker. Truett could not have hired a better person to serve as assistant dean of external affairs. Jack is also an incredible collaborator who seeks out conversation partners, works toward shared vision, and builds consensus whenever possible. This is a rare skill, one that makes him the ideal fit for this position. Most importantly, Jack cares deeply about the church. He is committed to training and placing pastors, and to creating and sustaining healthy churches that offer witness to God’s love in the world. I look forward to his leadership!” – Mandy McMichael, PhD, associate director and J. David Slover Associate Professor of Ministry Guidance
“Well done Truett Seminary in announcing Dr. Jack Bodenhamer as your new assistant dean of external affairs! Jack brings to this role a wonderful combination of leadership and relationship skills that bear abundant fruit. His ability to cast and communicate vision, making those around him better and stronger, has been a constant throughout his career. His commitment to be his best and do his best, while forever striving to have a Christ-honoring presence, ensures that he will always be a trusted ambassador for Truett. Truett Seminary and Texas Baptist churches will undoubtedly be blessed through Jack in this role.” – Ward Hayes, Treasurer/Chief Financial Officer at the Baptist General Convention of Texas
“I am very excited to be working with Jack Bodenhamer in his role as the assistant dean of external affairs at Truett Seminary. Jack has been a good friend for many years. I have known him since his days as a senior pastor and when he served on the board of advisors for the Center for Ministry Effectiveness for several years in the past. Jack’s leadership with the Office of Ministry Connections has helped many Truett graduates to secure jobs upon graduation with a very high success rate. I have watched Jack guide and support our students in their discernment of their callings these last six years and know that he is a strong advocate for all our Truett students. Jack has the ability to engage with all groups across Texas and beyond with whom Truett partners. Truett’s best days are ahead with Jack leading the office of external affairs.” – Julie Covington, assistant director for the Center for Ministry Effectiveness at Baylor’s Truett Seminary
ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY
Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked Research 1 institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 20,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions.
ABOUT GEORGE W. TRUETT THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY AT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY
Baylor University’s George W. Truett Theological Seminary is an orthodox, evangelical, multi-denominational school in the historic Baptist tradition that equips God-called people for gospel ministry in and alongside Christ’s Church by the power of the Holy Spirit. Accredited by the Association of Theological Schools, Truett Seminary provides theological education leading to the Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Christian Ministry, Master of Arts in Contextual Witness and Innovation, Master of Arts in Theology, Ecology and Food Justice, Master of Arts in Theology and Sports Studies (online), Master of Theological Studies, Doctor of Ministry, and Ph.D. in Preaching. Truett Seminary also offers joint degrees through Baylor University school/college partnerships in social work, business, law, music, and education. In addition to the flagship Baugh-Reynolds Campus in Waco, the Seminary also has additional instructional sites in Houston and San Antonio. Visit the Truett Seminary website to learn more.