Northern Announces New President: Rev. Dr. Joy J. Moore

13th President of Northern Seminary

Northern Seminary is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Joy J. Moore as its 13th President. Known for her visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to theological education, Dr. Moore brings extensive experience across urban, rural, and suburban ministry contexts. Her expertise in fostering cross-cultural connections and her innovative approach to education set the stage for an inspiring new chapter of growth, relevance, and transformational impact at Northern Seminary.

You can read the full press below. Here are my personal thoughts.

I am so excited to have Dr. Moore join our community and lead us into the future in her work as our president. I had the great honor of being on the presidential search committee. We interviewed several good candidates, but Dr. Moore was a clear standout. She brings vast experience as an educator, administrator, minister, scholar, team-builder, and preacher; but what stood out to me the most is that she is a leader that is full of passion, thoughtfulness, and—or namesake—joy! We wanted someone that really “gets” the unique and quirky identity of Northern Seminary. We love to laugh, cheer each other on, and serve our students well. We want to be great scholars and thinkers, but all for the service of the church and the glory of Christ. We want to reach back into the past and learn as much as we can in God’s history, all the while understanding what is happening in the world today. We love being together, but we also want to accommodate to a digitally-connected world—Dr. Moore resonated with this vision and culture.

We welcome Dr. Moore with open arms and a glimmer of hope in our eyes. We are excited to start a new chapter of Northern Seminary!

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PRESS RELEASE

Dr. Moore joins Northern with a distinguished background in both academia and pastoral ministry. An ordained elder in the United Methodist Church, she most recently served as Professor of Biblical Preaching at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN, and as Visiting Professor of Religion and Chapman-Benson Scholar in Residence at Huntingdon College in Montgomery, AL. Dr. Moore succeeds Interim President Dr. Karen Walker Freeburg, who served in this role for the past 18 months.

“Dr. Joy J. Moore brings to Northern an extraordinary blend of pastoral, theological, academic, and executive insight that has already inspired all of us,” said Dr. Walker Freeburg. “Her proven dedication to Christ and the Church, her scholarship in homiletics, and her leadership in higher education will be invaluable as we move into the future.”

Jim Stellwagen, Chair of the Board of Trustees at Northern Seminary, added, "Dr. Joy Moore’s arrival marks an exciting and refreshing start for Northern. Her exceptional experience and insight give the Board great confidence in her leadership. There’s an undeniable energy about her, and we believe Joy Moore embodies what it means to be ‘Northern.’”

As an “Ecclesial Storyteller,” Dr. Moore is celebrated for weaving biblically grounded narratives that address contemporary cultural issues and foster community formation. A Chicago native, she holds a BA in Education and Mathematics from National-Louis University, an MDiv from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, and a PhD in Practical Theology from Brunel University/London School of Theology. Previously, she established the William E. Pannell Center for African American Church Studies at Fuller Theological Seminary and served as Associate Dean at Duke Divinity School.

Of her appointment, Dr. Moore said, "I am deeply honored to join Northern Seminary, a place with a rich legacy of Spirit-led innovation and multi-denominational learning. Northern’s commitment to biblical and theological integrity is a beacon in today’s world, forming students who are not only resilient and mature but truly joyful in their calling. I am excited to step into this community and help equip a new generation to lead the church and engage the world with wisdom and grace."

Dr. Moore has long championed cross-racial ministry within diverse communities. During her time at her last parish, an African American congregation in Flint, MI, she led efforts as a Help Center during the city’s Water Crisis. She was spiritually shaped by Commonwealth Community Church on Chicago’s South Side, where she discovered her call to ministry. She also served as President of the Wesleyan Theological Society.

The nine-month search process, led by Rev. Patty King Bilyeu, Vice-Chair of Northern’s Board of Trustees, concluded with a unanimous vote for Dr. Moore’s appointment.

“As both a Board member and Northern Seminary graduate, I am thrilled that Dr. Joy Moore has been called as Northern’s next president,” shared Rev. King Bilyeu. “Joy’s gifts of vision, compassion, and her contagious passion for Christ will inspire our entire community as she leads us into the future.”

“We prayed for a leader, and God gave us even more — a skilled scholar, dynamic preacher, team builder, and experienced educator,” added Dr. Nijay Gupta, Professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary. “Dr. Moore has faithfully bridged the church and academy with humility, wisdom, and grace, and is perfectly positioned to guide Northern forward.”

Dr. Marshall Hatch, Professor of Ministry and Director of Black Church Studies at Northern Seminary, commented: “Dr. Joy J. Moore’s appointment offers Northern a powerful opportunity to extend our legacy of trailblazing theological education into the 21st century. Her scholarship, leadership, and communication skills are a blessing to us.”

Dr. Mike Moore, Dean at Northern Seminary, stated, “We’re excited to welcome Dr. Moore as President. Her impressive background as a scholar, pastor, and educator will serve our students, staff, faculty, and alumni well.”

Dr. Beth Felker Jones, Professor of Theology at Northern Seminary, concluded: “The faculty warmly welcomes Dr. Moore. She’s a Christian leader for both Chicago and the world, embracing the faith as an indivisible whole.”

Dr. Moore has been featured in Sojourners and Christian Century and is a regular guest on Sermon Brainwave and Narrative Lectionary podcasts.

For the past five years, Dr. Moore has co-hosted the Working Preacher podcasts Sermon Brainwave and I Love to Tell the Story, a podcast of the Narrative Lectionary. Beyond work, she enjoys traveling, watching NCIS, and reading—especially works by Toni Morrison, David Baldacci, and anything Marvel-related. Alongside her role as President, Dr. Moore will also serve as Professor of Homiletics.

She officially begins on December 1, 2024.

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About Northern Seminary:
Northern Seminary was founded in 1913 to educate Christian leaders to be personally whole, spiritually mature, biblically grounded, theologically competent, pastoral, evangelistic, and prophetic. Since that time, over 4,000 students have graduated; today, alumni serve in 50 states and 30 countries. Northern offers Masters and Doctoral degrees to students through live-streaming classes and on-site intensive classes.