Contact: April Hefner, Belmont University, 615-460-6641

NASHVILLE, April 12, 2016 /Christian Newswire/ -- Today Belmont University announced the formation of the Belmont Institute for Church Leadership, a newly created entity designed to equip church leaders for entrepreneurial thinking and innovative means to meet the modern needs of the local community and culture at large. Dr. Jon R. Roebuck, the senior pastor of Nashville's Woodmont Baptist Church for the past 17 years, has been named executive director of the institute.

Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher said, "I can't think of anything that's more Belmont than an institute that leverages many of this University's strengths and passions: entrepreneurial and innovative thinking built on a foundation of Christian faith. The Belmont Institute for Church Leadership will uniquely equip church leaders with progressive resources gleaned from business, music, law and theological leadership. We believe that Jesus intended for his church to be a living, adaptive and dynamic body, and I know this Institute will breathe new life into congregations of all sizes and denominations through Jon Roebuck's leadership."

The Institute comes in response to a felt need for a program that provides executive training to both leaders of churches and faith-based community development ministries. The Belmont Institute for Church Leadership will bring an unprecedented, holistic approach to church leadership education that is not currently being offered in seminaries. Envisioning a more adaptive way of doing local church ministry, the Institute will seek to create a vibrant church culture that thinks critically about the ways local congregations can make a difference both locally and globally.

Roebuck added, "We will focus on insuring that churches of the 21st century become relevant, relational and resourceful. Our goal is to insure that the local church continues to matter… that it makes a difference in both the community and moment into which it is placed."

The Institute will offer clergy and ministry leaders a deeper understanding of an operational model that includes finance/accounting, marketing, conflict resolution, negotiation, management and other business skills. Moreover, through Belmont's College of Theology and Christian Ministry and College of Law, not to mention the University's numerous music and arts programs, an abundance of existing resources exist to offer a comprehensive package of courses to meet church leadership needs.

Founded in 1890, Belmont University is committed to being a leader among teaching universities, bringing together the best of liberal arts and professional education in a Christian community of learning and service.