Faculty installed in academic chairs, professors sign confession, new faculty introduced during Convocation

The Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary community gathered on Aug. 27 for fall Convocation, which included the installation of four new academic chairs and the new Texas Baptist College dean, two faculty signings of the Book of Confessional Heritage, and the introduction of two new faculty members.

Chancellor O.S. Hawkins is installed as the “Chair of Fire.”

The recognitions and new academic chair installations led by Provost Madison Grace began with O.S. Hawkins as the L.R. Scarborough Chair of Evangelism (“Chair of Fire”), the oldest academic chair at the seminary. Hawkins received his Bachelor of Business Administration from Texas Christian University, and his Master of Divinity and Doctor of Philosophy from Southwestern. He was named a Distinguished Alumnus in 2000 and currently serves as the seminary’s chancellor and senior professor of pastoral ministry and evangelism in the Roy J. Fish School of Evangelism and Missions and School of Theology. He is also a widely published author with over 40 books.

Joe Crider is installed as the James C. McKinney Chair of Church Music.

Joseph R. Crider was installed as the James C. McKinney Chair of Church Music. Crider received his Bachelor of Music and Master of Arts in Performance from Bowling Green State University. He received his Doctor of Arts in Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Northern Colorado. Crider has served the seminary since 2019 as dean of the School of Church Music and Worship and professor of church music and worship.

Jonathan Okinaga is installed as the Hope for the Heart Chair of Biblical Counseling.

Jonathan K. Okinaga was installed in the Hope for the Heart Chair of Biblical Counseling. Okinaga received his Bachelor of Arts from Vanguard University and Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling and Doctor of Philosophy from Southwestern. He has served Southwestern since 2019, beginning as an adjunct professor and now an assistant professor of biblical counseling in the Jack D. Terry School of Educational Ministries.

Lily Park is installed as the Hultgren Chair of Ministerial Counseling.

Lilly H. Park was installed in the Hultgren Chair of Ministerial Counseling. Park received her Bachelor of Science from the University of Maryland. She received a Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling from Master’s University and her Master of Divinity and Doctor of Philosophy from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. She serves as associate professor of biblical counseling in the Terry School.

Carl J. Bradford is installed as the new dean of Texas Baptist College.

Carl J. Bradford was installed as dean of Texas Baptist College. Bradford received his Bachelor in Business Administration from Xavier University of Louisiana. He received his Master of Divinity and Doctor of Philosophy from Southwestern. Bradford has served since 2018 and is currently assistant professor of evangelism and the Malcolm R. and Melba L. McDow Chair of Evangelism.

Amy Crider signs the Book of Confessional Heritage.

Grace also invited two faculty to sign the seminary’s Book of Confessional Heritage, which contains the Baptist Faith and Message, the seminary’s statement of faith. Faculty formally sign the historic document after election by the board of trustees. Two faculty in the Terry School were signatories: Amy Crider, an associate professor of foundation of education and the director of the Center for Writing Excellence, as well as Okinaga.

Jonathan Okinaga signs the Book of Confessional Heritage.

The new faculty introductions included Kevin Rodgers, associate professor of missions for the Texas Baptist College, and Christian Rata, professor of the Old Testament for the School of Theology.

Kevin Rodgers is introduced as a new associate professor of missions for Texas Baptist College.

Rodgers received his Bachelor of English and Speech Communication from the University of North Carolina. He received his Master of Divinity from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary and his Doctor of Philosophy from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has previously served as a church planter, theological educator, and Outbound Team Leader for the International Mission Board in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Cristian Rata is introduced as a new professor of Old Testament.

Born in Romania, Christian Rata received the Bachelor of Arts from the University of California San Diego, Master of Arts from Corban University, and Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Toronto. Beginning in 2006, Rata was a professor at Torch Trinity Graduate College in Seoul, Korea, where he also served as pastor of Seoul Union Church beginning in 2017.