[1] LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)–Southern Baptist professor
Theodore J. Cabal has been named the first dean of James P.
Boyce College of the Bible at Southern Baptist Theological
Seminary, President R. Albert Mohler Jr. announced Jan. 5.
The new college, approved by seminary trustees last October,
is set to begin operations Aug. 1.
Currently assistant professor of philosophy of religion
at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth,
Texas, Cabal will assume his new duties June 1, although he
will be working with seminary administrators in crafting the
new college in the coming months.
Calling Cabal “the man for this position,” Mohler said
he is uniquely qualified for the inaugural deanship.
“Ted Cabal is a man of great gifts who combines
tremendous intellect with a teacher’s passion,” Mohler said.
“He has both a keen mind and a wonderful ability to teach
complex and challenging subjects to students of all levels.
He has proven his effectiveness as a teacher and his passion
for training ministers of the gospel.”
The new college, named for the founding president of
Southern Seminary, will replace the Boyce Bible School which
was created in 1974 as a non-degree-granting undergraduate
program for ministerial training. By 1994, the Boyce School
was accredited to grant associate of arts degrees.
The current dean of Boyce Bible School, Bob Johnson,
announced his retirement last August to be effective July
31. Johnson will continue as a consultant to the new college
through July 31, 1999, with particular responsibility for
relating Boyce’s off-campus centers to the new college.
In announcing plans for the new college last fall,
seminary officials noted the college will be a fully
accredited four-year Bible college which will offer a
129-hour bachelor of arts in biblical studies degree and a
66-hour associate of arts degree. As the fifth school of
Southern Seminary, Boyce College will have a separate
faculty, although the college faculty and seminary faculty
may at times teach courses in the other’s academic program.
The college will have four academic divisions —
biblical studies, theological studies, ministry studies and
general studies. Each division will be led by a full-time
faculty member of the college. The college’s additional
faculty and staff will be named sometime this spring, Mohler
reported.
Mohler said reaction to the creation of the new college
has been “most positive” and demonstrates the school will
meet “a need on behalf of our churches.” Based on inquiries
from prospective students, Mohler projected the first
semester enrollment to be 100 to 150 students.
Noting the unique mission of the college “is
specifically limited to the training of ministers of the
gospel,” Mohler said the school should not be perceived as
being in competition with existing liberal arts colleges.
“We wish them well and indeed will hope to work in concert
with them,” he said.
Noting Cabal’s appeal to college-age students, Vice
President for Academic Administration Danny Akin said, “Ted
Cabal is the most exciting and dynamic, up-and-coming
philosopher/apologist in Southern Baptist life. I believe he
is already making a major impact on college campuses. We are
very fortunate God has led him to come and be the founding
dean at the Boyce College.”
Cabal frequently speaks on college campuses and has
presented evangelical positions in recent debates on the
existence of God and the ordination of homosexuals.
“I am thrilled about the prospect of making the Boyce
College the school I would attend were I starting over
today,” Cabal said. “Indeed, my goal is to make Boyce the
world’s finest Bible college, a very tall order in light of
other good schools available. But the outstanding faculty,
prospective faculty expressing interest in coming to Boyce,
its beautiful campus, along with the unique opportunity for
our students to share the life of Southern Seminary, make
the goal attainable with God’s help.”
Cabal earned the bachelor of arts and master of arts
degrees from Dallas Baptist University and the master of
divinity and doctor of philosophy degrees from Southwestern
Seminary. He has also served as pastor to three
congregations in Texas.
A member of the Southwestern Seminary faculty since
1995, Cabal also taught for two years at Dallas Baptist
University.
Cabal and his wife, Cheryl Ann, are parents to three
children: Daniel, David and John.
A specialist in apologetics, Cabal said Boyce students
will receive “first-rate instruction in theological
disciplines” and will also “learn how to understand and
respond biblically to the variety of worldviews challenging
the church today.” He added, “Most importantly, Boyce
students are to be equipped for practical ministry so that
the church of Jesus Christ will be strengthened and the good
news will be proclaimed to a dying world.”