Spring 2017 Board of Trustees and Southeastern Society Meetings

SEBTS President Danny Akin celebrated with both SES and BOT members many recent accomplishments of the school, including that enrollment has increased to 3,580 students. Akin also noted that in the past five years, SEBTS minority enrollment was up from 10 percent to 16 percent, the African American student population has doubled and its Hispanic student population has tripled. The school also has more than 200 students now serving overseas.

BOT members also approved the following decisions on Tuesday:

• Overall budget increase from $26.5 million to $27.3 million, a 3.15 percent growth for 2017-2018
• John Burkett, assistant professor of rhetoric and composition, elected to faculty
• Chip Hardy, assistant professor of Old Testament and Semitic languages, elected to faculty
• Katy Hardy Memorial Scholarship Fund, honoring the life of Chip Hardy’s wife, who recently passed away from cancer
• Promotion of Dr. Greg Welty to professor of philosophy
• Promotion of Dr. Ken Coley to senior professor of Christian education
• Approved several curriculum revisions and course creations for both SEBTS and The College at Southeastern.

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Finally, the BOT heard a report on a proposed Capital Campaign with an anticipated launch in the 2018 fiscal year. Chairman Marty Jacumin, Vice Chairman Jeremy Freeman, Treasurer Charles Cranford and Secretary Becky Gardner were all reelected to office for the following term.

SES members heard from Dr. Jim Shaddix, professor of preaching at SEBTS. Shaddix spoke on 1 Peter 1:3-5 and encouraged members that even during difficult times, followers of Jesus hold onto the hope found in the gospel of Christ.

“Hope in the Bible is a certainty. It’s a done deal,” said Shaddix.

Prominent faculty and staff of SEBTS led discussion forums for SES members, including Tony Merida, pastor of preaching and vision at Imago Dei, and Matt Foshee, SEBTS admissions campus host. Merida spoke on the value of the Great Commission and Foshee explained his future long-term ministry in Ogden, Utah, beginning this August.

“[Finding] the location has all been Matt and his team, but we’re behind it and we’re excited about it,” said Merida.

Dr. Greg Mathias, assistant professor of global studies, and Clinton West*, a 2+ student who served in South Asia, were two others that also led a discussion forum regarding church planting among the unreached.

“The message [of the gospel] will be the same, but the look will be different,” said Mathias.

J.D. Greear, pastor of the Summit Church, encouraged BOT and SES members, students and faculty to have a healthy fear of God’s power and goodness in the midst of life’s storms as he preached through Mark 4 in Tuesday’s chapel service.

“True worship is mixed with intimacy.”

SES members give at least $1,000 to SEBTS each year and partner with the school to help train students in living out the Great Commission wherever they go. If you would like to learn more, please visit www.sebts.edu/ses.

The next BOT and SES meetings will be held October 15-17.

*Name changed for security purposes.