[1] NEW ORLEANS (BP)–A specialist in the theology of American cults and a specialist in medical and gerontological social work, as well as a U.S. Naval Reserve chaplain and a veteran education minister will join the faculty of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary Aug. 1, and several more prospective professors will come before seminary trustees for approval during the October trustee meeting.
Robert B. Stewart of Williamsburg, Ky., will be an instructor in philosophy and systematic theology; Loretta Rivers of Union, Miss., will be an instructor in social work; Endel Lee of Mobile, Ala., will be an instructor in preaching and pastoral work; and Charles Harvey Jr. of Shreveport, La., will be an assistant professor of Christian education and associate director of the seminary’s new doctor of ministry degree program.
“We are delighted to welcome these outstanding men and women to the teaching team of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary,” said NOBTS President Chuck Kelley. “Their passion for ministry and their excellence in scholarship will greatly enhance our ability to train leaders to grow healthy churches.”
Steve Lemke, NOBTS provost, said, “As our enrollment continues to increase and we begin a number of new degree programs, we have need for exceptional faculty members to lead us into the next century.”
Enrollment as of June 1 at New Orleans Seminary for the 1997- 98 academic year was 2,461, not including two sessions of summer school, a 1.5 percent increase over the same time last year for the non-duplicating headcount. Six new programs of instruction, including a master of arts in marriage and family counseling, a master of divinity in church music and a doctor of philosophy in Christian education, have been added to the curriculum during the year.
Stewart and Rivers were elected during the trustees’ June meeting. Lee and Harvey were elected during the trustees’ March meeting.
“These are wonderful additions to our faculty,” Lemke said. “Each one has a proven track record of effectiveness in ministry, as well as excellent academic preparation. Three of them come from other institutions, bringing greater diversity and breadth of experience to our seminary community.
“These gifted individuals will not only enrich our faculty, but also enhance the degree programs in which our students are studying. These are the kind of people who can train people to change the world for Christ.”
Stewart joins the division of theological and historical studies. Besides his broad field of interest in the theology of American cults, he has done considerable research on Mormonism, has spoken at denominational meetings on the subject and presented papers at meetings of the national Evangelical Theological Society.
Stewart has been pastor of Mayfield Road Baptist Church, Arlington, Texas, since 1995, and previously was pastor of First Baptist Church, Maypearl, Texas, from 1989-95. He also has served Texas churches as an associate pastor and minister of youth and activities. Since 1994 he has been a teaching fellow in the historical theology department at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas, where he finished the master of divinity degree and is completing his dissertation for the doctor of philosophy degree. Stewart earned the bachelor of arts degree at Cameron University, Lawton, Okla. He and his wife, the former Marilyn Franklin, have three school-aged children.
“Bob Stewart comes to us with more than a decade of pastoral experience,” Lemke said. “He is a brilliant pastoral theologian who specializes in the theology of cults.”
Rivers joins the division of Christian education ministries. A social worker in New Orleans since 1989 specializing in medical and gerontological social work, Rivers has served several years at New Orleans’ Charity Hospital and Columbia Lakeland Medical Center, as well as the Carver Center, a Christian social ministry of the Southern Baptist Convention’s North American Mission Board.
Rivers has been an active member for 10 years at New Orleans’ inner-city Elysian Fields Avenue Baptist Church, ministering weekly to children and families from the historic Desire Housing Project. She completed the bachelor of arts degree at the University of Mississippi, the master of arts degree in Christian education at New Orleans Seminary and the master of social work degree at Louisiana State University.
The seminary’s master of arts in Christian education degree program (MACE) offers specializations in gerontology and social work, as well as a reciprocal agreement with nearby universities, such as the University of Southern Mississippi and Louisiana State University, for a simultaneous MACE and master of social work degree (MSW).
“Loretta Rivers has served in a variety of Baptist social ministries,” Lemke said. “She will help bring us a renewed emphasis on urban missions and urban ministry.”
Lee will be a faculty member in New Orleans Seminary’s college of undergraduate studies. A U.S. Naval Reserve chaplain endorsed by the SBC’s North American Mission Board, Lee previously was a chaplain and director of pastoral care and counseling at Baylor Medical Center, Garland, Texas. He has been the pastor of First Baptist Church in Roanoke, Texas, since 1994.
Originally from Mobile, Ala., Lee completed the bachelor of arts degree in religion at the University of Mobile, Mobile, Ala., and both the master of divinity and master of arts in religious education degrees at Southwestern Seminary, where he currently is writing his dissertation to complete the doctor of philosophy degree. He and his wife, Cathy, have two school-aged children.
“Endel Lee brings a unique background of experience in the pastorate, military chaplaincy and hospital chaplaincy,” Lemke said. “He will be able to equip our students for pastoral ministry in a variety of settings.”
Harvey has been the seminary’s director of continuing education since June 1997, a position he will retain. He served 20 years in Louisiana and Florida churches as an education minister, most recently at First Baptist Church in Windermere, Fla., for six years. He also was a Baptist Student Union director for 11 years for three Louisiana universities.
Harvey completed the bachelor of arts degree in history at Northeast Louisiana University. At New Orleans Seminary he earned master of divinity and doctor of ministry degrees. His wife, Barbara, is originally from New Orleans and grew up in the Gentilly area, the seminary’s neighborhood, while her father was pastor of New Orleans’ historic Coliseum Place Baptist Church.
“Dr. Charlie Harvey has more than 25 years of experience in educational ministry, youth ministry, campus ministry and the pastorate,” Lemke said. “He and Dr. Jim Shaddix, director of the D.Min. program, bring to our D.Min. program not only their extensive ministerial experience, but also are probably the only team directing a D.Min. program who have actually earned the D.Min. degree themselves. Their own experience with the D.Min. degree gives them a greater appreciation for the D.Min. degree and a special sensitivity to the needs and concerns of D.Min. students.”
In other news, three current professors were named this summer to division chairmanships:
— Jeanine Bozeman, professor of social work, who will chair the division of Christian education ministries under a two-year appointment, replacing Jerry Pounds who has been appointed assistant to the president.
— Ken Gabrielse, assistant professor of church music, who permanently will chair the division of church music ministries, replacing Sid Buckley, who has retired.
— Argile Smith, the J.D. Grey associate professor of preaching, will chair the division of pastoral ministries under a two-year appointment, replacing Bob Hamblin, who has retired.
In addition, four current professors were appointed this summer to academic chairs:
— Ken Gabrielse, to the Lallage Feazell Chair of Church Music, replacing Buckley.
— Allen Jackson, to the J. M. Frost Chair of Christian Education and liaison with LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention, replacing Ferris Jordan, who has retired.
— Ken Taylor, to the Chester L. Quarles Chair of Missions, replacing Gerald Wright, who has been named to the new Owen Cooper Chair of Global Missions.
In other appointments this summer:
— Paul Robertson, professor of theology, has been named director of the research doctoral programs, replacing Bob Mathis, who resigned to join the faculty of Southwestern Seminary.
— Jim Shaddix, assistant professor of preaching, has been named director of the newly revised doctor of ministry degree program, replacing 20-year professor Don Stewart, who requested to finish his final years at the seminary teaching full time as professor of New Testament and Greek.
— Ken Taylor, assistant professor of evangelism, has been named director of the newly revised Supervised Ministry program, replacing Shaddix; the program previously was known as Field Education.
Several more prospective faculty members will be presented to seminary trustees in October during the regular semiannual meeting, helping to fill positions vacant from four faculty retirements this year, as well as some new positions. They will be serving under presidential appointment until they are voted on by trustees.