LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)–A man who has played a key role in the recent history of the Southern Baptist Convention is set to become the next dean of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary’s undergraduate school.
Thirty-seven-year-old Jerry Johnson, a trustee at Southern Seminary from 1989-98, will take over as dean of Boyce College Aug. 1. President R. Albert Mohler Jr. announced Johnson’s appointment during Southern Seminary’s spring board of trustees meeting April 16.
Johnson will succeed Ted Cabal, who resigned as dean and took a teaching position last year for health reasons. David DeKlavon had been serving as acting dean.
“This is an historic event and development,” Southern President R. Albert Mohler Jr. said. “I believe he is God’s man for the hour for Boyce College. I have no doubt about the quality of leadership he will bring to that school.”
Johnson, a Texas native, served as a board member during what is commonly referred to as the “conservative resurgence.” He was a board member when Mohler was elected president in 1993 and served as board chairman from 1996-98. Johnson is currently teaching Christian ethics at Boyce.
Johnson is also well known among Southern Baptists for his role at the annual conventions. For three years he served on the committee on order of business, including as chairman in 2000 and 2001. He also served on the convention’s credentials committee in the late 1980s.
“I am grateful for this appointment and thrilled about the opportunity to serve Boyce College and Southern Seminary,” Johnson said. “The students of Boyce College are enthusiastic about preparing for ministry. We have a wonderful teaching faculty to show them the way. I look forward to working with them both as dean on Aug. 1.
“Until then, my prayer is that I may lead Boyce College to serve our Lord and His church by equipping ministers of the gospel for more faithful service.”
Johnson is scheduled to complete his Ph.D. at Southern Seminary this spring. He earned his master’s degree at Denver Conservative Baptist Seminary and his bachelor’s degree at Criswell College.
“Jerry is a proven leader,” Mohler said. “He has extensive experience in the pastorate and he has had very important responsibilities in the Southern Baptist Convention. … He’s a young man who has been appointed to lead a young school. I think that means a very promising future.”
In other action, the seminary’s trustees voted to trim the board from 65 to 45 members. The action must be approved by Southern Baptist Convention messengers in June. The downsizing would be accomplished over several years, and no current board member’s term would be shortened.
The decision to reduce the total number of trustees came at the conclusion of a process of self-study first prompted by the “Covenant for a New Century” adopted by the SBC in 1995.
“The goal of this reorganization is increased effectiveness on the part of the board of trustees,” Mohler said. “… The board undertook a study in a very responsible way to determine what would be the most appropriate size that would increase deliberation and enhance effectiveness and also allow each trustee to be even more involved in the process of governance.”
Trustees also elected four professors to the faculty with tenure: Peter Gentry, associate professor of Old Testament interpretation; Kenneth Magnuson, assistant professor of Christian ethics; Stephen Wellum, associate professor of Christian theology; and David Puckett, professor of church history.
Trustees approved a $23,158,333 budget for 2002-2003, which represents an 8.1 percent increase over the current year.
“In the next year we will be adding significantly to the budget of this institution, [which is] made possible in a remarkable way by the health of the school, by the generosity of our supporters and by the support of the Southern Baptist Convention,” Mohler said.
Trustees chose a pastor from Alabama, two pastors from Georgia and a layman from Kentucky as the board officers for 2002-03.
Buddy Gray, pastor of Hunter Street Baptist Church of Hoover, Ala., was elected board chairman. He will replace outgoing board member David Wilson of Lubbock, Texas.
John Pennington, pastor of First Baptist Church of Douglasville, Ga., was elected first vice chairman, while Jerry Peele, pastor of First Baptist of Eastman, Ga., was elected second vice chairman. Byron Boyer, a retired teacher who resides in Louisville, was re-elected secretary.
In other matters, Mohler reported that:
— construction is well underway on two major construction/renovation projects.
Mohler said that the Rice-Judson project — which includes the renovation of two buildings in order to provide guest housing and conference rooms — is scheduled to be completed by Oct 1.
Mohler added that a 70-unit apartment construction project is “moving along.” It is located on the south side of Grinstead Drive, which provides the back entrance to the seminary.
— the seminary has taken steps in recent months to help students better engage the culture.
One way this is being done, Mohler said, is through the seminary’s Carl F.H. Henry Institute for Evangelical Engagement. In February the center sponsored a conference on peace and war, focusing on the war on terrorism.
In May the center will hold another conference, titled “Whose Holy Land? An Evangelical Conversation on Israel, the Church and the Battle for Palestine.” It will be the first of what Mohler called “quick-response” conferences on timely issues.
He also told trustees about a recent four-hour workshop held on campus by a senior team from Focus on the Family. The conference addressed current issues related to homosexuality with an aim toward formulating a biblical response. Attendance by students was mandatory.
Mohler said the purpose of the conference was to help students better “understand the issue and how we would minister to homosexuals.”
He added that Christians must not back down from biblical teachings on the subject.
“The first act of compassion is telling the truth,” he said.
–30–
