KANSAS CITY, Mo—Midwestern Seminary is pleased to announce the appointment of Ronni Kurtz as assistant professor of systematic theology. A proud alumnus of Midwestern Seminary, Kurtz will return to the institution after more than three years of faithful ministry and academic service on faculty at Cedarville University.
“I am pleased to announce that Dr. Ronni Kurtz is coming back home to Midwestern Seminary,” said President Jason Allen. “Ronni is a very gifted scholar and churchman, and we are delighted that he will be coming back to his alma mater to serve on our faculty. Having a stellar faculty is a top priority for every seminary, and adding Ronni to our faculty only makes it stronger still.”
Kurtz holds three degrees from Midwestern Seminary and spent nearly a decade in Kansas City preparing for a ministry of theological scholarship and service to the Church. Reflecting on his formative years at Midwestern Seminary, Kurtz shared, “Those nine years were among the most transformative in my life. I went from having a general love for theology to seeing just how profound and beautiful the theological life can be when Christian theologians bend their intellectual life toward the good of God’s people.”
As a theologian with a heart for the local church, Kurtz is deeply committed to helping students find joy in the intersection of rigorous theological contemplation and practical devotion. “I have a deep love for academic theology, yet I always want that wedded with a deep love for local churches,” he said. “I hope that I can help students find joy in the crosshairs of deep contemplation together with deep devotion.”
Prior to rejoining the Midwestern Seminary community, Kurtz served at Cedarville University, where he taught theology to students from a wide array of disciplines. He describes his time there as “beyond rewarding,” and notes that it shaped his understanding of academic life and further fueled his passion for theological education.
At the core of his teaching philosophy is a desire to cultivate students who behold the glory of God. “Much of what I try to do in teaching theology is summed up in 2 Corinthians 3:18,” Kurtz explained. “I love teaching theology because I love to help students become better beholders. My hope is that my students would cultivate the kinds of souls and skills that they would be able to look at Christ until they look like Christ.”
Midwestern Seminary Provost Jason Duesing expressed his excitement about Kurtz’s return. “It has been a joy to see Dr. Kurtz establish himself as a scholar and a lecturer during his years of service at Cedarville University. Midwestern Seminary is stronger now as a result of Cedarville’s formative influence on Dr. Kurtz and, as a result, we look forward to Dr. Kurtz now investing in the next generation of students here for the Church.”
Looking ahead to this new season, Kurtz shared his enthusiasm about returning to a community he loves. “In many ways, Midwestern Seminary is home for me. It is unique to have such a mission fit with an institution, but I can say that for the Church is not only the vision of the school; it is the heartbeat of my own academic career.”
Midwestern Seminary is honored to have Kurtz rejoin its faculty as he continues his work of forming future pastors and leaders who will serve the Church with theological depth and Christ-centered devotion.
Kurtz is the author of several books, including Fruitful Theology: How the Life of the Mind Leads to the Life of the Soul (B&H Books), Proclaiming the Triune God: The Doctrine of the Trinity in the Life of the Church (B&H Academic), No Shadow of Turning: Divine Immutability and the Economy of Redemption (Mentor), and Light Unapproachable: Divine Incomprehensibility and the Task of Theology (IVP Academic). You can view and purchase his books here.
