The Board of Trustees of Disciples Seminary Foundation (DSF) is pleased to announce Rev. Dr. Christy Newton as the newly appointed Executive Director. She will begin her ministry on August 1. Rev. Dr. Newton will replace Rev. Belva Brown Jordan, who has served as Interim Executive Director of DSF since January 2020.
Since 2013, Rev. Dr. Newton has served as the Senior Pastor at First Christian Church of Vallejo, CA, where her achievements include the mentorship of five student ministers as well as a committed member of a Clergy Women’s Circle of Trust for over 16 years. Rev. Dr. Newton has served at Lexington Theological Seminary since 2011 as Adjunct Professor of Social Ethics, Practice of Ministry, and Doctor of Ministry Faculty Advisor. Her teaching experience also includes work at Pacific School of Religion, San Francisco Theological Seminary, the Graduate Theological Union, Church Divinity School of the Pacific, Chapman University, and Yagumo Juko.
Rev. Dr. Newton earned her Ph.D. in 2011 from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, CA, where she won the Chan Prize in Religion and Economics in 2006 and 2007 as well as the Newhall Scholar/Teacher Award in 2008 and 2010. She received her M.Div. in 2000 from Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, CA, and was ordained on June 18, 2000 at Arkansas First Christian Church (DOC) in Russellville, AR.
Rev. Dr. Newton is a firm supporter of DSF, having not only been a recipient of its scholarship program but also served on the Board of Trustees as a member and an officer from 2008-2014. The DSF Board of Trustees and staff are excited to begin this new journey with Rev. Dr. Newton and ask that they all be lifted up in prayer as DSF continues to support the formation of emerging theological leaders.