Leadership Update
Dear Faculty, Students, and Friends of TCBS,
We are writing to share an important leadership update regarding The Cornerstone Bible College and Seminary. Please read through to the bottom of this email to see comments from Dr. Ron Prosise and Dr. Phil Foley.
Over the past season, Ron Prosise has faithfully served as interim president, giving of his time, wisdom, and experience to guide the seminary during a critical period. We are deeply grateful for his leadership and the steady hand he has provided. Due to pressing family medical matters, Ron now needs to step down from this role in order to give his full attention to his family. We ask that you please keep Ron and his family in your prayers during this time.
With Ron stepping aside, we are thankful to announce that Phil Foley will serve as the new interim president. Phil is not only the longest-serving member of the TCBS board, but he was also part of the original group that helped found the seminary in 2004. His longstanding commitment to the mission of TCBS and his deep love for training men and women in God’s Word make him well suited to guide the seminary in this next season.
Phil has served as a pastor at Community Bible Church since 1993 and became the lead pastor in 2013. For more than twenty years, he has also taught the discipleship class at the seminary, which has been one of his great joys. Phil holds a Doctorate from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, a Master’s degree from Trinity Theological Seminary, and a bachelor’s degree from Grace School of Theology and Ministry (now The Cornerstone Bible College and Seminary).
Phil and his wife Becky have been married for 40 years. They have five adult married children and are blessed with thirteen grandchildren.
We are thankful for God’s continued provision and leadership for TCBS. Please join us in praying for Ron and his family, and also for Phil as he steps into this role to serve the seminary and its mission.
In Christ,
TCBS Board
Dear TCBS Family,
As you know, these past few months have been challenging for The Cornerstone Seminary. Thank you for your prayers as together we trust the Lord for His wisdom and His leading.
It was such an honor to be asked to serve as interim president and I looked forward to ministering in this role. However, shortly thereafter, I received difficult news about my wife’s medical condition. Because of this, I must devote more time and attention to caring for her. And so, after much prayer and counsel, I shared with the board of directors that it would not be best for me to serve at this time as interim president of Cornerstone.
The board has recommended Phil Foley to serve as interim president, and Phil has agreed to this. I am so thankful for Phil and his ministry to Cornerstone from the beginning, and I am confident that he will provide the leadership that our seminary needs. May we continue to trust Christ’s grace and guidance for His glory and for our good.
With gratitude and grace,
Ron Prosise
Dear TCBS family,
It is an honor and a great responsibility to be entrusted with the position of the interim president. I accept this role with gratitude, as well as a desire to see our Lord continue to use our school in training the next generation of men who will shepherd His flock with biblical convictions, Christ-like character, skillful competence, and loving care for God’s people.
When Steve Fernandez began praying about starting a seminary, he asked me to join him in this endeavor. There were no students, no faculty, no money, and no seminary board. There was simply a burden from the Lord about training men in our area at the seminary level. One reason for this burden was that, as men completed their training at our Bible College, many left for seminary, never to return to the churches that had sent them. We wanted to change that.
We also saw a lack in some of the best seminaries that drove us to focus on the following four core values:
1) The belief that pastors must be the ones to train men to be pastors (2 Tim 2:2).
2) The benefit of connecting students with the local church for ministry experience while attending seminary (Eph 4:11-13).
3) The necessity of professors pouring into the lives of our students by mentoring them (Matt 10:25; 28:19-20).
4) The essential and non-negotiable priority of Christ-centeredness so our students are astonished by Christ and proclaim him (Gen 1 – Rev 22).
The heart of our training at TCBS continues to be these core values. I have been encouraged in recent conversations with many pastors who desire these very things. As we move forward with our Lord’s help, our vision is to practice these four things well as we train the next generation of pastors. By lovingly investing deeply in the men God has given us, good fruit will be born for the sake of Christ’s church in Northern California and beyond.
I trust you will continue to pray for us and with us as we rely on the Lord to do this great work of equipping the next generation of pastors and leaders. As Paul reminds us, “We have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves” (2 Cor 4:7).
For Christ’s glory,
Phil Foley