Southwestern trustees give glory to God for positive reports

President David S. Dockery expressed gratitude for the Lord’s blessings as he shared an upbeat update on the state of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary during his report to the Board of Trustees during its fall meeting on Oct. 22, noting positive markers evidenced in a third year of enrollment increases and encouraging financial reports.

“We’re grateful to God for what He has done here at Southwestern Seminary over the past 37 months,” Dockery said. “He has answered our prayers, and we are indeed a blessed people. We have prayed Psalm 90:17, many, many times, for the Lord to ‘establish the work of our hands’ and to grant His favor upon Southwestern one more time, to bring renewal to this place. And He has answered those prayers, even as we have faced challenges from multiple directions.”

As evidence of God’s blessings, Dockery pointed to enrollment increases in the last three years in total non-duplicating headcount for each academic year, as well as fall semester increases in enrollment, new students, and credit hours taken.

Non-duplicating headcount enrollment for the 2024-2025 academic year was 3,656 compared to 3,403 in 2022. Comparing just this fall semester to the 2024 fall semester, enrollment is 2,912 compared to 2,850, new student total is 723 compared to 611, and total credit hours are 16,025 compared to 15,306. Data for the entire 2025-2026 academic year will be available after the 2026 summer term concludes.

Dockery said the seminary also met its goals in unrestricted giving for a third consecutive year and announced a $10 million operational turnaround in that time, with an increase of $31.1 million in assets in contrast to a $15 million deficit in 2022.

“There is a renewed hopefulness with which we enter the 2025-2026 year, because of the good things that happened in 2024-2025,” Dockery said. “We have a sense of continuity, stability, that has not been known at this institution, unfortunately, for several years.”

Southwestern continued to report an increase in operational revenue and decrease in operational expenses and Dockery said the current budget of $37.55 million is on track, though more will be known at the conclusion of the first quarter of the fiscal year.

He also expressed gratitude to and praised Southwestern faculty members for their dedication in their roles and pointed out the numerous books they have published in the last year with others forthcoming. One of those recent publications is the Shapers of the Southwestern Theological Tradition, written by current faculty about former faculty members that influenced Southwestern. Dockery said the goals of that work are to show gratefulness to those who have gone before and to define who Southwestern is.

Trustees approved the transfer of $20,000 of quasi-endowment funds for newly established Morris H. and Jodi Francis Chapman Denominational Scholars Award, named in honor of the two-time graduate, Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, former president of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), and former president of the SBC Executive Committee. Chapman, 84, passed away on Oct. 20.

The scholarship will provide support for a student enrolled in the SBC Annual Meeting course through Southwestern, as well as providing scholarships for advanced research in areas such as denominational effectiveness, the history of Crossover, the Cooperative Program, or the life and ministry of Chapman. 

“We cherish the long-time friendship with Morris Chapman, both personally and institutionally,” Dockery said. “This is a testimony of our commitment to these future students who we pray will serve the SBC in faithful ways and be champions of the Cooperative Program, carrying on the legacy of Morris Chapman.”

Dockery also announced two new awards that will be given this academic year: the J. Howard Williams Service Award and the Robert E. Naylor Denominational Award, named for the fourth and fifth Southwestern presidents, respectively. These awards will be presented at commencement or during the SBC annual meeting.

“Thanks be to God, He has done a marvelous work among us,” Dockery concluded his report.

Trustee Chairman Bob Brown (’85) told the board, “These are indeed good days at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary,” expressing gratitude to Dockery for his leadership. “While the challenges remain, there is optimism concerning the direction that God is taking us.”

Brown added, “The meetings we have had over the last 36 hours have been the most encouraging I have had in the seven plus years I have served on this board.”

Jonathan Richard, immediate past chairman who joined the board in 2016, told trustees, “In all my time on the board, this has been the best and the easiest meeting,” crediting Dockery’s leadership. “The kindness of the Lord has been on this seminary.”

Several other trustees echoed the assessments of Brown and Richard.

The board also approved the graduates for fall 2025 commencement and an amendment to the seminary’s investment policy.

Both Brown and Dockery spoke of the experience of participating in Southwestern’s Day of Prayer on Oct. 21, when faculty, staff, students, and board members prayed together for the campus and its many departments.

“It was a glorious time,” Brown said of that time of corporate prayer. “There were students from just down the road and students from on the other side of the globe. And yet in all of them, there was a deep commitment to prayer for this institution. … The reason that we’re here today is because of the prayers of the men and women, just like you, of students that are on this campus, the faculty, our supporters throughout the world.”

As the meeting closed with a time of prayer, Dockery encouraged trustees to continue in faithful prayer for the seminary.

“We want to be a campus of the bowed head, trusting the Lord, recognizing our dependence upon Him for ongoing efforts each and every day,” Dockery said.

Dockery and Brown both referenced the institution’s theme verse of Matthew 6:33 for the 2025-2026 academic year, underscoring the seminary’s desire to, “Seek first God’s Kingdom and His righteousness.”

“It’s a good time to be at Southwestern Seminary,” Brown said. “To God be the glory, great things He has done. And great things He will continue to do here at Southwestern Seminary.”