RICHMOND, Va. — Thomas Graves, president of Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond (BTSR) since 1991, has announced plans to retire next year. Citing health reasons, Graves, 58, will step down July 1, 2007. He announced his plans during a special called meeting of BTSR’s board of trustees Aug. 29.
“I would have wished to work well into the next decade before considering a normal retirement, but my physical condition alone prevents me from doing so,” Graves said in a statement to the board of trustees. Graves has multiple sclerosis.
The seminary is near the end of a capital campaign to raise $19 million to renovate campus buildings and endow faculty chairs and student scholarships. Graves announced he would use the remainder of his tenure to engage in “fundraising and friendraising for the seminary.”
Graves grew up in Louisville, Ky., where his father taught at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
He completed his undergraduate education at Vanderbilt University in Nashville and received his master of divinity and doctor of philosophy degrees from Southern Seminary. He also received the master of sacred theology degree from Yale Divinity School in New Haven, Conn.
Graves taught religion at Palm Beach Atlantic College in West Palm Beach, Fla., and was professor of philosophy of religion at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C. He served pastorates in Kentucky and Florida and came to BTSR from the pastorate of St. John’s Baptist Church, Charlotte, N.C.
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