A year from now, Covenant will be saying goodbye to its beloved President, Niel Nielson, and his wife, Kathleen Nielson, as they finish off a decade of life with us. Staff and students were informed last Friday in an email from the Chairman of the Covenant Board that on June 30, 2012 President Nielson will be stepping down from his role at Covenant to become president of the newly formed Maclellan Center for Global Christian Education.
Though preparing for this transition, Nielson continues to focus primarily on his work as Covenant’s president. “I must not and will not let what’s many months away distract me from my calling here. We have loved – and are still loving – our years at Covenant,” Nielson said. “Connections with students, faculty, staff, and constituencies have enriched our lives beyond what we could have imagined.”
Kathleen Nielson agreed. “Niel and I love the family of Covenant College, thank God continually for bringing us here, and look forward with enthusiasm not only far ahead but immediately ahead – to the joyful remaining weeks of this academic year, and the year still to come.”
A New Call
A process of key connections made in the past year, such as Covenant’s growing connection with the work of Christian education in Indonesia, became a catalyst for broader thinking about Christian education beyond Covenant’s campus. Also, last fall Nielson was invited to join the Board of Directors of the Maclellan Foundation.
A process of key connections made in the past year, such as Covenant’s growing connection with the work of Christian education in Indonesia, became a catalyst for broader thinking about Christian education beyond Covenant’s campus. Also, last fall Nielson was invited to join the Board of Directors of the Maclellan Foundation.
According to Nielson, “these connections triggered yet more thinking about ways in which we might play a role in what’s happening around the world.” Over the past few months, the idea of the Center was developed through discussions with key members of the Maclellan Family Foundations. It will officially kick off next summer with Nielson’s appointment.
According to Hugh Maclellan, Executive Chairman of the Board of the Maclellan Foundation, “The Maclellan Center will have the goal of encouraging the content and practice of Christian education in Chattanooga and the nation, as well as around the globe. Because education worldwide is in a tremendous state of flux, we anticipate that the creation of the Maclellan Center will be both timely and of vital importance.”
Nielson described Covenant’s DNA as always “looking outward” in its programs and focus. “Our years at Covenant have strengthened and extended our love for and commitment to Christian education,” Nielson said. He also hopes to see the Center partner directly with Covenant in the future.
Addressing students at the Q&A Tuesday night, he said, “What we do here and the way we do it is enormously valuable. To carry what we do and how we do it to broader communities and constituencies has been something Covenant has been thinking about for years.”
The vision right now, according to Nielson is to put together “sort of a 10 year strategy so that by the end of ten years, Lord willing, we can look around the world at a network of strong, Biblically grounded, intellectually thoughtful” communities of education, like we have here. “The goal of the Center is to equip Christians and Christian communities around the world to do what we [at Covenant] do almost instinctively.”
“This is what I want to do basically for the next 10 years of my life,” he excitedly told students at the Q&A.
A New Search
Nielson approached Chairman Moore a few weeks ago, before the matter was finalized, to let him know of the possible transition. While Moore expressed sadness at the thought of losing the Nielsons, he also expressed on behalf of the Board his excitement for their future plans and the potential impact on Christian education that the Center might have.
Nielson approached Chairman Moore a few weeks ago, before the matter was finalized, to let him know of the possible transition. While Moore expressed sadness at the thought of losing the Nielsons, he also expressed on behalf of the Board his excitement for their future plans and the potential impact on Christian education that the Center might have.
Students, alumni, and faculty alike have expressed sadness at the news of Nielson’s upcoming resignation. Covenant alumnus Joel Belz (’58) commented, “We are certainly losing a most remarkable person. President Nielson and his wife were both multi-gifted individuals. Yet God calls such people to bigger and bigger assignments, especially when they’ve used their gifts well. This is a global assignment and we are happy to see him take it.”
“We all focus so much on calling here at Covenant,” said Kathleen Nielson. “It’s a joy to be part of the ongoing process of hearing God’s call on our lives, along with the students and everyone else around here.”
According to Moore, the Board is gearing up for another selection process “identical to the one that led to Nielson’s selection” in 2002. The first step, which should happen in the next few weeks, is for Moore to appoint a search committee made up of faculty, students, alumni, and board members and advisors. This committee will have the task of seeking Covenant’s sixth president.
“Any transition is going to bring some change,” said Moore, “but the most important thing is that the mission of the college will not change – it will continue forward unabated. The committee will seek someone who follows that mission.”
Meanwhile, as President Nielson joked in the Q&A, “Forget about it, will ya?!” The Nielsons haven’t left yet and are “deeply committed” to their remaining time here. “There is still much time and much work left,” said President Nielson. “My hope is that the college will be stronger, in every respect, 15 months from now than it is at present.”
[Originally published here.]
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