Southwesterners play key roles in SBC annual meeting events
Faculty and others connected to Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary participated in the 2025 Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting and related events in Dallas, June 8-11, in a variety of ways.
“The 2025 Southern Baptist Convention provided excellent opportunities for the Southwestern Seminary community,” President David S. Dockery said. “Several people had opportunities to represent Southwestern throughout the week, speaking at key events, participating in important panel discussions and podcasts, and investing in the work of the Southern Baptist Convention in significant ways.”
Dockery spoke at Midwestern Seminary’s For the Church luncheon held June 10, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Baptist Faith and Message in a panel discussion with other denominational leaders, notable pastors, and theologians about the importance of the statement from its creation until the present.
“By the time we got into the 20th century, you have the inroads of liberalism and particularly naturalism and evolution, and now it’s taking inroads into Baptist institutions,” Dockery said, explaining the circumstances that led to the adoption of a confessional statement in 1925. He also pointed out that L. R. Scarborough, second president of Southwestern Seminary, had a pivotal role in the process.
President David S. Dockery participates in the For The Church luncheon discussion.
Dockery also served as a panel member for a discussion on the value of and challenges facing Christian colleges and universities, hosted by Southwest Baptist University (SBU) Monday evening. Other panelists included SBU President Rick Melson, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Provost and Southwestern alumnus Jason Duesing, and Carson-Newman Vice President Jonathan Akin.
The 44th annual meeting of the Council of Korean Southern Baptist Churches in America also hosted Dockery as a guest speaker in their gathering at New Song Church in Carrolton. More than 1,000 people were expected to be present.
Madison Grace, provost and vice president for academic administration, dean of the School of Theology, and professor of theology, was interviewed concerning his new book, A Unity in Purpose: 100 Years of the SBC Cooperative Program, alongside co-editor Tony Wolfe. The book was available for purchase at the Lifeway bookstore.
Grace also led the Southern Baptists course for Southwestern students on site at the annual meeting in Dallas, discussing the history, structure, and mission of the SBC while showing students how the annual meeting operates.
Southwestern Women participated in the annual Women’s Expo, hosting an exhibit and participating in other women’s events and opportunities.
Faculty wife Peggy Osborne served as president of the SBC Ministers’ Wives Luncheon.
Peggy Osborne, wife of Professor of Preaching and Pastoral Ministry Chris Osborne, served as this year’s president and facilitator of the annual SBC Ministers’ Wives Luncheon, which Southwestern also served as a sponsor. About 2,000 women attended the sold-out event with the theme “In His Presence,” based on Psalm 16:11. Sheila Walsh, native of Scotland and a best-selling author, served as the speaker of the event.
Cheryl Bell, adjunct professor of biblical counseling, provided an opportunity for ministers’ wives to receive free counseling sessions Monday and Tuesday of the SBC annual meeting, with the goal of providing encouragement from trained biblical counselors, many of whom were Southwestern alumni.
Terri Stovall, professor of educational ministries and dean of women, was interviewed for a podcast with Diane Nix of Contagious Joy 4 Him, talking about the history of Southwestern’s desire to train women and what is currently offered.
Stovall said Southwestern’s goal is to focus on “basic principles and the non-negotiables: that Scripture needs to be central to women’s ministry—taking women into the depths of God’s Word. We need to be about reaching women for Christ, we need to be about nurturing them in the faith, we need to make good pathways for them to engage with the next generation, but also use their own giftings in the church to propel them forward.”
Lilly Park, associate professor of biblical counseling, served as a keynote speaker for the Asian NextGen Pastors Network, which focused on the theme of “Hope Beyond Hurt: Loving the Local Church.”
Park also was interviewed by Liberty University’s Troy Temple, dean of the John W. Rawlings School of Divinity, for their Modern Ministry Podcast, which engages theologians and biblical scholars in order to encourage and equip ministry leaders.
Rebekah Naylor, Southwestern’s distinguished professor of missions and missionary-in-residence, spoke of her 50 years of work with the International Mission Board (IMB) in the medical field during the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary’s annual women’s breakfast on June 11.
The International Mission Board commissioned 14 missionaries with Southwestern ties during the Sending Celebration.
On June 10, the IMB held its Sending Celebration during the annual meeting, commissioning 58 new missionaries to serve in other countries. Fourteen of the new missionaries have Southwestern ties, including Jude and Bridget Davis, who will serve in Germany.
Joe Crider, dean of the School of Church Music and Worship, led worship for the Southern Baptist Conference of Associational Leaders’ 65th annual conference held in conjunction with the SBC annual meeting.
Members of the School of Church Music and Worship frequently provided music to SBC attendees.
SCMW music groups such as Southwestern A Cappella performed throughout the week outside the exhibit hall and during the Alumni and Friends Luncheon.
Dockery expressed gratitude for the faculty and staff who represented Southwestern at the booth in the exhibit hall, and those helped coordinate and attended the Alumni and Friends Luncheon.
“It took an entire team to make this happen, and I salute the devoted efforts of so many,” Dockery said.
