News: Dr. Kotter Named Theology Dean

Dr. David Kotter has been appointed as the Dean of the School of Theology at Colorado Christian University, as announced today by Dr. Cherri Parks, Vice President of Academic Affairs. Dr. Kotter joined the School of Theology faculty in the summer of 2014 as an Associate Professor of New Testament.

David earned his Ph.D. at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. His Dissertation, "Working for the Glory of God: The Distinction Between Greed and Self-Interest in the Life and Letters of the Apostle Paul," reflects his long-term interest in the intersection of theology and economics. David earned an M.Div. and an M.A. in New Testament from Trinity International University, graduating summa cum laude with both degrees. He completed an MBA with a concentration in finance from the University of Illinois, where he earlier graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering with a secondary field in economics, graduating as class Valedictorian.

"The Dean of the School of Theology is a leadership position of immense spiritual and strategic significance for Colorado Christian University. Dr. David Kotter has exceptional academic credentials and experience; he is an extraordinary teacher, a gifted scholar and writer, a great man of God. David cares deeply about our students and is always seeking to lift up Jesus and constantly proclaim the veracity of scripture. We thank God for bringing David to CCU," commented Bill Armstrong, president of Colorado Christian University.

Dr. Kotter's professional experience includes working for the Ford Motor Company in several positions including financial analyst at the World Headquarters in Michigan, profit supervisor in the Electronics Division, and controller for a plant in Europe. While earning his Master of Divinity and Master of Arts in New Testament, he joined a team that planted a church in Wisconsin. David served as a pastor of CrossWay Community Church for eight years where his focus was on discipleship ministries involving biblical counseling, small groups, and ministry to men, women, and singles.

As CrossWay Community Church was growing, David was teaching undergraduate economics and business ethics at Trinity College and enjoyed helping students understand God's glorious design for his creation through the lens of economic analysis. Eventually this led to teaching graduate business courses at Indiana Wesleyan University. He especially enjoyed the shark tank-like capstone class for business plan development.

Currently, David combines the spheres of theology and economics as a visiting scholar for the Institute for Faith, Work, and Economics outside of Washington, D.C. As a Senior Research Fellow, he is overseeing a two-year project developing a biblical theology of economics based on a complete survey of all biblical texts. He is also developing research papers on the intersection of economics and the gospel.

Dr. Kotter also serves as Research Director of the Commonweal Project on Faith, Work and Human Flourishing based in Louisville, KY. In this role, he directs graduate fellows at a center for training future pastors in key areas of theology and economics through conferences, colloquia, and targeted meetings.

Dr. Kotter focuses his research in the area of theology, economics, and free markets. A few examples of his works include:

• What Every Theologian Needs to Know about Faith, Work, and Economics" at the cross-disciplinary Ph.D. colloquium of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina.
• Unchanging Biblical Vocation in an Exponentially Changing Economic World" with Scott Rae, Greg Forster, and Tom Nelson at the Institute on Vocation And Theology of Work.
• Does the Bible Endorse Free Markets?" for Real Clear Religion, Acton Institute PowerBlog, Centennial Institute Blog, and the Center for Gospel and Culture.
• New Testament Causes of Poverty: What It Means for the Church Today" in the Ecclesiology and Ethics session of the Evangelical Theological Society in San Diego.
• Do Good Workers do 'Good Works'? A Biblical Review of the Meaning of καλὸν ἔργον in New Testament Marketplace Contexts" coauthored with Joshua Greever funded by a grant from the Institute for Faith, Work, and Economics.

Dr. Cherri Parks, Vice President for Academic Affairs noted, "As a new faculty member, Dr. Kotter has already advanced the University's Strategic Objectives by teaching our students to trust the Bible, honor Christ, be seekers of truth and servants of the Church. As Dean of the School of Theology, his opportunity for furthering this focus is even greater. Dr. Kotter is a highly qualified teacher and scholar. We are proud to have him as our School of Theology Dean."