Rev. John Chung Named Vice president of Enrollment

Covenant Theological Seminary is pleased to announce that Rev. John Chung (MDiv ’09) was recently named Vice President of Enrollment for the institution. Rev. Chung, who has been serving as Senior Director of Enrollment Management for Covenant since April 2022, will assume his new role July 1, 2024. In his expanded capacity, he will continue to oversee and coordinate the functions of the Admissions, Financial Aid, and Institutional Retention teams, while providing strategic leadership and direction for all the Seminary’s initiatives related to student recruitment, enrollment, and retention.

Rev. John Chung

Rev. Chung’s experience as a pastor, his expertise in team leadership and staff development, his extensive work with nonprofit organizations, and his extensive relationships in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) and beyond have all enabled him to guide the Seminary’s enrollment team forward in exciting ways over the last two years. Under his leadership the Seminary’s enrollment has increased significantly, with the most recent incoming class (for the 2023–2024 academic year) up 43%. Enrollment continues to rise in all degree programs, especially those particularly aimed at pastor-minded students, such as the residential Master of Divinity (MDiv), the hybrid MDiv, and the MA (Biblical and Theological Studies) (MABTS).

Prior to his role at Covenant, Rev. Chung worked with the PCA’s Mission to the World and as Institute Director for Next (formerly Global Youth and Family Institute). He served as a Youth Minister and Pastor with the Korean Presbyterian Church of St. Louis (PCA); as Executive Pastor of Christ Central Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Centreville, Virginia; as an Associate Pastor at The Journey–Tower Grove (Acts 29) in St. Louis; and as a Visiting or Adjunct Professor at Covenant. He holds a BA in speech communication from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and an MDiv from Covenant Seminary. He and his wife, Saras, have two children.

Of his expanded role, Rev. Chung commented, “As I said when I assumed the Senior Director role two years ago, the Lord used Covenant Seminary to shape me greatly during my time as a student. Here I learned the depths of God’s grace and the beauty of Reformed theology. I was excited then, and I am excited now to be part of fostering an environment where men and women can be equipped for the vital work of ministry by engaging with the Lord through biblical, theological, and practical ministry studies for the building up of the body of Christ. I am humbled and grateful for this new opportunity to serve the institution that I love.”

Dr. Tom Gibbs, President of Covenant Seminary, said, “I am grateful for John’s tireless efforts to promote Covenant Seminary and recruit new students. He is a joy to work with, bringing a steadfast commitment to both excellence and camaraderie. I am so thankful he is on our team, and I know his contributions have been critical to Covenant’s recent growth!”