Board of Regents
Dr. Martine Audeoud
Martine has served over 25 years in Africa and Haiti. She has helped coordinate urban consultations with Ray Bakke and Glenn Smith in Abidjan and Haiti. She is presently in Niamey, Niger, with her family. Beside her regular teaching job at an American school, she teaches and serves as an administrative consultant at the Ecole Supérieure Privée de Théologie in Niamey. She serves as a visiting professor at Bible schools and theological seminaries in Cotonou and Abidjan. She also helps facilitate the Ivorian Association of Bible Schools and Theological seminaries. Her vision is to empower francophone African church leaders with contextualized tools that will empower them to respond effectively and creatively to the challenges of the 21st century urban francophone African context.
Dr. Raymond J. Bakke
Ray Bakke holds a diploma from Moody Bible Institute, BA from Seattle Pacific College, an MDiv from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, an STM and a DMin from McCormick Theological Seminary. He founded International Urban Associates (IUA) in 1989. IUA animated a network of more than 100 urban-based church and mission leaders in many of the largest cities of the world. Currently Dr. Bakke is Chancellor, distinguished professor of global urban ministry and Chairman of the Board of Regents at Bakke Graduate University of Ministry. Ray is the author of a number of books, including A Theology as Big as the City and the just released, Street Signs, co-authored with Jon Sharpe. Doctoral students and Senior Associates actively involved in ministry all over the world are the beneficiaries of Ray Bakke’s mentoring and teaching.
Dr. Sukhwant Singh Bhatia
Dr. Bhatia holds an MTh from Dallas Theological Seminary and a PhD from University of Texas. He was the first Sikh convert to have graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with an MTh degree in 1981. Rev. Dr. Bhatia has pastored and planted churches for 15+ years. He has taught extensively in formal and non-formal settings in India and abroad. Dr. Bhatia serves as the Executive Director of Seek Partners International; a partnership development and implementation ministry. In addition to his responsibilities at Seek and its partner ministries, he heads the new Hindi Study Bible Project of International Bible Society-India as the consultant and chief editor.
Dr. Robert Calvert
Robert Calvert holds a BS from the University of Dundee, a BD from the University of Edinburgh, and a DMin from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he was an RJB Scholar. In 2003 he began work on a PhD on the role of migrant churches in Rotterdam with the University of Utrecht. From 1991-95 he was convenor of the Urban Priority Areas Committee of the Church of Scotland. In 1999 he founded Mamre (a foundation offering hospitality to asylum-seekers in Rotterdam) and became coordinator of the “Cities” track for Hope for Europe. Since 2001, Robert has been a Board member of migrant church organisations in the Netherlands: Gift from Africa To Europe (G.A.T.E.) and Samen Kerken In Nederland (S.K.I.N.). In 2002, he founded and became co-ordinator of Partners Learning and Acting in Cities of Europe (PLACE). Robert serves as Minister to Scots International Church in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Dr Jose Da Silva
José was born in Portugal and at the age of three moved to Angola, Africa where his parents were missionaries. He lived in Angola for almost 20 years, immigrating to Montreal, Canada in 1981. José planted a multilingual and multicultural church in Montreal. He has also been involved with Christian Direction in Montreal for the past 18 years, as coordinator of the URBANUS partnership. José is an associate professor at FATEB in Central African Republic, FATER in Rwanda and EBTAO in Togo. He also teaches missiology courses in Luanda, Angola and Kinshasa, RDC.
Dr. Stephan De Beer
In 1998, Stephan completed his doctorate in practical theology on the role of the church in urban transformation, with specific reference to the church and housing. Stephan is the Managing Director of the Tshwane Leadership Foundation, an ecumenical community organization in the inner city of Pretoria, South Africa. Since 1993 this Foundation has become an incubator for innovative urban development and ministry programs, among these a social housing company, programs with women and girls at-risk, homeless communities and inner city children, as well as a community festival and arts program. Stephan was one of the founders of the Institute for Urban Ministry, an institute for urban theological education, offering accredited urban training programs and hosting a biennial urban ministry consultation. His research interests focus on the urban church in its public engagement, and he is currently completing a research thesis on spirituality and space.
Dr. Gwendolyn J. Dewey
Gwen Dewey holds a BS in psychology, an MEd in Educational Psychology-Counseling and an EdD in Educational Policy, Governance and Administration from the University of Washington, as well as a DMin from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary. She served as the Founding President, leading the transition during 2002 and 2003 of Northwest Graduate School from a local, church-based graduate school of ministry to an internationally recognized, ecumenical school, integrating the premier Doctoral Program in Transformational Leadership developed by Dr. Ray Bakke. Prior to her Presidency, Dr. Dewey worked with Dr. Bakke’s International Urban Associates as the Senior Associate for Academic Affairs. Dr. Dewey developed and taught courses at Pacific Lutheran University in the Masters in Educational Administration program for seven years, was the Founding Director of Kindred Community Services (faith-based, non-profit), Director of Community Ministry for Bethany Baptist Church, President of Gwendon Educational Consultants, Developer and Co-Chair of Partners for International Education and an administrator, counselor and teacher in public schools for 27 years. Currently she is working with BGU's third-year students in finalizing their DMin programs.
