I had not been working at the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary (RPTS) for very long when President Jerry O’Neill announced a road trip to Kansas, stopping and meeting friends of the seminary along the way. It would be a long, enjoyable drive with many stops in Indiana and Kansas. Many of those stops were not what I was expecting.
As we headed across Ohio, Jerry made what I thought to be an odd comment. “I think there is a Dairy Queen about a dozen miles ahead. Want to stop and get some ice cream?” Sure enough, a short while later, there appeared a DQ. He seemed to know exactly what he wanted, and soon we were on our way.
As the miles unfolded, he regularly made comments about upcoming Dairy Queen stores, catching every location. The car almost naturally pulled into every one we passed. I waited eagerly for people to shout out his name as he entered the restaurant but was disappointed as he flew under the frozen-delight radar.
This man knows the location of every DQ along Interstate 70 between Pittsburgh, Pa., and Sterling, Kan.—every single one. This is a man who enjoys ice cream, but he finds much more pleasure in the body of Christ and the church.
The seeds of the fruits of Jerry O’Neill’s labor were sown on a farm in Winchester, Kan., long before he became president of the seminary. Born in 1947 to parents John and Rose, he, along with his three sisters, Linda, Bonnie, and Rita, helped to tend crops, cattle, and smaller farm animals. Driving the trusty John Deere tractor as soon as his legs could reach the pedals (Jerry is a tall fellow, so that probably occurred early in life), Jerry enjoyed farm life and sports, particularly basketball. In February 1965, he scored 61 points for the Winchester Eagles in a game against Valley Falls, one of the highest single-game scores in Kansas history.
Jerry headed to Geneva College in Beaver Falls, Pa., graduating in 1969. Key in this point of his life was a delightful member of the cheerleading squad, Ann Birdsall. They would marry prior to graduation in 1968. He continued at Geneva as the assistant dean of men and an assistant basketball coach until 1970, when he was drafted into the 101st Airborne Division, in which he served in Vietnam.
The years following included graduate school at Indiana University, more work at Geneva, teaching at a high school in Southern California, and administrative work at Sterling College in Sterling, Kan. The O’Neill family grew as Margaret (Meg), Kristy, Luke, Jonathan, and Bethany joined the family. Today, Ann and Jerry enjoy the blessings of 18 grandchildren.
In 1979, Jerry followed the Lord’s leading and began pastoral training at RPTS. He was called to the RP congregation in Columbus, Ind., where he pastored for 14 years. In Columbus, the O’Neills helped to found Children of the Covenant Adoption Agency.
In 1995, Rev. O’Neill accepted the call of the denomination to serve as president of the seminary. Jerry has served the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America in a myriad of ways at the session, presbytery, and synod levels. His ministry has extended through Reformed and Presbyterian churches throughout the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Australia. Jerry is also well known in African-American churches of Western Pennsylvania as a respected minister and friend to many, going by the name of “Doctor Jerry.”
Ann has served faithfully alongside Jerry these many years. The couple hosts graduating seniors in their home each spring. She also has organized the commencement reception for many years. The O’Neills invite the faculty and their wives to their home every fall for a kickoff dinner.
Ann’s mentorship of seminarians’ wives has been a tremendous blessing to many. Earlier this spring, the seminary women’s group met and honored Ann in a special event, presenting her with a book of written testimonies of her invaluable insight to so many women throughout the years.
There are many common themes in Jerry’s ministry, one of which is an open door for advice, counsel, and discipleship. I once had a peer from another Reformed seminary visit RPTS. We were standing in the main office and watched as a student came in, knocked on Jerry’s office door, and stepped in for a conversation. My friend asked if anyone could just drop by. “If the door is open, the president is ready to take visitors,” I replied. At my friend’s seminary, it takes weeks to gain access to the president. We journeyed to the lunchroom where, once again, my friend was speechless. “What is this?” he asked. “It looks like lasagna; would you like some?” I replied. “But the faculty is sitting here with the students,” he marveled. “At my seminary, this would never happen.”
The entire RPTS community follows this model of accessibility. Jerry has served hundreds of men and women in this way. Master of divinity student Richard Sprunk reflects upon Jerry’s servant-leadership care for non-RPs. Transferring from another seminary, where he felt that he was unknown to the administration, Richard reports, “I am thankful that RPTS’s doors are open to people of all denominations. It may be the seminary’s greatest impact for the gospel across the world will be through students who carry Reformed training, doctrine, and history acquired at RPTS back to their own churches and denominations. If we employ the same love, patience, kindness, and compassion in preaching and teaching that RPTS has modeled for me, I have no doubt that the whole Church will be ‘transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another’ (2 Cor. 3:18).”
