Joel Gregory new director of preaching center at Truett Seminary

WACO—Joel Gregory assumed new responsibilities at Baylor University’s Truett Theological Seminary June 1 when he became director of the Kyle Lake Center for Effective Preaching.

Gregory, a professor of preaching who holds the George W. Truett Endowed Chair in Preaching and Evangelism, succeeds Hulitt Gloer, who retired from the seminary at the end of the spring semester.

Seminary Dean Todd Still, the William M. Hinson Professor of Christian Scriptures, expressed appreciation to Gloer for his “thoughtful, faithful work” and support for Gregory in his new role.

“Given Dr. Gregory’s demonstrable skill and stature as a preacher both within and beyond Baptist life and his expansive vision for the future of the center, I have every confidence that center is in very good hands and that Truett will become increasingly associated with and appreciated for its commitment to preaching and its support of preachers,” Still said. “Resultantly, the purpose for the center and the legacy of its namesake will be further extended.”

The Kyle Lake Center for Effective Preaching aims to provide thorough preparation for the practice of preaching for seminary students as well as ongoing education opportunities in preaching for pastors and others in ministry. The center is named in honor a 1997 Truett Seminary graduate who died while pastor of University Baptist Church in Waco.

“The endowment of the Kyle Lake Center for Effective Preaching has been a gift of God to the seminary and the larger ministry,” Gregory said. “Named for a beloved Truett graduate whose life was suddenly cut short, the center fields a variety of programs indicated by its name, effective preaching. We are forever indebted to the Lake family for their stewardship.”

‘Academic prowess and outstanding preaching’

Gregory received his undergraduate and Ph.D. degrees from Baylor University and his Master of Divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He served for two terms as president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, and his pastorates include Gambrell Street Baptist and Travis Avenue Baptist churches in Fort Worth and First Baptist Church in Dallas.

Through Joel Gregory Ministries, Gregory provides resources and seminars to pastors around the world. Most recently, Gregory was honored with the “Living Legend” Award by the E.K. Bailey Expository Preaching Conference and was voted one of the 12 “most effective” preachers in the English-speaking world through a survey conducted by Truett Seminary.

“I am truly excited about Joel’s appointment as director of the Kyle Lake Center,” said Ralph Douglas West, founder and senior pastor of The Church Without Walls in Houston and adjunct professor of preaching at Truett Seminary.

“His appointment is a testament to his academic prowess and outstanding preaching. Over his 54 years of ministry, Joel has not only proven himself as an effective preacher, but also an effective teacher of preaching. Already, the preaching of many has been enhanced through his service to the church. It is without question that he will continue to do this work and impact preachers of the gospel to a greater extent.”

Looking toward the future, Gregory plans to continue the work Gloer began at the center, as well as introduce new programs and resources. He will work in collaboration with Scott Gibson and Jared Alcantara, who are joining the preaching faculty July 1, and Shawn Boyd, program administrator for the center.

“We intend to make the center a national resource for preaching by large and small group programs, temporary sabbatical residences, digital tools, an enlarged Web presence and other initiatives,” Gregory said. “Dean Still has both announced and substantially demonstrated his intention to make Truett a center for biblical proclamation and a national resource. We pledge ourselves to that vision.”