DEERFIELD, IL – On February 15, President of Trinity International University (TIU) Nicholas Perrin tendered his resignation to the Board of Regents, effective February 29, 2024.
Dr. Perrin served for nearly five years and saw TIU through a season of significant challenge and change while maintaining Trinity’s standing with accrediting agencies and preserving the role and influence of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS).
While the last year has seen significant changes at TIU, the school’s theological training remains highly valued by students and ministries within evangelical circles. The Board of Regents has established a plan for the institution’s next steps and is steadfast in its commitment to deepening relationships with local churches and renewing its focus on Trinity Evangelical Divinity School as TIU’s top priority.
To make it possible for TEDS to flourish, the Board of Regents acted on recommendations offered by the TIU administration to address immediate budget challenges. These measures include closing Trinity College Online, Trinity Graduate School, TIU-Florida regional campus, and reducing the staff associated with these programs. Trinity Law School will continue to operate in Santa Ana, California. The difficult decision to close these programs enables the Board of Regents to position the ministry of TEDS for continued service to the evangelical church worldwide.
At this important moment in Trinity’s history, the institution is also returning to its roots. In 1897, Trinity was established to train ministry leaders for a movement of churches that would later become the Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA). The Board of Regents recognizes the significance of deepening Trinity’s ongoing ministry partnership with the EFCA by offering accessible, affordable and applicable training for pastors, missionaries and lay leaders with increasing flexibility and connection to the local church.
To strengthen this relationship, the Board of Regents formally requested the EFCA Board of Directors release Kevin Kompelien from his role as president of the EFCA to serve as the 17th president of Trinity International University, effective April 1, 2024.
Recognizing the significance of Trinity for the next generation of EFCA pastors and ministry leaders, the EFCA Board of Directors granted the Board of Regents’ request and released Kevin Kompelien from his role as EFCA President.
“Answering the request to serve at Trinity allows me to continue investing in the EFCA as we train the next generation of biblically grounded, theologically prepared leaders for the local church,” Kevin Kompelien said. “What TEDS offers is truly unique, and I look forward to rethinking ways to make our education a meaningful resource for churches.”
TEDS has made exciting strides within the past year, with its largest incoming class in five years, including an overhaul of the academic calendar of masters courses starting fall 2024. Courses will now be offered in an eight-week format in order to be more accessible and flexible for students, as well as provide more entry points into the program. A fully asynchronous online Master of Divinity program is set to roll out in fall 2024, along with five new tracks in the TEDS MA (Theological Studies) program. Beyond the masters programs, TEDS launched seven new certificate programs specifically designed for members and leaders in churches.
These initiatives represent the most innovative updates to the TEDS curriculum and offerings that the school has seen in the past couple of decades,” said TEDS Dean David Pao. “We are already beginning to see enrollment numbers responding to such changes, along with a record-breaking number of applications just within the past few months.
Trinity International University is a Christian university affiliated with the Evangelical Free Church of America. Students attend Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (Deerfield, IL) and Trinity Law School (Santa Ana, CA). TIU is also home to six academic centers that host conferences, lectures and other academic events. In all, TIU offers 37 certificates, masters, law and doctoral programs, as well as 21 degree programs that can be taken completely online.