Friday, November 05, 2004

Southern Seminary adds Coppenger and Hemphill to faculty
August 26, 2004
By Jeff Robinson

The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary has added two former seminary presidents to its faculty as distinguished professors.

Seminary President R. Albert Mohler Jr. announced the addition of Mark Coppenger and Kenneth Hemphill to Southern’s faculty during the school’s annual fall convocation Aug. 23.

Coppenger is pastor of the Evanston Baptist Church in Evanston, Ill. Coppenger, who was president of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary from 1995 to 1999, will serve as Distinguished Professor of Apologetics.

Hemphill, who served as president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary from 1994 to 2003, will serve as Distinguished Professor of Evangelism, Missions and Church Growth. Hemphill is also National Strategist for the Southern Baptist Convention’s Empowering Kingdom Growth (EKG) initiative.

Additionally, Mohler announced the appointment of several other new faculty members including: Gary J. Bredfeldt as professor of leadership and Christian ministry, Duane Garrett as professor of Old Testament interpretation, Brian J. Vickers as assistant professor of New Testament interpretation, Mark R. McClellan as professor of Christian theology and missions at Boyce College, and Barry Joslin as instructor of Christian theology at Boyce College.

“This is an incredible array of new members that have joined the faculty of Southern Seminary,” Mohler said. “The professors who have just been introduced would themselves compose an awesome faculty in themselves.

“It is an historic day when to this faculty are named two former Southern Baptist Convention seminary presidents. We are thrilled to have them join us, adding their heart, their minds, their voice to the Southern Seminary family.”

Mohler also installed Esther R. Crookshank to an endowed professorship. Crookshank will serve as Ollie Hale Chiles Professor of Church Music.

During the service, seven Southern Seminary faculty members signed the Abstract of Principles, the school’s confession of faith, including: Bredfeldt, Garrett, Chad O. Brand, associate professor of Christian theology; William R. Cutrer, professor of church ministry; Russell T. Fuller, associate professor of Old Testament interpretation; Eric L. Johnson, associate professor of personality and pastoral theology; Douglas C. Walker III, professor of Christian ministry.