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Baker Inaugurated as 11th President of PTS

Cleveland, TN—October 19, 2016—Dr. Michael L. Baker was formally installed as president of the Pentecostal Theological Seminary today in a ceremony attended by church and educational leaders, community friends, and family.

Baker is the 11th president to serve at the Church of God school, founded in 1975. He follows the two year tenure of Dr. R. Lamar Vest. In addition to the presidency, Baker serves as Chancellor of the Division of Education for the denomination. The office oversees the worldwide reach of Church of God colleges, seminaries and schools around the globe, a number in excess of 110 learning institutions. Baker is the fourth person to fill this role, a position first created in 1998.

During the ceremony, held in the Cross Chapel on the seminary campus, video greetings were presented from educational leaders from Germany, Ecuador, England, Bahamas, and Russia. Cleveland Mayor Tom Rowland touted the strategic presence of the seminary in the city. Art Rhodes, chairman of the Global Board of Education greeted the audience, followed by Lee University President Dr. Paul Conn, who listed the contributions of Baker toward the advancement of education at Lee and in the Church of God.

General Overseer Tim Hill (at podium) performs the investiture of Pentecostal Theological Seminary President Michael Baker. Baker is joined by his wife, Sharon (click photo to enlarge). [1]

General Overseer Tim Hill (at podium) performs the investiture of Pentecostal Theological Seminary President Michael Baker. Baker is joined by his wife, Sharon (click photo to enlarge).

Dr. Timothy M. Hill, general overseer of the Church of God performed the investiture ceremony.

“Mike Baker is uniquely gifted,” Hill stated. “It is rare to find a person with the past ministry experience needed to fill this role. He has done all things with excellence and is well prepared to lead PTS forward.”

Lamar Vest led a “prayer for inauguration and commissioning.” Baker and Vest have shared a lifetime of friendship and ministry together, so the transition between the two administrations has been a mutual sharing of dialogue and mentorship.

During his inaugural address, Baker thanked a number of influential leaders who have guided and mentored him throughout his ministry posts in the Church of God, which have included pastor, educator, communications director and state overseer of Virginia and North Georgia. He opened his remarks by laying the groundwork of cooperation with and for the Church of God, both through participation in the FINISH Commitment and the launch of the Global Education Initiative. He then honed in on the future of the seminary.

“What is the next level for PTS,” he asked the delegation. “Instead of starting out by asking God for what we need, let’s offer Him what we have and he will pour out His blessings…He has promised to provide what we need…I affirm the past, actualize the present and anticipate the future…Let us embrace our future and move to the next level.”

Baker was appointed Chancellor of Education at the time of the International General Assembly of the Church of God held in Nashville this past July. He was named president of the seminary a short time later.

PTS currently provides degrees of Master of Divinity, Master of Arts, Master of Theological Studies, and Doctor of Ministry. For more information, visit www.ptseminary.edu [2].

—-Cameron Fisher, Faith News Network