Gateway Seminary trustees approved the creation of the Jeff P. Iorg School of Christian Leadership during their fall board meeting Oct. 7-8. Named after former seminary president and current CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee, Jeff Iorg, the school represents both the legacy and the future of Gateway Seminary, said President Adam Groza, who was installed as president Oct. 9.
The Iorg School is founded on a $2.1 million endowment. Initially, it will focus on growing existing programs at Gateway such as the Executive Doctor of Ministry program and Bridging Leadership Initiative, a short-term training program for visiting Korean pastors. The Executive D.Min. program will offer cohorts in English, Korean and Mandarin. The school will also host a new lecture series and serve as a publishing hub on biblical leadership.
The Iorg School will be led by Jim Wilson, who will begin his new role as the William O. Crews Chair of Leadership on Jan. 31, 2025, and will continue to serve as director of Gateway’s Doctor of Ministry program during the search for his replacement. Crews, the namesake of the faculty chair, served as Gateway’s president from 1986 until Iorg’s tenure began in 2004.
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Groza also reported to the trustees strong enrollment growth, expanding partnerships and a healthy financial position due to a clean audit and the receipt of significant financial gifts.
Comparing fall 2023 to fall 2024, Gateway saw a 9% increase in student enrollment and a 10% increase in credit hours delivered. Total new student enrollment increased 16% and hours delivered to new students increased 20% over the same period. Through teaching sites and partnerships with local ministries, the seminary is now offering in-person classes in Sacramento, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, Hong Kong and Taiwan, in addition to established campuses in Denver, Phoenix, Vancouver and Fremont, California.
In addition to $900,000 donated toward the Iorg School, Groza reported a $2 million gift to the Go Grant Fund, bringing the total endowment amount to $4 million. The Go Grant provides all qualified students the opportunity to go on a fully funded, international mission trip through Gateway’s Beyond Program.
During the 2023–2024 fiscal year, revenue exceeded expenses by $964,000 due in part to non-cash gifts. The seminary also received a clean audit.
Following the trustee meeting, Gateway celebrated its 80th anniversary on the campus lawn in Ontario, California, with a free community festival featuring music provided by California Baptist University students, carnival rides, and food trucks.
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EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Tyler Sanders and originally published by Gateway Seminary.
