(Escondido, California) - On January 15, 2009, the Westminster Seminary California board of trustees approved the following appointments of new academic administrators:

• The Rev. John V. Fesko, Ph.D., as academic dean and associate professor of systematic theology beginning July 1, 2009.
• The Rev. John G. Bales, M.Div., as interim library director and lecturer in theological bibliography beginning February 1, 2009.

Dr. Fesko is currently pastor of Geneva Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Woodstock, Georgia, a congregation that was planted through his efforts in 1998. He is also an adjunct professor of theology at Reformed Theological Seminary in Atlanta. He has served on study committees appointed by the General Assembly of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church as well as chairing the candidates and credentials committee of the Presbytery of the Southeast. He is the author of a number of books, journal articles and reviews, and essays in published collections; and he recently co-edited, with WSC professors Estelle and VanDrunen, The Law Is Not of Faith: Essays on Works and Grace in the Mosaic Covenant (P and R, 2009). He holds the B.A. from Georgia State University, M.A. from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, TX, and the Ph.D. from the University of Aberdeen. He and his wife Anneke have one child.

Dr. Fesko will succeed Dr. Dennis Johnson, who looks forward to returning to full-time teaching, research, and writing in 2009-10.

Rev. Bales served in pastoral ministry in Washington, Wisconsin, and California for 17 years before joining WSC as director of development in 2007. He has contributed significantly to the seminary’s relationships with its constituency, particularly focusing on developing our alumni relations. Rev. Bales holds the B.A. from Northwestern College and M.Div. from Fuller Theological Seminary. He subsequently received a fellowship for further study at Calvin Theological Seminary. He has taken coursework in library science and intends to complete a master’s degree in this field over the next several years. One of his special research interests is the history of theological education. Rev. Bales and his wife Sheri have two children. They are part of New Life Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Escondido.

Rev. Bales succeeds Mrs. Elizabeth Park, library director, who moved with her husband to Connecticut last August. Westminster Seminary California is grateful for the services of Dr. Katherine VanDrunen as reference librarian throughout the fall semester and winter term. (The VanDrunens will reside in Atlanta during the spring semester, inasmuch as Dr. David VanDrunen has a study leave from WSC and a special fellowship to pursue research at Emory University.)

The search committees, president, faculty, and board of Westminster Seminary California give thanks to God for the wisdom he provided in the identification of these key academic leaders, and we are grateful for his gift of these servants to strengthen the service of WSC to Christ, his gospel, and his church.