Another common impression of Jerry’s ministry is how the Lord has provided the right man for the right season at RPTS. One will find similar sentiments about other seminary leaders, such as S. Bruce Willson and Bruce Stewart. Former student Stephen West recalled a first conversation with Dr. O’Neill. “Well, you sure have some large shoes to fill!” he said. Jerry offered a gracious smile and agreed. Dr. Bruce Stewart, president prior to Jerry, had recruited Mr. West, gently teaching and leading him. “I loved Bruce Stewart,” remembers West. “I could not imagine anyone else sitting in his office.” After receiving two decades of ministry to his West family from Jerry, Stephen imagines another conversation to come with president-elect Barry York. The dialogue will likely focus upon the big shoes to be filled!
The Lord has been incredibly generous in raising up the next man to shepherd those learning to be shepherds. It is one of the keys to the faithful longevity of RPTS’s ministry. James Faris (pastor, Second [Indianapolis, Ind.] RPC) adds to this thought: “Jerry’s constant prayer was that God would keep the seminary faithful. He emphasized that he did not want the seminary to be fruitful if it was not faithful, lest it advance the cause of wickedness.” By God’s grace, and through the oversight of many faithful men and the fervent prayers of the saints, the seminary seeks to glorify God in all that is done in the preparations of gospel ministers and kingdom servants.
People who know Jerry O’Neill well regularly observe the distinct pastoral nature of his demeanor. “In every context he is a pastor,” remarks Rut Etheridge (chaplain, Geneva College). “God has gifted Dr. O’Neill with a pastor’s heart, which he constantly wears on his sleeve; a profound and life-directing blessing to so many people.” Patrick McNeely, a recent graduate now serving in a church plant in British Columbia, Canada, reflects on how Rev. O’Neill’s examples in life and ministry are “akin to a time-release capsule of medicine for the young pastor’s soul.”
A segment of Jerry’s pastoral nature falls in the area of calling to ministry. Many men in the denomination, and a generation of Theological Foundation for Youth participants, recall Jerry’s broad calling to ministry. Individuals are likely to recount specific conversations around this calling in many forms, serving broadly in the kingdom of Christ.
Not to be neglected, Jerry also sounded the call to financial and prayer participation in the broader works of the church, challenging many to more clearly see how they might be a partner in the support that is vital for these works to take place. This vision may be one of the most understated aspects of his ministry.
Under Dr. O’Neill’s careful stewardship, working closely with the seminary’s board of trustees, the seminary has changed in many ways, educationally and physically. Master of theological studies and doctor of ministry programs were added. Distance education courses were begun. The Willson Center was purchased and renovated to provide a home for training in biblical counseling at the Biblical Counseling Institute. Accreditation with the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) has been renewed three times for the maximum 10 years each time. Numerous student housing units have been made available, permitting affordable housing for seminarians. Many renovations have been made to the main building, Rutherford Hall, including windows, air conditioning, improvements in library space, and the installation of an elevator. A campaign is underway to replace the original roof and the deteriorating exterior of the building.
The presidential transition has been in the planning and working stages for over two-and-a-half years. In a time when seminary presidential tenure is measured in short spans, 23 years is an amazing feat. RPTS was able, through the Lord’s good providence, to receive a maximum 10-year reaccreditation with ATS, in the midst of a presidential transition, with no significant deviations from the ATS standards noted. Foresight on the part of the seminary board has laid the groundwork for an incredibly smooth transition, including the restructuring of the president’s position, allowing Barry York to work primarily in his areas of strength in teaching pastoral ministry, while representing the seminary academically and practically. Lord willing, Dr. O’Neill will serve for another year on a part-time basis assisting with fundraising and academic administration.
Perhaps Keith and Claudia Wing (College Hill [Beaver Falls, Pa.] RPC) capture best what comes across the minds of many who have had the pleasure of interacting with Doctor Jerry. “Jerry has a steadfast commitment, by the grace of God, to the truths of the faith. He gently, patiently, and persistently continues to point us and so many others to the foundational, life-giving truth of God’s Word and to the tenets of the Reformed faith,” note the Wings. “Whether advising or counseling us in life matters or in working together on important kingdom matters, Jerry’s convictions and example of faithful service have been inspiring and motivational for us and many others.”
“The right shepherd for the right season” well summarizes the ministry of Jerry O’Neill, beloved pastor, teacher, mentor, and friend.
Mark Sampson | chief administrative officer and director of institutional advancement, the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary