David Dockery named interim provost of Southwestern Seminary

President Adam W. Greenway has appointed David S. Dockery, a “statesman of Christian higher education,” interim provost of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, he announced today. Dockery’s appointment is effective immediately. The seminary is also commencing a national search for the institution’s next chief academic officer.

“Dr. David Dockery’s return to Seminary Hill last year has been one of God’s greatest blessings to Southwestern Seminary,” said Greenway. “He has been an outstanding contributor in every role I have asked him to fill—indeed, in every way exceeding my already high expectations for him. That he is now willing to accept this new, highly consequential role is further evidence of God’s faithful provision for Southwestern. Dr. Dockery is the very epitome of a Southwesterner—a minister of the gospel who loves the Lord, serves the churches of the Southern Baptist Convention, and leads in scholarship. He is a statesman of Christian higher education who is deeply respected across the evangelical world. As interim provost he will help us to continue the Southwestern tradition of the very best in theological education.” 

Dockery’s appointment follows the departure of Randy L. Stinson, who had served as provost and vice president for academic administration since February 2019. 

“It has been a great opportunity to serve as provost under Dr. Adam Greenway in the early months of his leadership at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary,” Stinson said in a statement provided to the seminary. “Regrettably, I can no longer continue in this role due to the recurrence of a years-long struggle with substance abuse that has exacted a progressively burdensome toll on my family and my health. I thought I could fight this battle alone in secret, but I was wrong.”

He added, “As I turn to a new path of disciplined recovery, I express my great appreciation for the seminary community that has stood by us. I also plead for continued prayers on behalf of our family as I seek professional medical treatment and spiritual support consistent with my Christian faith.”

Greenway said the decision was “an unpleasant reality but unavoidable outcome due to the nature of these issues.” Nevertheless, the seminary is “committed to caring for the Stinson family as much as possible. Most importantly, we are confident in God’s grace to see them through this difficult time. I request the Southwestern family to pray for the Stinsons.”

Dockery said it will be a “genuine privilege” to serve “President Greenway, the gifted academic leadership team, and the outstanding Southwestern faculty during this interim period. We will work together to point the Southwestern community toward a shared future characterized by academic excellence, confessional faithfulness, and biblical hopefulness.”

Dockery, who earned the Master of Divinity at Southwestern Seminary in 1981, joined the seminary faculty in 2019 when he was named distinguished professor of theology and theologian-in-residence for the B.H. Carroll Center for Baptist Heritage and Mission. He also serves as special consultant to the president. Early this year, Dockery was named editor of the Southwestern Journal of Theology, the seminary’s historic academic journal. His book, The Doctrine of the Bible, was republished this year by Seminary Hill Press, the school’s publishing arm. 

After a lengthy career in Christian higher educational leadership at Trinity International University, Union University, and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, in 2019 Dockery was invited to assist with the leadership of the International Alliance for Christian Education. He has also served as president of the Evangelical Theological Society and is currently a member of its executive committee, as well as board chair of Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, Christian College Consortium, and Consortium for Global Education.

A native of Tuscaloosa, Ala., Dockery has had a distinguished career as a theologian and educator. In addition to his degree from Southwestern Seminary, he holds degrees from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (B.S.), Grace Theological Seminary (M.Div.), Texas Christian University (M.A.), and the University of Texas at Arlington (Ph.D.). Dockery was named a distinguished alumnus by Southwestern Seminary in 2002.

In 1995, Dockery was elected president of Union University in Jackson, Tenn. Under his transformational leadership, enrollment more than doubled, net assets more than tripled, and Union sprang to a place of national leadership in Christian higher education.

In 2014, he was installed as Trinity’s 15th president and served in that role for five years, then transitioned to the role of chancellor. At Trinity, he brought guidance to an institution that had previously experienced more than a decade of significant enrollment decline and an array of institutional challenges. He led processes to strengthen the Trinity board and enhance denominational relationships. New academic programs were introduced, and four new academic centers were established.

Dockery is a sought-after speaker and lecturer and former consulting editor for Christianity Today, and has authored, edited, or contributed to nearly 100 books, including Renewing Minds: Serving Church and Society Through Christian Higher Education, Southern Baptist Consensus and Renewal, and Theologians of the Baptist Tradition. As an author, he is best known for his works in the area of Baptist studies, biblical interpretation, and Christian higher education. He served as the New Testament editor for the 40-volume New American Commentary Series, as general editor of the 15-volume Reclaiming the Christian Intellectual Tradition Series, and is co-editor of the multi-volume Theology for the People of God series.

Dockery has received numerous awards, including the Herschel H. Hobbs Distinguished Service Award from Oklahoma Baptist University, M.E. Dodd Distinguished Award from Union University, Holman Christian Standard Service Award from LifeWay Christian Resources, the Land Distinguished Service Award from the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, and the John R. Dellenback Global Leadership Award from the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities. 

Dockery has spoken on more than 70 campuses. He served churches in Brooklyn, N.Y.; Birmingham, Ala.; and Dallas as well as serving as interim pastor for several congregations in Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Texas.

He has been married to Lanese for more than 45 years, and they have three married sons and eight grandchildren. Their travels have taken them to the various regions of the United States and Canada, as well as to Europe, Latin America, Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Middle East.