Director of Vocational Formation

After 20 years as a pastor, Geoff Vandermolen joined the Calvin Theological Seminary faculty as Director of Vocational Formation in 2016. He and his wife Kristin have two children.

"Some have asked me why, after 20 years in pastoral ministry as a Lead Pastor as well as church planter, I would chose to take up a new role as the Director of Vocational Formation. Obviously, the simple answer is that God called me to it. However, we all know there’s more to it than that. In the ministry that I have been privileged to be part of these past 20 years I have seen some leaders thrive, and others stumble and fall. The pain of the fall is incalculable for the leader, their family and the ministry context/ church within which they serve. And yet, I remain deeply convinced that it need not be that way. In fact, a leader who knows the contours of their heart—both the good and the ugly, who is able to tend well to their person and matters of ego, who is able to be spiritually disciplined and attentive to the work of the Holy Spirit in their life—that leader can endure nearly anything. This leader will be able to thrive as they participate in God’s mission in this world. It is this care, investment in and serving of emerging leaders for the formation of their lives for the cause of Jesus Christ that I think made this new challenge irresistible. None of us can do this alone."