Speaker Bios for Global Christian Seminar

Dr. Stephen A. Hayner

Steve Hayner became the ninth president of Columbia Theological Seminary in July, 2009. At the time of his appointment, he was the seminary's Peachtree Professor of Evangelism and Church Growth. He had joined the faculty six years before with a long history of experience in ministry to the church and to students. 

After graduating from Whitman College with a degree in English Literature, Steve went on to Harvard University for a M.T.S. degree in Semitic languages and literature.  It was while he was at Harvard that he experienced God's call to full-time ministry in the church.  He received a Th.M. degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in 1973, and was ordained and installed as "University Pastor" at University Presbyterian Church in Seattle where he was involved with students and faculty for 11 years.  Steve has now been an ordained pastor in the PC(USA) for 36-years, serving in a variety of church, teaching, and mission roles.  In 1984, Steve completed his Ph.D. in Old Testament from University of St. Andrews in Scotland, and was called to be Vice President for Student Life at Seattle Pacific University.  In 1988, Steve was called as President of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, a non-denominational discipleship ministry to students on approximately 550 campuses across the country.  Steve led InterVarsity for 13 years before leaving to reengage parish ministry.  From 2001-2003 Steve served as Associate Pastor in two ethnically and theologically diverse congregations in Madison, Wisconsin.

Steve married Sharol Rhodes in 1973.  Steve and Sharol have three children:  Emilie, who is married and living in Winston-Salem, NC, is director of a preschool.  Her husband, Chad, is a doctor specializing in sports medicine.  The couple have one daughter (Claire) and another on the way.   Chip and his wife, Kristen, live in Nashville, where Chip is technology director for internet applications with CentreSource and Kristen is a public relations consultant for the medical industry. Finally, the Hayners have a 16-year old son, Drew, who is in high school.

Steve and Sharol came to Columbia together—Steve to teach and Sharol to complete her M.Div. degree in preparation for ordination.  Sharol has now been ordained and installed as Associate Pastor for Discipleship at Peachtree Presbyterian Church. 

In his "spare time" Steve is helping with planting new churches, and serves on a number of national and international boards, including World Vision, International Justice Mission, and Christian International Scholarship Foundation.  He has been actively involved since 1989 with the Evangelical Environmental Network and most recently with the Evangelical Climate Initiative. 

Steve loves students and he loves the church.  His passion is to prepare men and women to pastor and to lead congregations toward the fulfillment of God's call to be missional churches—churches which are biblically faithful and growing steadily in their love for God, their love for each other, and their love for Christ's work in the world.

Dr. Tim Dearborn

Tim Dearborn has been married for 38 years to Kerry Dearborn. They have three grown daughters, two sons in law and two grandchildren!  Kerry serves as a professor of theology at Seattle Pacific University.  Their middle daughter, Andrea, works at WVUS.

Tim currently serves as Director, Christian Commitments Programs for World Vision International.  In this position, he supports 180 World Vision staff members in 85 countries who are responsible for five areas: the formulation and implementation of Christian Commitments related policies; the integration of Christian Commitments in regional, national and program strategies; the spiritual nurture of the World Vision partnership's 40,000 staff; the development of programs designed to assist church leaders in their ministries with the poor; and the integration of Christian witness into WV's programs to ensure that they are appropriate within the countries in which we work.

He holds a Ph.D. in systematic theology from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, Masters degrees in Mission and History of Religion from Fuller Seminary and Harvard University, a degree in history from Whitman College, and has been an ordained minister with the Presbyterian Church (USA) for 32 years.

Prior to his current appointment at WVI, he has served at WVUS, as a professor at Seattle Pacific University, Fuller Theological Seminary, Regent College, the University of Aberdeen, Scotland, and the Faculte de Theologie Evangelique in Paris. In the 1980's he served at University Presbyterian Church in Seattle as their first Pastor of Urban and Global Mission.   He has authored seven books on spirituality, globalization and mission-related issues.