MBTS appoints Joe M. Allen, others to faculty
By Michael S. Brooks/MBTS
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (BP) – Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary President Jason Allen announced the addition of mission professor Joe M. Allen III to the seminary faculty, along with four additional faculty appointments.
Allen, who will relocate to Kansas City this summer, comes to Midwestern Seminary after having served overseas with the International Mission Board since 2007.
“We are delighted to have Dr. Joe Allen join the growing faculty at Midwestern Seminary,” Jason Allen said. “When we consider the weightiness of the Great Commission, we take seriously the attendant training that is necessary to equip men and women for Gospel service.
“The calling on our institution to be ‘for the church’ demands that we be for the church everywhere, in every setting where God’s people are gathered, both locally and abroad. Dr. Allen joins our faculty as a proven, accomplished evangelist and missionary. He’s not only equipped with the necessary academic credentials but he’s also widely respected for his missionary service.”
Joe Allen served in various leadership roles on IMB mission teams in South Asia.
“I am excited about joining Midwestern Seminary because it is laser-focused on serving the church,” Joe Allen said. “I can get on board with that vision because a healthy church is a church on mission. I love Midwestern Seminary’s synthesis of high academic excellence and real-world application.”
In addition to Allen, four other presidential faculty appointments were recently announced.
Jared Bumpers was appointed as assistant professor of preaching and evangelism. Ronni Kurtz was appointed assistant professor of Christian studies. Joyce Park was appointed assistant professor of Christian education in the MBTS Korean Studies department. Camden Pulliam was appointed assistant professor of Christian studies.
It was also announced Monday (May 3) that Owen Strachan, former associate professor of Christian theology at MBTS, was named provost and research professor of theology at Grace Bible Theological Seminary in Conway, Ark. See announcement here.
Graham school offers online MDiv degrees
By Jeff Robinson/SBTS
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP) – The Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism and Ministry at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary is now offering MDiv and MA degrees in three key areas that are fully online.
Paul Akin, dean of the Graham School, said SBTS wants to enable those already working in ministry to stay in their current position while pursuing a master of divinity.
“We want to make sure we are making theological education as accessible as possible to as many people as possible,” he said.
“There are so many pastors and church leaders that are serving in different kinds of roles that doesn’t allow them to pick up and move to Louisville to campus, so we’re always thinking through how to deliver high-quality theological education to as many people as possible.”
Rather than being oriented toward generalists in ministry, these online degrees are oriented toward the specialist with a narrower ministry focus.
SEBTS introduces 5-year plan to master’s in counseling
By SEBTS Staff
WAKE FOREST, N.C. (BP) – The College at Southeastern and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary have announce that students will now have a way to receive their bachelor’s and master’s degrees in counseling in five years.
Students who pursue this degree option will be more thoroughly prepared before entering into their counseling internship and will graduate a year and half faster than normal. The five-year degree format will allow students to move from the classroom to the counseling room at a faster pace without sacrificing thorough and rigorous preparation.
“Our five-year BA-to-MA counseling program not only prepares graduating students to obtain a license in marriage and family therapy upon graduation, but it trains them to be counseling missionaries in a broken world,” said Scott Pace, dean of The College at Southeastern. “It’s a huge value-add for our college students who are eager and willing to get to work helping those who are hurting.”
