The Rev. Dr. Jeffrey S. Japinga joined the faculty of McCormick in the summer of 2008 as associate dean for doctor of ministry programs.
Jeff received a B.S. in journalism from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, an M.Div. from New Brunswick Theological Seminary, and a D.Min. from McCormick Theological Seminary, where he was a finalist for the John Randal Hunt Prize for outstanding thesis and academic record. His thesis project at McCormick was titled, “Learning for Life: Finding a New Future for Denomination and Congregations in the Ministry of Christian Education.”
Prior to joining the McCormick faculty, Jeff served for twenty-one years on the denominational staff of the Reformed Church in America. He was managing editor and then editor and publisher for the Church Herald, the RCA’s denominational magazine, and was twice honored by the Evangelical Press Association for editorial writing. He was director of the RCA’s Congregational Services Unit and minister for education and faith development. Most recently, he served as executive coordinator for the office of general secretary. He also taught as an adjunct instructor in communications at Hope College in Holland, Michigan.
Jeff is an ordained minister in the Reformed Church in America and a member of the Classis of Holland. He has served in leadership roles in a number of ecumenical settings, including APCE (Association of Presbyterian Church Educators) and the National Council of Churches. He has edited numerous study guides and other educational resources, published in a variety of magazines and periodicals, and leads workshops in the areas of leadership, decision-making, and Christian formation.
Jeff is married to the Rev. Dr. Lynn Winkels Japinga, an associate professor of religion at Hope College. They have two children, Mark and Anne.