Dear Friends,

In the February 2026 Campus View, we received the news that President Jay Rundell will retire in June 2027, concluding 21 years of remarkable leadership at Methodist Theological School in Ohio.

On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I write with deep gratitude for Jay’s faithful service and for the steady, imaginative leadership he has offered this community since 2006.

During his presidency, MTSO has not simply adapted to change in theological education – it has helped shape it. Jay has encouraged the faculty to innovate while remaining grounded in our Wesleyan heritage. He has strengthened the school’s financial footing, broadened pathways for students preparing for ministry in a changing world, and deepened our commitment to forming leaders who serve both church and society with wisdom and compassion. Through seasons of challenge and opportunity alike, he has led with clarity, humility, and an abiding trust in the school’s mission.

Just as important as any institutional milestone has been Jay’s personal presence. He has listened carefully, engaged thoughtfully, and fostered a culture marked by intellectual rigor, spiritual depth, and genuine hospitality. Many in our community can point to a conversation, a moment of encouragement, or a shared vision that reflects his deep care for this place and its people.

As we give thanks for Jay’s leadership, we also turn toward the future with intention. The Board of Trustees is committed to a search process that is both thorough and grounded in prayerful discernment. Before defining the profile of our next president, we are listening carefully to the community to better understand MTSO’s calling in the years ahead – its opportunities, its challenges, and the gifts most needed in its next leader.

On March 2, trustees gathered on campus for the first of several listening events, engaging in extended conversations with faculty, students, staff, alumni, and friends. We heard deep appreciation for MTSO’s theological distinctiveness, a strong desire to expand our reach and accessibility, and a shared hope for leadership that will both honor our history and guide us confidently into a rapidly changing landscape. Additional listening opportunities will follow to ensure broad participation across the community.

We are now forming a presidential search committee that will reflect the breadth and wisdom of the MTSO community. At the same time, we are reviewing proposals from executive search firms to assist us in conducting a national search with integrity, transparency, and care.

There will be many occasions between now and June 2027 to celebrate Jay’s contributions more fully. For now, we simply offer our sincere thanks for the vision, steadiness, and faithfulness he has brought to his work. We are grateful beyond measure for his leadership and for the strong and hopeful future toward which he has helped position this beloved institution.

With gratitude and hope,

Jeffrey A. Taylor
Chair, Board of Trustees

MTSO was busy last week, with our Alumni and Friends Gathering and the Schooler Institute on Preaching. We welcomed alums, students, staff, faculty and friends, along with prospective students who participated in the Graduate Theological Education Discernment Retreat.

Here are some moments we captured.

The Alumni and Friends Gathering on March 2 included music, dinner and time to reconnect, plus discussions with the MTSO Board of Trustees about the school’s next chapter.

The Schooler Institute on Preaching on March 3 and 4 was led by HyeRan Kim-Cragg, who spoke about the importance of ecologically sound preaching. Faculty members Christopher Carter and Lisa Allen-McLaurin also gave lectures on preaching in this moment.

The video archive of our 2026 Schooler Institute sessions is here.

Emanuel Cleaver III, a dynamic pastor, author and advocate for justice, will deliver the commencement address to the 2026 graduates of MTSO.

The commencement ceremony begins at 11 a.m. May 23 in Dickinson Courtyard on the MTSO campus. Guests are welcome, and tickets are not required.

Since 2009, Cleaver has served as senior pastor of the 2,800-member St. James United Methodist Church in Kansas City, a congregation guided by its motto, “Connecting people with God in practical ways.”

He has authored three books, Pastor on Track: Reclaiming Our True Role; What Is the Bible and Who Is It For? A Book for Beginners, Skeptics, and Seekers; and Feed My Sheep: Preaching God’s Word. His published articles have covered subjects from friendship to giving thanks to hip-hop culture.

As a persistent advocate for social justice in his community, Cleaver has worked to oppose voter suppression, address implicit bias in law enforcement and foster relationships between diverse congregations.

Cleaver holds a Master of Divinity degree from MTSO and currently serves on the school’s Board of Trustees. In 2013, he received the Mount Alumni Award for Distinguished Service, MTSO’s highest honor for former students. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Philander Smith College and a Doctor of Ministry from Saint Paul School of Theology.

“As we look forward to the ways the class of 2026 will shape the church and the world, Dr. Cleaver’s work stands as a tremendous model of the impact our alumni can have in their communities,” said MTSO President Jay Rundell. “We’re honored to call him one of ours and grateful that he’ll share his wisdom with our graduates.”