Dockery notes ‘new place of stability’ in annual Southwestern employee meeting

The faculty and staff of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary launched the new academic year with a report from President David S. Dockery, reflecting with gratitude on God’s faithfulness over recent years and expressing reliance on His blessings in the future.

“I am incredibly excited as we enter this new year,” Dockery said of the measurable improvements made over the past three years. “We have a new place of stability in terms of continuity of people, financial stability, enrollment markers, faithfulness from our donor base. … God has blessed us during these three years.”

Dockery said the 2024-25 academic year was the third straight year of increases in both the non-duplicating annual headcount enrollment as well in credit hours taught: enrollment increased from 3,403 to 3,656 while credit hours increased from 33,253 to 36,284. This was the first time since 2014-2016 to have three consecutive years of increases in those areas, he said.

Southwestern also continued to make measurable steps toward institutional and financial stability. This past year, Dockery observed that the seminary has seen additional improvements to its operational and financial positions, noting a $9 million operational turnaround over three years and a third year of reaching the institution’s goals for unrestricted giving.

“These three years have strong markers in enrollment and financial management and unrestricted giving, and in that sense, I think these things point to a genuine turnaround, particularly financial,” Dockery said. “We are at a place of stability and health as we enter this new year that Southwestern has not seen in a long time. We haven’t arrived, we still have work to do, but we’re in such a different place than was the case in 2022. … God has been so good to us, and I hope that you will not let it go by without thanking the Lord for His providential care for us.”

Dockery said the institution will continue to address the sanctions from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, which this summer noted the seminary had made considerable progress in all areas of evaluation but still needed to focus on three particular areas.

He also pointed out other achievements including the revised MDiv program, the recently launched Equip The Called platform, the publishing of Shapers of the Southwestern Theological Tradition and other faculty publications, mission trips both national and international, and new partnerships with the Prestonwood Pregnancy Center, Logos Bible Software, and a gap-year program with Turning Point Academy.

“We enter this new year with a renewed hopefulness, a lot of good things happening,” Dockery said, as he and the entire staff voiced commitment to pursue the seminary’s core values of being grace filled, Christ centered, scripturally grounded, confessionally guided, student focused, and globally engaged. The employees also joined Dockery in reciting the seminary’s mission statement.

He also underscored the previously announced theme verse for the 2024-2025 academic year, Matthew 6:33: “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.”

During the annual gathering, the seminary also recognized faculty and staff celebrating quinquennial anniversaries this past year, including five years for Amy Crider, Coleman Ford, Emil Handke, Heather Hicks, Deanna Kiser, Trey Moss, Nancy Myers, Lilly Park, Jaclyn Parrish, Grant Sellers, and Jim Smith; 10 years for Bennie Caston, Madison Grace, Craig Kubic, and Gayle Thompson; 15 years for Adam Dodd and Brian Rolfe; and 25 years for Jamie Knight.

Jimbob Brown, director of audio-visual productions, Stephanie Litton, director of Student Success and International Student Services, and Brian Rolfe, data architect in Campus Technology, were named the three staff members of the year.

“I just want you to know my deep gratitude for your service in whatever particular area,” Dockery said to the entire faculty and staff body. “Those particular areas come together and create a symphonic effort that produces synergy to advance our work. And hopefully we do so in a way that exalts the Lord, serves our students well, and will make a difference in their lives for years to come.”