T. Patrick Hudson

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (BP) –- The Southern Baptist Convention's future ministry and mission was the topic of a For the Church panel discussion hosted by Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary during the SBC annual meeting. Moderated by MBTS President Jason Allen, the discussion featured Paul Chitwood, H.B. Charles Jr., Ronnie Floyd, Kevin Ezell and Jamie Dew, filling the room with nearly 1,000 attendees Tuesday, June 11, at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (BP) -- Graduates, families and friends gathered in the Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary's Daniel Lee Chapel for the 65th commencement exercises May 3, launching theologically-trained Gospel ministers into service. In comprising the seminary's largest graduating class, 218 degrees were conferred -- 33 undergraduate, 153 graduate and 31 doctoral degrees and 1 post-graduate certificate.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (BP) -- Jason DeRouchie of Bethlehem College & Seminary in Minneapolis is joining Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary's faculty as research professor of Old Testament and biblical theology. MBTS President Jason Allen said DeRouchie is "another tremendous addition to a faculty already teeming with accomplished scholars and devoted churchmen."

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (BP) -- The Gospel of John, the #MeToo Movement, a commonality between C.S. Lewis and T.S. Eliot, the role of the Holy Spirit and Charles Spurgeon are among the topics of the Midwestern Journal of Theology's Spring 2019 issue. Jason Allen, president of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, said the essays in the journal, released May 1, provide "truthful insight and thoughtful guidance amidst a world that bends at the whims of the culture."

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (BP) -- Assembling for its spring meeting on April 8-9, members of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary's trustees adopted the Nashville Statement as an additional confessional statement and conducted other seminary business including budget approval, faculty moves and reelecting board officers. During his report, MBTS President Jason Allen announced to the board a need for the school to adopt the Nashville Statement, which was published in 2017 by the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood in partnership with the Ethics & Religious Liberties Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention. The document is a statement of faith relating to human sexuality and gender roles. The statement expresses support for biblical definition of marriage, for faithfulness within marriage, for chastity outside marriage, and for a link between biological sex and self-conception as male and female. To read the Nashville Statement in its entirety, visit https://cbmw.org/nashville-statement.

In today's From the Seminaries: Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and the 9Marks church health ministry conduct biblical theology theological; Midwestern adds two Ph.D. emphases.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (BP) -- In a celebratory spirit akin to the Christmas season, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary celebrated 167 students' hard work and dedication during the 64th commencement Dec. 7 at the Kansas City, Mo., campus. MBTS President Jason Allen delivered the graduation address, challenging the graduates to be courageous in carrying out their ministry calling, speaking from the Daniel 3 account of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego's experience with Nebuchadnezzar and the fiery furnace. "The moral of this story is not that whenever you find yourself enduring a challenging ministry place or a culture bent on persecution, that you personally will be delivered," Allen said. "The story is that Christ, who shows up [in Daniel 3] in preincarnate fashion, will be there with you."

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (BP) -- Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary celebrated a landmark in its history with the dedication of the new Mathena Student Center in conjunction with the fall trustee meeting Oct. 15-16 at the Kansas City, Mo., campus. The meeting's highlights came on Tuesday in opening the 40,000-square-foot student center named for Harold and Patricia Mathena who provided a $7 million lead gift for the facility.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (BP) -- Through worshipful times of praise music and messages from God's Word, the For the Church National Conference, held at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, focused on reaffirming and recommitting to the glory given to and Great Commission aspects of the local church. Keynote speakers Russell Moore, Charlie Dates, David Choi, Jason Allen, Owen Strachan, and Jared Wilson preached messages revolving around the conference's theme of "Mission and Majesty of the Church." Jimmy McNeal of Austin Stone Worship led attendees in praise and worship songs.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (BP) -- Hopefulness for the future of the Southern Baptist Convention in a season of denominational transition was voiced by Thom Rainer, president of LifeWay Christian Resources, in a discussion Sept. 19 with Jason Allen, president of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Titled "The State of the SBC," the discussion during Midwestern's chapel hour focused on the many significant changes facing the denomination. Among these is the need to fill four entity leadership positions within the SBC and to address a generational transition as well.