CENTRAL SEMINARY - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Military and Civilian Chaplain Ministries
Dr. Freiberg (CDR, CHC, FMF, USN-ret.) served as a military Chaplain with the Navy, Coast Guard and Marines. His tour of duties include: Command Chaplain for the largest Chapel program in the Navy, Force Chaplain for the US Navy SEALs (SPECWARCOM), US Coast Guard, and 3 Marine tours (1 combat tour for Operation Iraqi Freedom). He has also served as an adjunct professor at Southern California Seminary for 25 years, as well as served as Administrative Dean for 3 years.
Job Titles:
- Senior Pastor of Colonial Baptist Church
Dr. Belford serves as the Senior Pastor of Colonial Baptist Church in Virginia Beach, VA and on faculty at Virginia Beach Theological Seminary.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Administration & Academic Staff
- Provost / Executive Vice President
BRETT WILLIAMS was born and reared in Littleton, Colorado. He was saved as a young man and has been pursuing ministry since he was a teenager. He holds degrees from Pillsbury Baptist Bible College and Central Seminary. He and his wife Naomi have three children: Evelyn, Lillian, and Lukyn. Brett pastored in Austin, Minnesota for ten years prior to assuming the Provost position at Central. He enjoys reading theology and philosophy, backpacking, anything that deals with mountains and jeeps, and spending time with his family. Dr. Williams' primary influences have been Anselm, G. K. Chesterton, Isaac Watts, Martin Heidegger, and Augustine.
When Debbie met Kevin, she had no clue of the travels and places they would be experiencing. From childhood on the farm to adulthood with her husband in church ministries and education in Colorado, Iowa, and Texas, she feels very blessed in having met so many people along the way. She is thankful to have been a full-time mom during much of Kevin's education years and pastorates. When not in the office, she still enjoys all things housework, playing piano, and thrifting. They have two adult children.
Dr. Daniel R. Berger II is the founder and direct of Alethia International Ministries (AIM), where he continues to speak around the country at various conferences and ministries. He is also an experienced pastor, counselor, school administrator, and the author of numerous books on Christian counseling, practical theology, education, and the history and philosophy of the mental health construct. Daniel attended Bob Jones University and Florida International University, where he earned four degrees in counseling and theology. He is also a certified member of the International Association of Biblical Counselors (IABC). When he is not speaking, he and his wife Oriana live in Greenville South Carolina with their three children.
Dr. Ernest D. Pickering serves as the seminary's third president.
Job Titles:
- Research Professor of Systematic Theology
KEVIN BAUDER was born in Midland, Michigan. He received his primary education in Michigan public schools and his secondary education in central Iowa. He married Debra Wright, and has two children: Rachel and Joshua.
His non-academic interests include outdoorsmanship, gunsmithing, and the shooting sports, as well as a love for the fine arts.
Dr. Kevin T. Bauder is elected to be Central Seminary's fourth president. During his tenure, Dr. Bauder oversees the expansion of the library and the continued development of the Romanian campus.
Job Titles:
- President
- President of the Administration & Academic Staff
- Senior Pastor
MATT MORRELL, served during his seminary years as the assistant pastor at Chisago Lakes Baptist Church in Chisago City, MN. In 2002, Matt became interim pastor at Chisago Lakes Baptist, becoming senior pastor after 10 months. He served there until May 2008, when he was called to be the senior pastor at Fourth Baptist Church. Matt and his wife, Kim, have five young children.
Matt has spoken and taught in multiple venues at home and overseas, including ministry at Central Baptist Seminary's Romanian campus and at Faith Baptist Bible College in Cochin, India.
Dr. Matt Morrell, senior pastor of Fourth Baptist Church, becomes Central Seminary's sixth president. A global initative program is established.
Dr. Brown has been a pastor and missionary church planter in Germany with Baptist Mid Missions for over 30 years.
Joanna has served as administrative support staff at Fourth Baptist Church and School and Central Baptist Theological Seminary since 2015. She desires to assist the next generation of servant leaders. Joanna grew up in the Netherlands as a missionary kid of CBTS Alumni, Ralph and his wife, Karla Harmon. She enjoys going on adventures abroad from the pyramids of Egypt, to swimming in Israel's Dead Sea, to Austria's salt mines. She cherishes tea time with friends and family.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Administration & Academic Staff
- VP of Academics and Professor of New Testament
Job Titles:
- Librarian
- Member of the Administration & Academic Staff
- Registrar
- Registrar / Director of Library Services
Mark Bruffey teaches first year Greek, functions as interim part-time librarian for Central Seminary, and works part-time for a home improvement retailer. He enjoys the ministry of pulpit supply. He and Melody, a teacher, have two adult children. Avocationally, Mark loves to play guitar.
Laura grew up in the New England area, Germany, and Minnesota. She returned to Minnesota after graduate school. Beyond working at Central Seminary, Laura also teaches middle and high school science and history in various homeschool groups in the Twin Cities. In her spare time, she enjoys playing piano, writing, and reading.
