# David Emmanuel Goatley

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American theologian (born 1961)

**David Emmanuel Goatley** (born 1961) is an American theologian who has served as the President of [Fuller Theological Seminary](/source/Fuller_Theological_Seminary) since 2023.

## Early life and education

Goatley studied at the [University of Louisville](/source/University_of_Louisville) where he earned a bachelor’s degree in guidance and counseling. He went on to earn a master of divinity degree in pastoral care and a Ph.D. in theology from [Southern Baptist Theological Seminary](/source/Southern_Baptist_Theological_Seminary).[1]

## Career and ministry

After being ordained as a minister in the [National Baptist Convention, USA](/source/National_Baptist_Convention%2C_USA) he served as pastor of the First Baptist Church of [Campbellsville, Kentucky](/source/Campbellsville%2C_Kentucky). Later he became the CEO of the Lott Carey Baptist Foreign Mission Society.[2][3] He was then appointed Ruth W. and A. Morris Williams Jr. Research Professor of Theology and Christian Ministry at [Duke Divinity School](/source/Duke_Divinity_School), where he also served as associate dean for academic and vocational formation and director of the Office of Black Church Studies.[4][5] He is Fuller's first Black president.[1][6]

Under Goatley's leadership, Fuller considered revising its sexual standards to become more accepting of [LGBTQ+](/source/LGBTQ%2B) students,[7] before eventually affirming the "historic theological understanding of marriage".[8][9]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-JBHE_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-JBHE_1-1) ["David Emmanuel Goatley Will Be the Next President of Fuller Seminary in Pasadena, California"](https://jbhe.com/2022/09/david-emmanuel-goatley-will-be-the-next-president-of-fuller-seminary-in-pasadena-california/). *The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education*. September 19, 2022. Retrieved 3 February 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Shimron, Yonat (September 17, 2022). ["Nation's Largest Interdenominational Seminary Picks First Black President"](https://www.proquest.com/docview/2714988431). *The Washington Post*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Hutson, Wendell (July 28, 2010). ["Black Clergy Group Commits $50 Million to Haiti"](https://chicagodefender.com/black-clergy-group-commits-50-million-to-haiti/). *Chicago Defender*. p. 23.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Six African American Faculty Members Taking on New Roles or Assignments"](https://jbhe.com/2018/10/six-african-american-faculty-members-taking-on-new-roles-or-assignments/). *The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education*. October 12, 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["David Emmanuel Goatley"](https://www.fuller.edu/president/). [Fuller Theological Seminary](/source/Fuller_Theological_Seminary). 20 October 2017. Retrieved 13 June 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Blez, Emily (12 September 2022). ["Fuller Theological Seminary Names New President"](https://www.christianitytoday.com/2022/09/fuller-seminary-new-president-david-emmanuel-goatley/). *[Christianity Today](/source/Christianity_Today)*. Retrieved 13 June 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Bharath, Deepa (26 May 2024). ["California evangelical seminary ponders changes that would make it more welcoming to LGBTQ students"](https://apnews.com/article/evangelical-seminary-lgbtq-samesex-marriage-10f734487e3097055ae3052d75618f06). *[AP News](/source/AP_News)*. Retrieved 13 June 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Silliman, Daniel (23 May 2025). ["Fuller Seminary Reaffirms Historic LGBTQ Stance"](https://www.christianitytoday.com/2025/05/fuller-seminary-reaffirm-lgbtq-sexuality-marriage-stance/). *[Christianity Today](/source/Christianity_Today)*. Retrieved 13 June 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Wingfield, Mark (30 May 2025). ["Fuller Seminary affirms 'historic theological understanding of marriage'"](https://baptistnews.com/article/fuller-seminary-affirms-historic-theological-understanding-of-marriage/). *[Baptist News Global](/source/Baptist_News_Global)*. Retrieved 13 June 2025.

v t e Fuller Theological Seminary Founder Charles E. Fuller Presidents Harold Ockenga Edward John Carnell David Allan Hubbard Richard Mouw Mark Labberton David Emmanuel Goatley Faculty Founding Everett F. Harrison Carl F. H. Henry Harold Lindsell Wilbur M. Smith Former Leslie C. Allen Gleason Archer David Augsburger Justin L. Barrett Geoffrey W. Bromiley Oliver D. Crisp Richard J. Foster Daniel Fuller John Goldingay Donald Hagner Paul Hiebert Paul King Jewett Charles H. Kraft William Sanford La Sor George Eldon Ladd Ralph P. Martin James William McClendon Jr. Joy J. Moore Richard Muller J. Edwin Orr Robert N. Schaper Love L. Sechrest Lewis B. Smedes Glen Stassen Thomas Talbott Miroslav Volf C. Peter Wagner Neil Clark Warren Mel White John Wimber Ralph Winter Charles Woodbridge Present Warren S. Brown Scott Cormode William Dyrness John Goldingay Joel B. Green Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen Kirsteen Kim Sebastian Kim Seyoon Kim Nancey Murphy Richard Peace Soong-Chan Rah J. Dudley Woodberry Amos Yong

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [David Emmanuel Goatley](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Emmanuel_Goatley) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Emmanuel_Goatley?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.