Midwest Conference Superintendent Ken Carlson will be among those on the podium who will offer special prayers for Glanzer, who will continue to attend Countryside Covenant Church in nearby McPherson. “The Covenant is home for me,” Glanzer says.
He grew up in the Mennonite Brethren denomination, but transferred his ordination when, as he says, “I bumped into the Covenant.” He subsequently planted and was pastor of Faith Community Evangelical Covenant Church in Houston, Texas, from 1987 to 2001. He also served on the Midsouth Conference Executive Board and the conference camping committee.
He left his ministry at Faith Community to become dean of George Fox Evangelical Seminary in Portland, Oregon. He served there from 2001 until his arrival at Tabor this year. Under Glanzer’s guidance, the seminary doubled its enrollment to 320. According to the George Fox website, three degree programs were added during his tenure and the seminary added the Friends Center for the training of Friends leaders.
Glanzer did not seek the job at Tabor. “It wasn’t something that I was aspiring to or even thought about when the school came to talk to me,” he says.
Glanzer was a natural fit for the school. He earned his Bachelor’s in Business Administration degree from Tabor. His wife, Peggy, and the couple’s three children and their spouses all attended the college.
Glanzer says accepting the position provides an opportunity to give back to the school, which is associated with the Mennonite Brethren. He hopes to build on his experience at George Fox, adding, “I love a leadership challenge.”
Historian and futurist Leonard Sweet will be the keynote speaker at his friend’s inauguration, which comes amid the school’s centennial celebration. A spring oratorio concert will conclude a weekend of festivities on Sunday evening.
Glanzer holds a Doctor of Ministry degree in leadership and church management from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. He earned his Master of Divinity degree from Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary in Fresno, California.
He had been an adjunct professor of leadership studies at Houston Graduate School of Theology while serving at Faith Covenant. He also was director of the Diamond Center, a Houston program focusing on faith-based leadership development. He has presented seminars in the Netherlands and has been a guest lecturer at St. James Bible College in Magadan, Russia.
