Southwestern names 8 new faculty;
picks hailed as true conservatives
___FORT WORTH--After several years of a slow exodus of veteran professors, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary last week announced eight new faculty members to fill some of the gaps left by retirements, resignations and firings.
___All eight newcomers were hailed by trustees and administrators as theological conservatives who have no hesitation about signing the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message as required by seminary trustees.
___"I've done a lot of study on the Scriptures, and I believe that (the Baptist Faith & Message 2000) is what God says should be done," Teresa Stovall, one of the new faculty members, told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
___The faith statem
 |
RALPH PULLEY (standing), a member of First Baptist Church of Dallas, was recognized by Southwestern Seminary trustees for 22 years of service on the trustee board. Pulley, one of the trustees instrumental in the firing of former President Russell Dilday, has been a force for a conservative shift through his multiple terms on the SBC-elected board.
|
ent's controversial sections on the roles of women in the family and in ministry present no problem for her, she said. "It's the model that God put in place since the beginning. So I believe that women should be under the servant leadership of their husbands. I also believe the office of a pastor is reserved for men. Even though many women don't like to hear that, doesn't mean it's not part of God's plan."
___Seminary trustee Miles Seaborn, former chairman of the board, told the Star-Telegram the new hires represent the kind of rightward shift he and other trustees have been wanting for years. He is concerned that "pockets of moderates" remain on the faculty, he said, but is confident the seminary's new provost will handle them.
___President Ken Hemphill called the new Southwestern faculty "the greatest faculty in our history" and declared, "There really is not a comparable faculty anywhere in the nation."
___Current trustee Chairman Michael Dean, pastor of Travis Avenue Baptist Church in Fort Worth, told the Star-Telegram trustees and administrators have pursued gradual changes in the faculty rather than wholesale removals. "Instead of the total disruption of the seminary--massive firings--we have allowed faculty to retire or seek other positions as time allowed."
___But doing so required the firing of former seminary President Russell Dilday in 1994, he explained.
___Dilday told the Star-Telegram the Southwestern of the past has been replaced by a seminary with a fundamentalist mindset and a spirit of indoctrination.
___"The Southwestern we knew no longer exists," he said. "It has been Presslerized."
___That reference was to Paul Pressler of Houston, one of the two architects of the fundamentalist movement that gained control of the Southern Baptist Convention in the 1980s and early '90s.
___Seven of the new faculty were elected by trustees, and one was named by presidential appointment.
___They are:
___ Jeffrey Bingham, elected professor of historical theology. He previously was research professor in historical theology at Dallas Theological Seminary. Bingham received his master of theology and doctor of philosophy degrees from Dallas Theological Seminary after earning his undergraduate degree from New Mexico State University.
___ Kevin Kennedy, elected assistant professor of theology. Kennedy received his undergraduate degree from Liberty University in Virginia and a master of divinity from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C., and has completed his doctor of philosophy degree at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky.
___ Sheri Klouda, elected assistant professor of Old Testament. She anticipates completion of the doctor of philosophy degree at Southwestern in May. She received bachelor's and master's degrees from Criswell College in Dallas. Klouda previously served as assistant professor of biblical Hebrew at Beeson Divinity School at Samford University.
___ Eric Mitchell, elected assistant professor of biblical backgrounds and archaeology. After graduating from Baylor University, he received a master of divinity from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary in Memphis, Tenn. He has served as an instructor of Old Testament interpretation at Southern Seminary, where he anticipates the completion of the doctor of philosophy degree in December.
___ Calvin Pearson, elected associate professor of preaching. He is a doctor of ministry graduate from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary in Massachusetts, received a master of divinity degree from Southwestern and a master of theology degree from Dallas Theological Seminary. He completed undergraduate studies at Houston Baptist University.
___ Teresa Stovall, elected assistant professor of adult education and aging. A graduate of Texas A&M University, she received a master of arts in religious education and doctor of philosophy degrees from Southwestern.
___ Scott Swain, elected assistant professor of theology. He anticipates completion of a doctor of philosophy degree at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Ill., in May. Swain received the master of divinity with biblical languages and master of theology degrees from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary Seminary. He completed undergraduate studies at the University of North Florida.
___ Craig Mitchell, appointed instructor in Christian ethics. Mitchell becomes the seminary's second African-American faculty member. A retired Air Force officer, he completed a master of divinity at Southwestern and is currently pursuing his doctor of philosophy degree. He received undergraduate degrees from Savannah State College in Savannah, Ga., and the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif. He received two master's degrees from West Coast University in Los Angeles.
___Also during the spring trustee meeting, board members:
___ Approved a record budget of $30.3 million for the 2002-2003 fiscal year. The previous budget for the 2001-2002 fiscal year was $29.6 million. Recent budget increases have allowed the seminary to increase faculty salaries and become self-insured, said Hubert Martin, vice president of finance.
___ Re-elected Dean to a second term as trustee chairman and David Allen and Matthew McKellar as vice chairman and secretary.
___ Approved a new 48-hour master of arts in worship degree and a new 52-hour master of music degree with a concentration in worship.
___ Passed a resolution thanking the Oklahoma Baptist Messenger for 90 years of faithful service.
___ Passed a resolution thanking Ralph Pulley of Dallas for 22 years of service as a seminary trustee.
___
Get printer-friendly version of this story
Send this story to a friend
News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.
Contents/ Masthead / Why We're Here / Links / Archive / E-mail us/ SUBSCRIBE!/ Signup for FirstLook
|