On April 27, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS) announced Jonathan Six, former director of financial and alumni development, as the new acting vice president of institutional advancement, effective June 1, 2022. After eight years of faithful service, Art Rainer, who currently holds the position, will be stepping away from the role on May 31 to launch a new financial training ministry.
A two-time graduate from SEBTS with his master of divinity and doctor of philosophy, Jonathan Six has served the institutional advancement division in a variety of roles. In 2007, he joined the Student Development Office (now the Admissions Office), helping to recruit students to SEBTS. Six was promoted to a leadership role in 2013 as the director of the Alumni Development Office, and since 2015, he has served as the director of the Financial and Alumni Development Office.
“Dr. Six loves our mission and has shown competence in the different roles he has served in over his tenure at SEBTS since 2007,” commented Danny Akin, president of SEBTS. “I, along with the rest of my executive leadership team, am excited to work with Dr. Six in this new role.”
The Institutional Advancement Office oversees three major efforts at SEBTS: fundraising, recruiting and admitting students and maintaining brand awareness and public relations. Six will direct these efforts by overseeing the Financial and Alumni Development Office, the Admissions Office and the Office of Marketing and Communications.
“I am humbled and honored to serve SEBTS as the acting vice president of institutional advancement,” shared Six. “I love this school, our faculty, and its mission. I count it a great joy to urge students to study under this Great Commission faculty and encourage donors and alumni to support the Lord’s work through SEBTS. I am thankful for Dr. Akin’s confidence and believe our brightest days are ahead.”
Because SEBTS bylaws require the Board of Trustees to vote and approve the conferral of a vice president’s title, Six’s title will be Acting Vice President of Institutional Advancement until their biannual meeting in October. At the October meeting, the trustees’ agenda will include a vote concerning the new hire, and pending their approval, Six’s title will become Vice President of Institutional Advancement.
Six’s appointment to the position follows Art Rainer’s announcement in early April that he will be leaving his role as Vice President of Institutional Advancement to pursue his passion of helping others become faithful financial stewards who are able to support Great Commission efforts. In his new role, Rainer will be working to create resources that address Christian financial stewardship within a framework of discipleship.
“I am thankful for Dr. Rainer and the last eight years that he has led our institutional advancement division at Southeastern,” remarked Akin. “I will miss having Dr. Rainer as a part of the executive leadership team at Southeastern, yet I am also thankful for the work he is pursuing since it is a topic that is vital to a faithful walk with Christ.”
Although Rainer will be stepping down from his current role, he and his family will remain in the Wake Forest area, and he will continue to teach business courses in The College at Southeastern and be a part of the Southeastern Society.
“God was gracious to allow me to serve at SEBTS for almost nine years,” noted Rainer. “SEBTS has been and always will be a special place for me. This next phase of ministry is motivated by a deep desire to see men and women get financially healthy so they can better leverage their resources for Christ’s kingdom. My time at SEBTS has left an indelible impact on my understanding of money as a kingdom resource. I can’t wait to see how God uses Dr. Six in this vice president role. God has gifted him with the skills and relationships necessary to make an immediate positive impact. If Dr. Six’s first 15 years of service at SEBTS are indicative of his next 15 years, SEBTS has much to be excited about.”
(EDITOR’S NOTE – Chad Burchett is a writer for the SEBTS office of communications.)
