Posted on Jul 21, 2003 | by Staff

WAKE FOREST, N.C. (BP)--Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary's board of trustees named Bart. C. Neal as interim president of the seminary July 21.

Neal, 63, will replace Paige Patterson, who will become president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, on Aug. 1. Neal has been vice president for institutional advancement at Southeastern since 1993 and is a senior professor of Christian education.

Neal has spearheaded Southeastern's $50 million Scholarship on Fire! campaign which will be used to fund new campus buildings, endowments, student aid, property acquisition and curriculum and faculty expansion.

"I'm very humbled that you've expressed confidence in me," Neal told the trustees after his election. "I love Southeastern Seminary and I'm committed to Southeastern Seminary. I'm grateful for the opportunity to contribute any way I can."

A native of Conroe, Texas, Neal earned a bachelor of music degree from Baylor University and master of religious education and doctor of education degrees from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He also has studied at Louisiana State University and the University of Houston.

He came to Southeastern from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, where he had been part of the faculty and administration for 15 years.

Neal was ordained to the Gospel ministry on Nov. 20, 1966. He has served as a minister of music at several churches, including First Baptist Church of Fayetteville, Ark., under Patterson, as well as working with youth and education at other churches in Texas, Georgia and Louisiana.

Neal and his wife, Edith, have been a duet team at various events and are members of Mount Vernon Baptist Church in Raleigh.

They have a son, Courtney, of Metairie, La., and a daughter Christy Simmons of Kenner, La.; and one grandson. Christy Simmons' husband, Chuck, serves on Southeastern's board of visitors.
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(BP) photos posted in the BP Photo Library at http://www.bpnews.net. Photo titles: NEAL SELECTED, STARTING IN PRAYER and TIME FOR APPLAUSE.