(JACKSON, MS) – July 3, 2018 – Chancellor and CEO Dr. J. Ligon Duncan III and the RTS Board of Trustees are excited to announce the appointment of James L. (Jay) Harvey III as the next executive director of RTS New York City, beginning August 1, 2018.
Most recently the senior pastor of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Newark, Delaware, where he served since 2005, Dr. Harvey is known for his commitment to leadership development, church planting, missions, and evangelism. He succeeds the present Executive Director, the Rev. M. Steve Wallace, who has provided faithful leadership and service during the critical first seven years of starting the campus and building the partnership with RTS NYC and Redeemer City to City.
“It’s been a real joy to help found the RTS New York City campus in partnership with Redeemer City to City and Dr. Tim Keller,” said the Rev. Wallace. “Dr. Mark Reynolds has been my co-laborer in this endeavor on the City to City side for the past 7 years and has been a pleasure to work with, along with all the staff of CTC. In September 2018 we will hold our second commencement and begin the fourth academic year with 65 students enrolled. The Lord has shown His favor to this program in many ways, especially with the fine students that have come to RTS NYC. For our next Executive Director, we needed a leader that would live in NYC and help take the campus to the next phase of its potential – and Dr. Harvey has the gifts and leadership to do that,” said Rev. Wallace. “I look forward to introducing him to our students and friends in NYC and assisting him in his transition.”
Chancellor Duncan echoed Wallace’s endorsement and believes a native with the gifts and experience like Jay will be a huge asset to the institution.
“Our New York City campus is unique – designed to educate and equip ministry and church leaders for service to major cities with their diverse peoples, multi-ethnic communities, and increasingly secular environments,” he said. “This is a pivotal moment for us; Jay knows the terrain, and he has the gifts and experience we need.”
Dr. Harvey attended college at Princeton University, earning his A.B. degree in History with a Certificate in Russian Studies. Called to ministry in 1998, he completed his M.Div. from RTS Jackson in 2002 and served as pastor and campus minister until his call to EPC Newark. He earned his Doctor of Ministry in 2016 from Erskine Theological Seminary and is the author of a new study, Song of Solomon, to be published this summer by Crossway.
After his appointment, Dr. Harvey said, “Through our strategic partnership with City to City, RTS in NYC is able to bring excellent graduate theological training to the heart of the City. My whole family feels blessed beyond measure to be able to support the kingdom work already happening through this partnership. I pray God will continue to use RTS in NYC to raise up another generation of spiritual leadership.”
Reformed Theological Seminary, New York City is a strategic partnership between Redeemer City to City (CTC) and Reformed Theological Seminary (RTS) to provide theological education and practical ministry training in New York City with the goal of “preparing future pastors and ministry leaders in the city, for the city.”