October 23, 2024
FORT WORTH, Texas — Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary has moved “from instability to stability, from a time of crisis and challenge to a time of hopefulness … only because of God’s goodness and grace to this institution,” President David S. Dockery told trustees gathered Wednesday, Oct. 23, for their fall meeting. Trustees approved two task team reports, elected and promoted a faculty member, and participated in a campus prayer walk with faculty, students, and staff.
“We started 2024 in a good place,” Dockery told trustees in his report to the board, noting key financial areas of improvement from 2022 to 2024, such as increases in total tuition, unrestricted gifts, and operating revenue while lowering operating expenses and eliminating short-term debt. Cash reserves increased from $1.7 million in 2022 with a short-term debt of $4.2 million, to more than $12 million cash on hand with no short-term debt in 2024, he said.
“Ultimately our report today, Mr. Chairman, concludes with four words that summarize the heart of the Southwestern campus: thanks be to God,” Dockery said.
Echoing Dockery’s affirmation of those who have given to the seminary in recent years, trustees unanimously approved a resolution to express “gratitude to the donors of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary for their responsiveness to the Lord’s leading and their abundant generosity during the past two years.”
In his written report to trustees, Dockery also pointed to enrollment gains in the last two years: non-duplicating headcount, 3,403 to 3,586, annual credit hours taught, 33,253 to 35,984, and traditional full-time equivalent, 1,375 to 1,471.
In his report to the trustees, board Chairman Jonathan Richard commended Dockery for “two years of commendable service,” noting the institution has “flourished” under his leadership.
Dockery “has led us to a place of financial stability that we had not dreamed was possible 24 months ago,” Richard said. “… I give glory to God for that and thanks to Dr. Dockery for his willingness to be used by God in such a way that we have made such tremendous strides toward financial stability.”
Richard also expressed appreciation to the trustees for “being so engaged and willing to ask valuable questions and contribute to healthy discussion.”
After ten months, the Space and Property Utilization Task Team issued a report that was recommended for adoption by the Executive Committee and unanimously approved by the board. The task team was chaired by trustee Mike Bussey and Travis Trawick, vice president for administration, effectiveness, and strategy, and composed of trustees, administrators, and outside consultants.
The approved recommendations were to:
Dockery said he believes the report and recommendations have “opportunity to strengthen the seminary for years to come.”
The report also recommended that periodic audits of the space on campus be conducted to assist in the ongoing plans of the seminary.
Trustees also approved unanimously a new Board Policy Manual and revised bylaws as recommended by the Executive Committee, which received a report from a trustee task team appointed in October 2023 by Richard “to guide the work of the board and the seminary administration in their shared efforts to set and implement policy and to advance the mission of the seminary.” The new manual was “initiated to strengthen the work of the board as well as to provide responses to concerns” raised by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges resulting in warnings being placed on the seminary’s accreditation.
Trustees also approved unanimously the election of Kevin W. Rodgers to the faculty and promotion to the rank of professor of missions. Rodgers and his wife, Suzanne, served the International Mission Board as missionaries in Sub-Saharan Africa for more than 20 years before returning to the United States to join the Southwestern faculty. He holds degrees from the University of North Carolina, Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary, and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.
On Oct. 22, trustees participated with faculty, students, and staff in a campus prayer walk that featured tables of the various schools, departments, and offices and prayer points for each, available on the seminary’s prayer page.
“I know that I am deeply grateful for the prayers of so many throughout, not just today and not just this week, but my life and ministry,” Richard said. “And I am humbled to know that this seminary is praying for us in the same way that we are praying for them.”
In other unanimous actions, trustees:
