When Dr. G stepped into the role of Academic Dean, he knew one thing for certain: he didn’t want to lead alone. Coming from a deep conviction shaped by biblical leadership — especially the model of multiple elders — he set out to build a team that would share both the authority and the responsibility of guiding Multnomah’s academic direction. Instead of operating from a top-down model, he approached the key department heads and invited them into something rare: a council of six leaders where each had an equal vote — including the Academic Dean himself. They could even outvote him at any time. For a young, energetic dean who knew he still had much to learn, this wasn’t a sign of weakness but of wisdom. Dr. G openly admitted that it would take two years to know if he was the right person for the job, and he asked the president to give the council the toughest issues the school was facing. Together, they worked through them — slowly, carefully, prayerfully. That shared burden, shared authority, and shared discernment transformed both the team and the institution. Of course, not everyone agreed with every decision. Hard choices often help the many but frustrate the few. When a frustrated individual would corner Dr. G hoping to pressure him into reversing a decision, his dry humor would surface — reminding them that even if he changed his mind, it was still “five to one.” The council stood together, and that unity strengthened the whole school. In the end, those years proved something important: by surrounding himself with wiser, seasoned colleagues, Dr. G became a better leader — and the Academic Dean’s Council became a cornerstone of how Multnomah grew and made decisions in its most formative years.

In This Video
• Why Dr. G refused to lead alone as Academic Dean
• The biblical model that shaped the Academic Dean’s Council
• How shared authority protected the school — and the dean
• Why difficult decisions often help the many but frustrate the few
• How the council became a long-term leadership team for Multnomah

About This Series
This video is part of a collection celebrating the story, ministry, and legacy of Dr. Garry Friesen (Dr. G), honoring the heritage of Multnomah School of the Bible / Multnomah University and the continuing work God is doing through new ministries around the world.

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If these stories encourage you, feel free to like, subscribe, and share with others who knew and loved Multnomah — and with believers growing in faith in Rwanda and beyond. Videos are also available at https://www.youtube.com/@ABCMultnomah.

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The production of these videos was provided by the Multnomah Family Team, if you would like to help sponsor more videos like this, please contact us here.