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February 19, 2009

Auburn Theological Seminary names new president

Katharine Rhodes Henderson will take office July 1

by Bethany Furkin
Presbyterian News Service

LOUISVILLE — Auburn Theological Seminary’s board of directors elected a new president for the school today.

Katharine Rhodes Henderson will succeed Barbara G. Wheeler, who has been president of the New York City seminary since 1979. Henderson will take office July 1.

“Recognizing in Katharine a person of international reputation who has all the qualities and commitments we seek, we are proud to appoint her as president,” said Mark Hostetter, chairman of Auburn’s board of directors. “We are excited that Auburn is poised to have even deeper transformational impact on religious leadership.”

Henderson joined the Auburn staff 15 years ago and has since served as executive vice president. In that position, she complemented Wheeler’s national leadership role in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Henderson also has experience in parish ministry and a commitment to multifaith engagement, women’s leadership and business ethics and bringing religious issues before the public.

Henderson has built Auburn’s department of institutional advancement and launched several of Auburn’s signature programs, including Auburn Media and Face to Face/Faith to Faith, a program that brings together teenage leaders from religious conflict zones to learn how their religious traditions can be resources for making peace.

During her presidency, Wheeler strengthened Auburn’s ties to the PC(USA), oversaw the expansion of educational programs and created the seminary’s Center for Study of Theological Education, which she will now lead.

“CSTE’s research and its consulting service have grown rapidly to respond to needs for information and requests for assistance,” Wheeler said. “I am delighted that Auburn’s board has concurred with my request to turn my full attention to CSTE’s work. And I am deeply gratified that the board has elected Katharine Henderson, my most admired colleague and closest working partner, to succeed me as president.”

As president, Henderson’s goals will focus on highlighting Auburn as a center for religious leaders to find theological depth, multifaith understanding and literacy about the moral dimensions of public issues.

In addition to strengthening programs for Christian leaders, Henderson has attracted a multifaith staff. Among the programs leaders — a Reform rabbi who leads Auburn’s multifaith work and a Palestinian Muslim who directs Face to Face/Faith to Faith.

She serves on the boards of the New York Women’s Foundation and the Ghost Ranch Camp and Conference Center. She is a parish associate of The First Presbyterian Church in New York City.  

Information for this story furnished by Shari K. Brink, director of communication, Auburn Theological Seminary.