Southern Seminary celebrates 150 years, other schools report progress

Southern Seminary celebrates 150 years, other schools report progress

Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, the Southern Baptist Convention’s (SBC) flagship seminary, celebrated its 150th anniversary as part of this year’s SBC annual meeting, held in its hometown of Louisville, Ky.

A sesquicentennial service held June 24 in Alumni Memorial Chapel on the seminary’s campus featured 95-year-old Duke McCall, Southern’s seventh president, asking the seminary’s alumni and friends to “rally around her as a present on her 150th birthday.” The seminary also dedicated the Duke K. McCall Sesquicentennial Pavilion during the service.

During his report to SBC messengers the same day, Southern Seminary President Al Mohler told attendees that the school’s story is one of truth, legacy and vision.

“The vision that marked the founding of Southern Seminary is no less than the vision that will be required as we look to the future of unprecedented opportunity on the fields of ministry around the world,” Mohler said.

Golden Gate
Jeff Iorg, president of Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, noted his school’s 50th anniversary in its Mill Valley, Calif., location.

“The most exciting and most daunting challenge we face at Golden Gate is discerning God’s future plans for our school,” Iorg said.

He explained the seminary’s extended planning process and discussed his anticipation that the trustees will adopt the “Diamond Plan,” a blueprint to guide the school through 2020 when the seminary will celebrate its 75th, or diamond, anniversary.

New Orleans
Chuck Kelley, president of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, said the school has created a cafeteria approach to address the changing needs of God-called men and women. Students now may meet in the classroom or online, or through extension centers.

“We are going to reinvent seminary in light of the needs, opportunities and mission of Baptists in the 21st century,” he said. “We will do whatever it takes to provide quality, accredited theological education for anyone called of God to ministry on the face of the earth.”

Midwestern
R. Philip Roberts, president of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Mo., called for help in accomplishing the goals of a capital building project.

“We’re seeking your help in supporting us as we plan to break ground on a chapel complex with a library and administrative expansion,” he said. “We feel this addition will help us accomplish our mission and make the best use of your support.”

Southeastern
Daniel Akin, president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C., said in his report that Southeastern is seeing more students every year answering God’s call to give their lives in service to Jesus, serving as missionaries at home and abroad.

“It’s a joy to see how God indeed is pouring out His blessing at our seminary,” he said. “Thank you for believing in what we’re doing and for supporting us.”

Southwestern
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, trains men and women to engage lostness “wherever we can find it with the unchanging message of Christ and His Kingdom, and with your help, we’ll continue to do it,” President Paige Patterson said. “I thank God for the opportunity that you Southern Baptists have provided through your seminaries to train a generation of young men and women for the gospel of Jesus Christ.” (BP)