LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP) — The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary’s Board of Trustees convened on Monday for their annual spring meeting to discuss the budget, faculty elections, and conduct regular board business. The board also honored Albert Mohler on his 30th anniversary as president of the seminary.
The board approved an operating budget of $52.3 million for the 2023-2024 fiscal year, a 3.6 percent increase from the previous year. Despite this increase, Southern Seminary and Boyce College will continue to offer the most affordable tuition of any institution in the Southern Baptist Convention due to the institution’s strong financial position and enrollment, board Chairman Josh Powell told trustees.
“This meeting of the Board of Trustees was a testimony to the health of our institution,” Powell said. “Our three schools are healthy, our finances are incredibly healthy, and the leadership is strong and united. We consider this the blessing of the Lord and a testimony to the leadership of Dr. Mohler.”
Mohler was able to attend a rescheduled work session, where he updated the board on his health after being hospitalized for bilateral pulmonary emboli. He expressed gratitude to his doctors and nurses for their care as he continues to rest and recover to an expected full recovery.
The board presented Mohler with a reframed document, which was initially given to him by the presidential search committee on Feb. 19, 1993, inviting him to become the ninth president of SBTS. Powell praised God’s providential direction of the search committee in selecting Mohler as president 30 years ago and affirmed the board’s continued prayer for Mohler’s recovery.
In addition, the board unanimously elected three faculty members – Paul Akin as associate professor of missions, Kyle Claunch as associate professor of Christian theology and Adam Howell as associate professor of Old Testament interpretation. Sabbatical leave was also approved for professors Adam Howell, Ayman Ibrahim, Timothy Paul Jones and Melissa Tucker.
The working session concluded with the board honoring Phillip Bray (Missouri), who served for 12 years as a trustee, fulfilling a partial term before being selected for 10 additional years of service.
In reflecting on the spring meeting, Mohler said, “I am very thankful to God for the strength and vitality of this institution and so thankful for the governance of a very faithful board of trustees, who serve Southern Baptists remarkably well in fulfilling their crucial responsibilities. The board’s actions set us up for a remarkable new academic year to come.”
