WAKE FOREST, N.C. – Trustees of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and Judson College met Monday and Tuesday (April 20-21) to honor outgoing President Danny Akin and to officially approve and welcome Scott Pace as the institution’s seventh president.
Pace was elected unanimously by trustees April 21. See related story here.
Trustees’ celebration of Akin included naming a new global missions endowment and renaming the campus student center in his honor.
First plenary session
During the Board’s first plenary session on Monday afternoon, Akin opened his presidential report with heartfelt gratitude for the Board.
He celebrated the doctrinal, missional, financial and academic health of the institution — made possible, Akin said, by God’s grace and the faithful work of trustees, cabinet members, faculty and staff who share a heart for the Great Commission. During Akin’s presidency, more than 1,600 Southeastern students have been deployed through the International Mission Board (IMB) and have been joined by thousands more who are serving the local church and fulfilling the Great Commission across the country and around the world.
In his 22 years, SEBTS has seen the establishment of 10 endowed chairs, increased enrollment from 2,400 to 5,400 and endowment growth to more than $50 million, a 173 percent increase.
Akin gave a final charge to the Board, challenging and encouraging them in their stewardship of Southeastern as they prepared to elect the next president. He charged them to hold fast to the confessional statements of the institution, especially in the election of faculty of Southeastern. He reminded them of their stewardship of Southeastern’s finances as well as their oversight of curriculum changes and institutional planning.
“I charge you, as the last thing that I say to this Board: You keep this school a Great Commission seminary,” Akin said. “I can say with absolute confidence, I trust this board to maintain that vision until our Lord comes again.”
Second plenary session
On Tuesday morning, the Board voted to approve next year’s budget of $37.6 million – a 6.75 percent increase from the 2025-2026 budget.
Trustees elected Nate Brooks to the faculty as associate professor of counseling and approved all recommended curriculum revisions, including a revised and strengthened Master of Divinity in missiology. Trustees also approved a new Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in Christian apologetics.
In addition, the Board approved a five-year track for Southeastern’s Persian Leadership Development Initiative: a Bachelor of Science in pastoral ministry to a Master of Theological Studies. This new track offers increased training for globally positioned Farsi speakers as part of Global Theological Initiatives ongoing efforts.
The Board approved four new student aid funds: the Rev. David A. Huggins Student Aid Fund, Perkinson Student Aid Fund, Powell-Schell-Colyer Student Aid Fund, and the Danny Akin Global Missions Endowment.
The Danny Akin Global Missions Endowment, established in Akin’s honor, will support the mission of the Center for Great Commission Studies as it mobilizes and equips students, faculty, and staff in the fulfillment of the Great Commission.
Trustees concluded by electing four officers: Andy Taylor as chairman of the Board, Stewart Holloway as vice-chair, David White as treasurer and Ingrid Reynolds as secretary.
Commissioning chapel and student center name change
At the beginning of Tuesday’s chapel, the Southeastern community honored the faithful service of three trustees who are rotating off the board: Carlos Goodrich, Tim Dale, and Brett Golson. Akin and Pace presented each trustee with a celebratory Great Commission globe, thanking them for their years of service and dedication to the school.
Then, on behalf of the Board of Trustees, Goodrich presented a resolution in honor of Akin’s retirement, acknowledging the many ways he has guided Southeastern through his servant-leadership, doctrinal commitments, and love for King Jesus and the Great Commission.
Afterwards, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President Albert Mohler gave the chapel address, honoring his longtime friendship with Akin and their years of service together.
“I have watched with great joy how he’s loved here, how he has been loved here, and how he has built a great seminary and offered the church of the Lord Jesus Christ, specifically the Southern Baptist Convention, so much,” said Mohler.
The Mohlers and the Akins have shared a close friendship over several decades, and Mohler celebrated the remarkable marriage and example of his friends. “Charlotte and Danny have been so close for so long — their lives so intertwined together, their love so clear, their commitment to each other so pristine. It’s just an astounding gift of God to be able to say to the two of you together, not only in this room are you so incredibly loved, but in this room, you are loved together.”
At the end of chapel, Southeastern celebrated the commissioning of 76 students and their families, sent by local churches to serve overseas with the IMB and here in the U.S. with the North American Mission Board.
The Southeastern community and guests gathered outside the student center for an announcement in honor of the Akins. There, Goodrich revealed the Ledford Student Center has been officially renamed the Akin Student Center.
“On behalf of the Board of Trustees, the faculty, the staff, and the thousands of students whose lives you have shaped, thank you,” Goodrich said. “Your building is our way of saying what you built here will not be forgotten. The students who come after you will know your name, and we pray they will carry your passion for the gospel to the ends of the earth.”
SES gathering
During the meeting, Akin addressed the gathered members of SES, a group dedicated to supporting SEBTS through prayer and giving. He encouraged them to stay devoted to Jesus, to His Word and the Great Commission, to doctrinal fidelity and to the local church. He urged them to continue to support and pray for the institution and its new president.
Afterwards, SES members gathered around the Akins to pray over and commission them as they pursue God’s will in this next season of life together.
SES members also received institutional updates during Monday’s session. These included the installation of the Bruce Little Chair of Philosophy, Southeastern’s 11th endowed chair, and a report that giving to the Southeastern Fund has already surpassed its numbers from this time last year. In addition to growth in charitable giving, Southeastern has experienced a 4.2 percent increase in credit hours sold in 2026, continuing a trend of annual growth.
Southeastern Family Banquet
Monday evening, more than 450 guests gathered to celebrate the Akins’ retirement during the bi-annual Southeastern Family Banquet. Attendees included Jeff Iorg, president and CEO of the SBC Executive Committee; Kevin Ezell, president of the North American Mission Board (NAMB); Mohler; Jamie Dew, president of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary; and David S. Dockery, president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
During the banquet, the Akins’ sons, daughters-in-law, and many grandchildren shared their love and appreciation for Danny and Charlotte Akin. Then-Provost (now President) Scott Pace and Executive Vice President for Operations Ryan Hutchinson also offered reflections on Akin’s leadership over the past 22 years, celebrating his integrity, leadership, commitment to his family, passion for the Great Commission and embodiment of institutional values.
Brothers Nate and Jonathan Akin also spoke on behalf of their family in honor of their parents.
To his mother, Nate said, “She knows her people. She is tough and tender for her people. She is a servant. She is a fighter, fiercely committed to her family, to her friends, to this institution and to the man who has led both our home and it.”
Speaking to his father, he said, “It’s been a joy to watch the man we esteem so deeply build something like our family and like this institution that has mattered not just to us, but mattered to the Kingdom — a place that has shaped lives and sent leaders and strengthened churches. And you’ve done it first through your family.”
In closing, Akin addressed those gathered, leaving them with words of gratitude and thanksgiving, as well as a challenge to stand steadfast in the Word of God.
“When we get to heaven and gather around the throne with King Jesus, I believe we will stand in amazement in all that He did through our feeble effort,” Akin said. “Not because we’re great, and not that we’re good, but He is incredible, and He can take a little and do a lot.
“We just want to say thank you for allowing us, over the last 22 years, to have one of the greatest experiences anyone could ever hope to have in life. It has been a blessing from beginning to end.”
Related posts:
Pace named new SEBTS provost; Whitfield to return to full-time teaching 
SEBTS Women’s Leadership Breakfast looks at ‘Keeping Jesus at the Center’ 
FROM THE SEMINARIES: Clifton joins MBTS faculty; NOBTS Prepare Here Conference; SEBTS Page Lectures; MBTS Send Network partnership 
SBC DIGEST: Dew, Akin report to messengers 
Karen Swallow Prior shares ‘fierce convictions’ 
SEBTS trustees elect faculty, approve budget, celebrate Great Commission 
FROM THE SEMINARIES: 9Marks conference at SEBTS focuses on church leadership; MBTS adds Spanish-language master’s degrees 
TRUSTEES: SEBTS celebrate For the Mission launch, Akin’s 15 years
