Following nearly four weeks of prayer and dialogue, Bethany, Oklahoma, First Church of the Nazarene Senior Pastor David Busic informed the Nazarene Theological Seminary Board of Trustees that he will decline his election as president. 

Chair of the NTS Board, Jeren Rowell said, "Our process of discernment with David Busic, while perhaps unusual, has been meaningful and helpful. It is, in my judgment, a healthy exercise in the kind of Christian conferencing that becomes, as Wesley noted, a means of grace."

The conversations between Busic, the NTS board, and the church board at Bethany First Church of the Nazarene involved the possibility of a new leadership model. The proposal being discussed was for a dual-role of leadership where Busic would have served as NTS president while remaining senior pastor at Bethany First.

Busic wrote to the NTS Board: "Thank you for your prayers for me during this time of decision. This has been a decision concerning two places that I love: BFC and NTS. Thank you for pursuing with me the vision that I would not choose between the two, but that I could potentially offer my strongest gifts to both assignments. However, after much prayer and deliberation, it does not seem a dual role is a feasible option right now.  Therefore, I believe the best decision is for me to continue leading BFC as senior pastor without further consideration of the NTS presidency."

Rowell said the search timeline approved by the NTS board in April includes the possibility of returning to previous steps in order to continue the process of discerning God's direction in this important decision for the seminary. By action of the NTS board on April 15, Rowell was named acting president effective July 1 (upon Ron Benefiel's departure) and will serve until a new president assumes office.