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Dr. Byron D. Klaus announces retirement as president of AGTS effective summer 2015

Published on Jul 16, 2014 by Evangel University News

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Byron D. Klaus, president of the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary at Evangel University (AGTS) since July 1999, has announced his intention to retire as president of AGTS in summer 2015.

Klaus commented that this decision came after much prayer, discernment, and discussion.  “I am clear about this step that I believe is just as ordered of the Lord as my original coming to serve this marvelous institution. It has been my greatest joy to lead a seminary where the Knowledge on Fire imagery guides daily efforts. No work could have been more fulfilling for me.”

Klaus is the seminary’s fifth and longest-serving president.  Under his leadership, the seminary expanded its doctoral programs from a single Doctor of Ministry degree to now also include a Doctor of Missiology, a Ph.D. in Intercultural Studies, a Ph.D. in Biblical Interpretation and Theology, and 12 certificate for graduate studies programs.

AGTS also offers a Master of Divinity and four Master of Arts programs.  The seminary has maintained accreditation with the Higher Learning Commission since 1978 and with the Association of Theological Schools since 1992.  AGTS has 3,595 alumni serving in 125 countries and all 50 states.  Of those, 220 graduates are serving as Assemblies of God-endorsed chaplains.

Klaus was named AGTS president in 1999 after 20 years on the faculty and administration at Vanguard University of Southern California. Previous to serving at Vanguard, he served local churches in California, Texas, and Illinois.

While at Vanguard, Klaus also served as vice president for Latin America Child Care (LACC), a child development ministry serving over 80,000 children in 21 nations in Latin America and the Caribbean.

In June, Klaus made his retirement known to Dr. Carol Taylor, President of Evangel University. He and Taylor met with the seminary community this week to share his announcement.

“It has been an honor to serve with Dr. Klaus during an extraordinary year of transition,” said Taylor. “I have had the privilege of seeing Dr. Klaus’ leadership and faith up close.  One needs look no further for an extraordinary example of sacrificial, servant leadership deeply rooted in the best of Pentecostal heritage of the Assemblies of God along with an inspiring vision for the future.”