Dr. Thomas Zempel has a long and distinguished career in Christian ministry and education. He has been a youth pastor, a senior pastor, and a pastor of caring in Rockford, Illinois, Windsor Locks, Connecticut, and Cary, North Carolina, respectively. He has taught at several institutions and held a variety of administrative posts.

Though he grew up in northern Wisconsin, Zempel is no stranger to Minnesota. He is a graduate of Pillsbury Baptist Bible College and Central Baptist Theological Seminary of Minneapolis. He spent some years as a professor and dean of students at Pillsbury before taking a senior pastorate in Connecticut. While in that pastorate, he completed his D.Min. degree in biblical counseling at Westminster Theological Seminary.

Dr. Zempel has become a major voice in the field of biblical counseling. He has been a member of the National Association of Nouthetic Counselors for many years. Since 2008 he has been a fellow of that organization. He has taught biblical counseling at institutions in Texas, Missouri, Minnesota, Iowa, Virginia, North Carolina, and Romania. The Lord has used him to help countless individuals and restore countless marriages.

For fifteen years, Zempel ministered in various administrative and faculty roles at Central Seminary. Arriving as assistant to President Douglas McLachlan, his early focus involved establishing a Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling program. This program has equipped scores of Christian counselors through the years. Over time, he served as a full professor, as vice president of administration, as vice president of academic affairs, and as executive vice president. He has subsequently been called to the pastoral staff of Colonial Baptist Church in Carey, North Carolina, where he also serves as professor of biblical counseling at Shepherd’s Seminary.

Few people in conservative Christianity have contributed as much to educational organization, or to establishing their discipline, as Tom Zempel. Because of his very significant contribution to the academic life of multiple institutions, the faculty and board of Central Seminary deemed it appropriate to recognize his ministry by awarding him the Doctor of Humanities, causa honoris.

Upon the authority of the Board of Trustees, Dr. Kevin T. Bauder, President, conferred the Doctor of Humanities upon Dr. Thomas L. Zempel at the 55th commencement of Central Baptist Theological Seminary of Minneapolis, May 14, 2011.