Dr. Leah Gaskin Fitchue
Leah Gaskin Fitchue holds a BA from Rutgers University, an MS from the University of Michigan, an EdD from Harvard University and an MDiv from Princeton Theological Seminary. She served as Founding Director of the Doctor of Ministry in the Renewal of the Church for Mission and Founding Director of the Urban Ministry Studies program at Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary. She is a board member of Christian Community Development Association (CCDA), Call to Renewal, Sojourners and the Association of Urban Theological Education and Ministry (AUTEM). Currently she is president of Payne Theological Seminary. Her most recently published work is “COMMENTARY,” in Transforming the City: Reframing Education for Urban Ministry, published by Eerdmans in 2002.
Dave Hills
Dave Hillis holds a BA from Western Washington University, an MDiv from Fuller Theological Seminary and is currently working on his DMin in Transformational Leadership for the Global City from Bakke Graduate University. From 1988 to 1994 he was Associate Regional and Training Director for Young Life, Inc., responsible for the development of all urban work for Young Life in the Northwest cities of Seattle, Tacoma and Portland. He is currently the Executive Director of Northwest Leadership Foundation, overseeing a variety of urban programs that range from tutoring for inner-city youth to an adult urban theological initiative to an urban youth outreach initiative. Teaching responsibilities include being an adjunct professor at Fuller Seminary in their Youth and Family Department and at Trinity Lutheran College in their Urban Studies Department.
Dr. Anne-Marie Kool
Anne-Marie Kool holds a MTh from University of Utrecht, and a PhD from University of Utrecht, and a Dr.habil. from Reformed University of Divinity, Debrecen, Hungary. Since 1995 Dr. Kool has served as the director of the Protestant Institute for Mission Studies (PMTI) in Budapest, Hungary. Since 2006 she has been a professor of Missiology of the Viaroli Gasper Ref. University and director of the Central and Eastern European Institute for Mission Studies. A native of the Netherlands she first visited Hungary in 1979 on a mission trip with her church youth group. Eight years later she returned to work on her doctoral degree and serve as a “holy spy,” establishing Christian student ministries. She sees her role as “vision caster and encourager, training a team of trainers who will teach their congregations to grow into active, loving, reconciling communities.” Dr. Kool’s dissertation is published in English, in one volume (Boehen-centrum, Zoetermeer, NL) and in Hungarian in three volumes published by Harmat.
Dr. Emmanuel Luna
Emmanuel M. Luna, PhD in Urban and Regional Planning, is a professor of Community Development and the present Secretary of the College of Social Work and Community Development, University of the Philippines. For almost two decades Dr. Luna has been training Christian development workers and pastors in holistic and transformational development. He has extensive practice in community organizing, action research, participatory monitoring and evaluation, and social environmental impact studies. Specializing in community-based disaster risk management, he has published several papers in national and international journals. He is a life-time member of The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, USA, and the Board Treasurer in the U.P. Chapter.
Dr. Robert Lupton
Robert Lupton holds a BA from God's Bible College, MEd from Georgia State University, and PhD from University of Georgia. He is a Christian community developer, an entrepreneur who brings together communities of resource with communities of need. Through FCS Urban Ministries, a non-profit organization which he founded, he has developed three mixed-income subdivisions, organized two multi-racial congregations, started a number of businesses, created housing for hundreds of families and initiated a wide range of human services in his community. Publications include: Theirs is the Kingdom, Return Flight, and Urban Perspectives.
Michael Mata
Michael Mata has extensive experience in urban-related programs on the congregational level, as well as ecumenical and interfaith levels. His skills and expertise lie in developing practical approaches to faith-based community development, congregational redevelopment, trans-cultural ministry, and community conflict transformation. His research interests include social-cultural analysis of the urban landscape and assessing the social ecology of religious institutions in urban communities. Michael is Transformational Development Specialist for World Vision US, is adjunct assistant professor of Urban Ministries at Claremont School of Theology, and also serves on the Board of Regents at Bakke Graduate University.
Dr. David Ngai
David Ngai holds a Diploma from the Seminary Consortium for Urban Pastoral Education, BA from the University of Toronto, MSW from Sir George William College, MDiv from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a DMin in Transformational Leadership for the Global City from Bakke Graduate University of Ministry, as an RJB Scholar. David’s past ministry experience includes being the Chief Executive of World Vision Hong Kong and China. Currently he is the President of BGU Hong Kong. He is also the founder and the present Chief Executive Officer of International Ren-Ai Foundation founded in 1994 to serve the ministry in Mainland China, the Honorary Professor of Institute of Rural Economic Development of Chinese Academy of Social Science of PRC, and the Principal Consultant of the World Bank Project Office of Southwest Poverty Alleviation Office of PRC.
Dr. Glenn Smith
Glenn Smith holds a BA from University of Michigan, an MA from the University of Ottawa, a DMin from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary and an Honorary Doctorate from the Union of Private Universities (Haiti), given in recognition of his contribution to urban theological practice in that country. Since 1983 He has been the Executive Director of Christian Direction in Montreal - a multi-faceted ministry committed to the spiritual transformation by Jesus Christ of all of life in the cities of the Francophone world. He is a professor of urban theology and missiology at three Protestant faculties in Montreal, a sessional lecturer at McGill University and at the Université chrétienne du Nord d’Haïti. He occasionally teaches in Europe and Africa. He was a member of the Protestant Committee of le Conseil superieur de l’éducation (Superior Council of Education) from 1986-1991 and its President during the two school years of 1992 and 1993. In 1993 he became a member of the Board of Directors of World Vision Canada. He currently chairs, Urbanus, an international partnership committed to providing reflective, practical and contextual education for urban practitioners in large French speaking cities. Author of numerous books and articles, his forthcoming book is entitled, City Air Makes You Free: To transform the city through a fresh,To transform the city through a fresh, biblical hermeneutic.
Dr. Jember Teferra
Jember Teferra holds a nursing degree, a PHC in Education and an MPhil from the University of Manchester. In addition, she holds a DMin in the Renewal of the Church for Mission from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary, where she was an RJB Scholar. Her extensive work with Ethiopian health services included Preparing and editing the first Amharic First Aid Manual. A political prisoner in Addis Ababa from 1976-81, Jember used her time in prison to train prisoners in first aid and create a group of Health Assistants that were comprised of 50% prisoners and 50% guards, as well as being on call for the health needs in the women’s compound. She is currently the founder, fundraiser and coordinator of the Integrated Holistic Approach Urban Development Project (IHA-UDP), established in 1989. In 2001 Jember received the MaAFRIKA Award which “gives recognition and honor to those African women who work devotedly and have participated and contributed towards the development and up-grading of the living standards of their community.”
Richard Twiss
Richard Twiss is a member of the Rosebud Lakota/Sioux Tribe in South Dakota. He and his wife Katherine are co-founders of Wiconi (wee choe' nee / Lakota/Sioux "life") International. He is committed to seeing First Nations people emerge as a dynamic voice for justice, reconciliation and healing around the world. His vision is, “To remove barriers and build bridges for restoring genuine community in a broken world.” Richard is currently a Doctoral student at Asbury Seminary and has been a national and international conference speaker. He is a member of the International Reconciliation Coalition, Mission America National Committee, and appears as a guest on numerous radio and TV programs. As a former pastor, he consults with denominational and para church leaders and dozens of local churches to raise awareness for the Native work. Richard is one of the North American leaders of the World Christian Gathering of Indigenous People Movement. Richard’s book “One Church Many Tribes - Serving Jesus the Way God Made You” (Regal Books) articulates a fresh Biblical vision for Native people. As a First Nations Christian leader, Richard brings a unique perspective to us from the Word of God about learning to value and appreciate those who are different from ourselves.
Dr. Kyle B. Usrey
Kyle Usrey is the Dean of the College of Business, Arts & Sciences, and Education (CBASE) at Friends University, an historic Quaker institution in Wichita, Kansas. He has a rich history of international travel, consulting and teaching. Usrey has lectured and been a guest speaker on six continents on issues of globalization, international business, business ethics, business as mission, Christian community urban economic development, and the future of international intellectual property paradigms. He provides international business and legal advice for many Christian non-profit and NGO entities, based on his legal and business experiences throughout the globe. He was appointed in 2006 by the Governor of Washington as the sole Citizen-at-Large representative on the Washington State Ethics Administrative Commission
Dr. Lorisa "Corrie" Acorda- De Boer (Regent Emerita)
Corrie De Boer received her PhD in Organizational Development and her DMin in the Renewal of the Church for Mission. Currently she is the President of Maharlikang Pinoy Manpower Agency. She is co-founder and founding General Secretary of the National Coalition for Urban Transformation, an ecumenical coalition of urban mission organizations. She serves as Chairperson of the Board of Mission Ministries Philippines, a grassroots faith-based organization training local churches how to establish holistic transformational ministries among the poorest of the poor. She and her husband, Stewart, are city networkers and entrepreneurs, creating employment opportunities for hundreds of urban poor families. She serves as Chairperson of the Training Commission of the Encarnacao Alliance, an international network of urban mission leaders advocating for equipping urban leaders to have transformational paradigms. She is Associate Professor at Asian Theological Seminary and Regent Emeritus at Bakke Graduate University and serves as coach and mentor with Reliv Company and Success Motivation International.
William O'Brien (Regent Emeritus)
Bill O’Brien holds a liberal arts degree from Hardin-Simmons University and a Master of Church Music from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. His alma mater conferred a Doctor of Divinity degree on him in 1981. His missions career spans 41 years, including field service in Indonesia, executive vice president of the Foreign Mission Board, SBC in Richmond, VA, and director of the Global Center at Samford University in Birmingham, AL. O’Brien is the first vice-president of the board of The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, an international adjunct with the Plowshares Institute working in conflict transformation, and is Senior Associate for the Evangelical Fellowship of Missions Agencies. He currently serves as president of the American Society of Missiology.