Calvin College Hires New Chaplain!

Calvin College Hires New Chaplain

Dr. Mary Hulst has accepted the position of chaplain of Calvin College. Hulst, a Christian Reformed pastor, has spent the past two years teaching at Calvin Theological Seminary. She's excited to help guide students on their walk with Jesus Christ.

"My hopes are that they come to know Jesus and that the prayer that we sing in LOFT (Living Our Faith Together) will become true and real in their lives: 'May you grow in grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior,'" said Hulst.

Professor of English, Karen Saupe, who chaired the chaplain search committee, said of Hulst, "It was clear to our committee that she genuinely cares about students and their well-being and growth."

Hulst's breadth of experience both academically and pastorally reaches far beyond her work at Calvin. She graduated as a classics major from Calvin in 1991. She earned her master of divinity from Calvin Theological Seminary in 1995. A year later she became the second woman ordained by the Christian Reformed Church (CRC) and the first in the United States. She served eight years as pastor of Eastern Avenue Christian Reformed Church before earning a PhD in communication ethics from the University of Illinois.

"You have somebody who's a strong pastor, preacher and teacher and a scholar, and I think, a natural student. She loves to learn, and it shows in her preaching," said Saupe.

Hulst will head the professional staff in the office of christian formation (OCF). The OCF has recently been restructured to share the student work between new, energetic associate chaplains and other staff. Hulst will serve as a mentor to them and together they will set the vision for being a distinctively Christian liberal arts college through the work of the chaplain's office.

Hulst will begin her work as chaplain in the early summer of 2009.

Matt Kucinski
Media Relations Manager
Calvin College
msk23@calvin.edu
616.526.8935 (office)
616.307.7429 (cell)
Received on Tue Mar 3 12:56:30 2009