Job Titles:
- Director of Counseling at Grace Fellowship Church in Florence, KY
Mark E. Shaw, DMin, is the Director of Counseling at Grace Fellowship Church in Florence, KY, and has been ACBC certified since 2002. He is the Founder of The Addiction Connection, a network of Commissioned Addictions Biblical Counselors (CABC) who offer the "Hope of the Gospel for the Heart of Addiction." He has authored over twenty publications, including The Heart of Addiction and Understanding Temptation: The War Within Your Heart.
Dr. Stuckey served as a Staff Anesthesiologist and as Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Minnesota with 37 years of medical experience.
Job Titles:
- Director of Recruitment and Retention / Associate Professor of Church History
Matt has served as Associate Pastor in Smithville, MO and has worked with Aletheia Baptist Ministries in a variety of areas. He and his wife Tarah are both native Coloradans and have three children: Gabriel, Isaiah, and Evangeline. Matt loves reading, supporting Denver sports teams, and spending time with his family. His academic interest is to explore the history and roots of his own theological heritage, particularly Northern Baptists in nineteenth-century America.
Education
B.A., Faith Baptist Bible College
Job Titles:
- Director of Communications
Micah has served as a pastor in Minnesota for ten years and enjoys shared family time with his wife, Ranae, and their four children.
Pastor Malone was used by the Lord to plant and pastor three churches in Philadelphia and Chicago. After retiring as pastor of All Nations Baptist Church in Minneapolis, he relocated to Arizona to serve on the staff of IBCS.
Job Titles:
- Professor of Old Testament
Preston Mayes was born and raised in Rochester, New York. He served as professor of Old Testament at Maranatha Baptist University from 1998 to 2020. He and his wife Traci recently celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary. They have four children; three are married and one serves in the US Air Force. Preston enjoys water skiing, reading, and is an avid bowler.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Administration & Academic Staff
- Vice President of Advancement
Ron Gotzman is a graduate of Pillsbury College and a 1983 graduate of Central Seminary. After 13 years in pastoral ministry Ron was called to Central to serve in the Advancement Office of the Seminary. Ron is married to Christy and they have two daughters: Kara (Gotzman) Pardo and Karla (Gotzman) Henderson.
Education
B.A., Pillsbury Baptist Bible College
Job Titles:
- Professor of Old Testament
ROY BEACHAM was reared in Newton, Kansas, and through the godly influence of his parents received Christ at an early age. He and his wife have been privileged to be part of the fellowship of Central Seminary and Fourth Baptist Church since 1973. He has served as a professor of Old Testament at Central since 1976. Roy served on the pastoral staff of Fourth Baptist Church from 1975-1983 in college and single-adult ministries and as minister of music. Visiting professorships have allowed him to teach at schools in four states, as well as overseas in St. Vincent and Romania. He has served in summer missions ministry in Brazil and has also enjoyed leading study trips to Israel and Greece. The Beachams have three adult children: Amy (Straub), Sarah, and Paul, and 6 grandchildren.
Roy has written articles for the Dictionary of Premillennial Theology and, with other members of the seminary faculty, co-authored the books The Bible Version Debate and One Bible Only? He also served as co-editor of the book One Bible Only? His personal interests include music, drama, travel, reading, hunting, and camping.
Education
B.A., Pillsbury Baptist Bible College
Job Titles:
- Member of the Administration & Academic Staff
- WCTS Station Manager
Since 1965 WCTS has provided Bible teaching and sacred music to listeners over the air and online. In harmony with the seminary's mission, the station aims to assist and support local churches as we broadcast God's Word to people where they are. We do this through a full schedule of sacred music and Bible teaching by some of America's premier preachers and teachers. Dr. Stephen Davis was on the announcing staff from 1981-87. He ministered as a pastor for about 10 years, and then returned to WCTS as Operations Manager in 1998. He has been General Manager since 2011. Steve and wife Diane have one grown son who is married with three children.
Education
B.S., Pillsbury Baptist Bible College
Job Titles:
- Director of Biblical Counseling
Job Titles:
- Member of the Administration & Academic Staff
- VP of Institutional Finance
Todd was born and raised in Springfield, Massachusetts. His undergraduate degree was at Faith Baptist Bible College in Ankeny, Iowa and received his MBA from Plymouth State University in Plymouth, NH. Todd served in ministry for fourteen years at his home church, then moved into the world of higher education. He most recently served as the Chief Financial Officer for the Idaho State Board of Education before being called to Central Baptist Theological Seminary to serve as the Vice President for Institutional Finance. Todd and his wife Ruth have one adult son, Jonathan. Todd is an enthusiastic and loyal fan of New England sports teams, and enjoys spending time with his wife and pets. He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education degree from Idaho State University.
Education
B.A., Faith Baptist Bible College
M.B.A., Plymouth State University