Dockery harkens to the past, highlights present markers of ‘God’s blessings’
By Ashley Allen/SWBTS
NEW ORLEANS – With a pledge to continue the best of its Baptist and evangelical heritage, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary President David S. Dockery harkened to the Fort Worth institution’s “foundational convictions regarding Scripture and the Gospel” in his June 14 report to Southern Baptist Convention messengers in New Orleans.
Dockery said the institution has carried forward the convictions of its founder, B.H. Carroll, for 115 years “with an unapologetic commitment to the truthfulness, authority, and sufficiency of Scripture with conviction regarding the faith once for all delivered to the saints and our shared Baptist distinctives” adding this “wonderful Southwestern heritage has emphasized careful biblical interpretation, thoughtful historical understanding, faithful theological formation, and practical ministry preparation.”
As his first report to the SBC as Southwestern’s president, Dockery was introduced to messengers by Albert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, who preceded him in the reports given by all six SBC seminary presidents. Mohler called Dockery an “evangelical scholar” and a “man of great character.” Mohler’s introduction was met with resounding applause from messengers.
Dockery said with O.S. Hawkins, chancellor and senior professor of pastoral ministry and evangelism, and Matt Queen, interim provost, professor of evangelism, and L.R. Scarborough Chair of Evangelism (“Chair of Fire”), serving in their roles, messengers “could be assured” that Southwestern Seminary “will continue to prioritize the importance of Gospel proclamation, engaging evangelism, and international call to take the Good News of Jesus Christ to the nations.”
While noting “there is much to celebrate about Southwestern’s rich heritage,” Dockery said he was “delighted” to share about “God’s blessings on us” over the last eight and a half months.
Asking messengers to join the Southwestern community in prayer, Dockery shared that the institution has “celebrated a renewed commitment to prayer across the campus’’ as evidenced through regular campus-wide prayer gatherings that “remind us as an institution of our dependence, our total dependence, on God for carrying out our shared mission.”
Dockery highlighted the “Advance Southwestern: 2030” plan that was recently approved by the board of trustees, which he explained “clarifies the institution’s identity as a Great Commandment and Great Commission institution dedicated to a distinctive mission, six core values, by providing guidelines, priorities, and goals for every area of the institution in the days to come.”
Dockery also noted the 3,600 students in the last year who have been recipients of “outstanding teaching of the faculty of Southwestern Seminary” while also being “encouraged” by the 700 graduates during the 2022-2023 academic year who have been “well prepared for the next stage of their life and ministry calling.” Additionally, he noted an “increased total enrollment headcount,” adding, “we are hopeful for the days to come.”
Citing the “qualitative and quantitative” growth in the Mandarin Chinese, Hispanic and Korean programs at the seminary, and a program in Portuguese to begin this coming year, Dockery said, “With students enrolling from 60 different countries, Southwestern Seminary is truly an institution with a global reach far beyond anything that B.H. Carroll could have ever imagined.”
Dockery added that “much work” had taken place in “restructuring” the 2022-2023 annual budget “reducing both operational and personnel aspects of the budget in measurable ways.” He added the institution’s leadership will “continue to focus on budget and organizational restructuring as we enter the year to come as we recommit ourselves to institutional stewardship with a high priority given to this each and every day.”
Allen touches on theological, missional, operational responsibilities
By Brett Fredenberg/MBTS
NEW ORLEANS, (BP) – During the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention, Midwestern Seminary President Jason Allen delivered the seminary report, highlighting the profound stewardship and blessing from the Lord in Kansas City.
Allen began by sharing his appreciation for Southern Baptists. Growing up in a Southern Baptist home, he expressed the longevity of his love for the denomination.
“I love Southern Baptists. I love getting to serve you,” he said. “Southern Baptists love the Scriptures, the Gospel, the Great Commission, and one another. I want to remind you today that we are accomplishing great things together for the cause of Christ.”
Having served as president of Midwestern Seminary for more than a decade, Allen shared with messengers the breadth of stewardship for a Southern Baptist theological institution, specifically in the areas of theological, missional and operational responsibility.
First, he spoke to the theological stewardship of Midwestern Seminary, saying, “The Baptist Faith and Message 2000 for us is an ongoing and active source of theological accountability. We advocate for it, cherish and defend it. We did so yesterday, we did so today and we will do so tomorrow as well.”
He also shared additional statements of faith that faculty and instructional staff are required to affirm; namely, the Danvers Statement on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, the Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy and the Nashville Statement on Human Sexuality.
“We affirm each of these because our culture has lost its mind,” he said. “In a time of confusion, we aim to be clear. As a theological institution, our first responsibility is theological.”
Second, Allen spoke to the missional stewardship of the seminary.
Midwestern Seminary exists for the Church, he reminded messengers. “Our primary calling is to train pastors, ministers and missionaries for Southern Baptist churches and the nations.”
Moreover, Allen announced that Midwestern Seminary has experienced an 11th consecutive year of enrollment growth.
“Ten years ago, we had around 1,100 students,” he said. “This year, we’ll finish with more than 5,100 students.”
Yet Allen reminded messengers that the work of theological education is far more than numbers. He said, “When we think of our work, we don’t just think of the numbers. We think of the young men and women being trained on our campus to serve your churches and to reach the nations for the cause of Christ.”
He shared of a new initiative to continue to maximize Midwestern Seminary’s impact on the nations through training missionaries for the Great Commission.
Midwestern Seminary’s “Missions Moonshot,” he explained, seeks to partner with the International Mission Board and produce 100 students that are going to the nations each year. With students in all 50 states and 64 countries, he expressed the seminary’s desire to continue to increase its reach for the sake of the lost.
Allen also shared about Midwestern Seminary’s For the Church Institute, an online training program for lay church members. More than 10,000 students in local churches are engaging in lay training through the FTC Institute as the seminary seeks to help strengthen church curriculum and discipleship work in those congregations.
