Northern's Moore Resigns to Pastor a C&MA Church Near Dayton, Ohio

At the March 2, 2006 meeting, the Northern Seminary Board of Trustees received and accepted the resignation of President Charles W. Moore, which will take effect June 5. Moore was Northern Seminary’s ninth President and the first Northern alumnus (D.Min.’93) to serve in that office. During the June Commencement celebrations, the Board will host an event to honor Moore for his years of service and ministry at the Seminary.

Moore's five year tenure was marked by an increase in enrollment and an expansion of the donor base. He will be remembered for his commitment to spiritual formation and the pastoral preparation of students.

The press release from the seminary offered the following words from the President.
“I have appreciated the opportunity to serve God at Northern for the past five years,” said Moore. “Having served a vibrant and growing evangelical congregation before coming to Northern, the possibility of returning to pastoral ministry was inviting. It has been a joy to be used by God in the preparation of students for ministry. I look forward to Northern Seminary’s continued growth and success!”

Moore's presidency encouraged conservatives who saw him as an ideological ally dedicated to continuing the direction of his predecessor, Ian Chapman. At the same time these very qualities proved frustrating to some progressives. While he was a member of the General Board of the American Baptist Churches USA, he also served on the Executive Committee of the American Baptist Evangelicals. Some older alums and donors took exception to his outspoken advocacy for evangelicalism and his willingness to host the ABE "Summit to Lead" conference last fall on the Northern campus. Moore also met some resistance because he was willing to confront faculty members and challenge them to find their place within the broad parameters of the seminary's evangelical theological position.

Moore leaves Northern to assume the pastorate of a large congregation near Dayton, Ohio, affiliated with the Christian and Missionary Alliance.