Press Release

For Immediate Release

February 2, 2024

Mid-America Reformed Seminary announces the appointment of Dr. Alan Strange as Interim President. 

Dyer, IN — With thankfulness to the Lord, Mid-America Reformed Seminary is pleased to announce that Dr. Alan D. Strange has accepted an appointment from the Board of Trustees to serve as Interim President of the Seminary. This three-year appointment will commence on July 1, 2024, coinciding with the retirement of Dr. Cornelis P. Venema, the Seminary’s current President. Dr. Strange will continue teaching at the Seminary as he leads the school during the transition. However, his courseload and other faculty functions will be adjusted to accommodate his new administrative tasks. Trustees, Faculty, and the administrative staff celebrated Dr. Strange’s appointment and his 25th anniversary of service to the Seminary with dinner and fellowship following the special meeting of the Board of Trustees.

“I have enjoyed immensely the privilege of serving the Seminary for many years and will continue to do so in retirement,” remarks Dr. Venema. “However, I am gratified by the Board of Trustees’ appointment of my colleague, Dr. Alan Strange, to serve as the interim President of Mid-America Reformed Seminary. Dr. Strange has served Mid-America well for over twenty-five years as a professor of church history and Theological Librarian. He knows the institution from the inside, enthusiastically embraces our biblical and confessional commitments, and shares our aim to combine academic excellence with a pastoral focus in preparing our students for the ministry. Dr. Strange is intimately acquainted with the churches we have historically served and is eminently qualified to lead Mid-America in a time of transition.”

Rev. Todd Joling (’98), President of the Board of Trustees, chaired the meeting, while Rev. Harry Zekveld (’93), Board Vice-All, interviewed Dr. Strange. Rev. Joling comments, “It will not be easy to see Dr. Venema retire from his service as President. Dr. Venema has served competently and faithfully for 23 years as Mid-America's first President. During his years of service, the Lord tremendously blessed the Seminary's mission of preparing well-equipped pastor-teachers for Christ's church. Dr. Venema's deep love of God's Word and church, his theological knowledge and understanding of what a pastor should be, his steady hand, and his wise and devoted service to Mid-America have shaped the Seminary. While Dr. Venema will be greatly missed, we are incredibly grateful to the Lord that another gifted servant, Dr. Alan Strange, has agreed to serve as Interim President. Dr. Strange is well-known and loved by the Seminary community as a devoted servant of the Lord, His Word, and His church. He has served the Seminary and church in a variety of capacities. He brings many strengths and breadth of knowledge to the office, as well as a solid devotion to Mid-America's purpose and great enthusiasm for the work. We trust that the Lord will further the mission of Mid-America through his wise leadership and cheerful willingness to serve as Interim President. Let's pray that the Lord will continue to help Mid-America serve for the growth and strengthening of His church and will also continue to supply generously all the needs of this institution as He has done. To Him be all the glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen (Eph. 3:21).”

“It has been a true joy and privilege serving with and under President Venema for these many years,” Dr. Strange remarks. “A man of his like, combining first-rate scholarship, personal devotion to Christ, and keen pastoral sensibilities, is rare. While I cannot hope to take his place, I have agreed, as requested, to serve as Interim President for a three-year term in which I would like to help the Seminary continue its faithful mission. Our primary goal remains training for gospel ministry and to equip other kingdom servants so that the church might be aided in its divine task of gathering and perfecting the saints. We can always do the task better, and I am committed to accentuating our strengths so that we might, with greater skill and focus, serve the church as it calls the world to faith in Christ and repentance for sin, particularly as we face the challenges that confront us these days in our troubled world.”

About Mid-America Reformed Seminary 
Founded in 1981, Mid-America Reformed Seminary serves Christ and His church by assisting in the formation and preparation of servants for the Kingdom of God. Wholeheartedly committed to the biblical Gospel, the infallibility of the Word of God, and the biblical riches of the Reformed confessions, its primary purpose is to train men for the gospel ministry of Jesus Christ. Mid-America Reformed Seminary also provides solid theological training for others among God's people whose life callings may be enhanced by theological education. Visit www.midamerica.edu to learn more.