January 15, 2001

Roberts elected to lead Midwestern
___By Bob Allen
___Associated Baptist Press
___KANSAS CITY, Mo. (ABP) --Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary trustees have unanimously chosen Phil Roberts, a conservative academician who specializes in missions and evangelism strategies, as fourth president of the Southern Baptist Convention

PHIL ROBERTS

seminary in Kansas City, Mo.
___His election at a called trustee meeting Jan. 8-9 concludes an almost 16-month search for a new leader following the forced termination of Mark Coppenger.
___Roberts, who comes to the post from a vice presidency at the SBC North American Mission Board, told trustees seminaries "are the lifeblood of the denomination. We value those who are bivocational and lay pastors, but in the final analysis, those who take seriously theological education and commit themselves to it are the ones that rise to the surface in leadership."
___Roberts said he first met with the search committee nearly a year ago and then again in October. He and his wife prayed about accepting the position over Thanksgiving and agreed to allow his nomination.
___Roberts, 50, will begin the job, which pays $124,000 a year plus benefits, in mid-February.
___The president-elect said he would continue the seminary's traditional emphasis on classical theological education that includes biblical languages, theology and church history, while also involving students in hands-on evangelism and missions experience.
___Like his predecessor and the seminary's trustees, Roberts holds conservative theological views but hinted that he might be more flexible than Coppenger, who drew criticism for strident attacks on women's ordination and ardent support for Calvinism, a theological view that emphasizes God's sovereignty over man's free will.
___In response to a reporter's question, Roberts said he agrees with the revised Baptist Faith & Message view that only males are qualified to serve as pastors in a local church, calling it "the clear teaching of Scripture" and a doctrine shared by most mainstream Christians throughout history.
___He noted Midwestern's reputation for training women for other ministerial roles, particularly those serving alongside their husbands in church-related vocations.
___"Anna (his wife) was a full-time church worker and graduate of a Polish Baptist seminary," he added. "When we went to Southeastern, we lived in seminary housing and she was an encouragement to the wives.
___"I don't think we have to shut down discussion on it," Roberts said, however, contrasting with an oft-repeated quotation from a Coppenger chapel sermon that labeled women preachers "a raging heresy."
___

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