NEW ORLEANS — The board of trustees for New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS) and Leavell College heard a variety of positive reports and approved new faculty and curriculum updates during their spring meeting on April 15-16.

Jamie Dew, president of NOBTS and Leavell College, welcomed the trustees on April 15 with an update about the overall spirit of the school.

“It’s been a sweet season the last few months,” Dew said. “There’s been a lot of joy and a lot of high spiritual morale on campus.

Dew explained the seminary is now entering “phase 2” of his administration after successfully implementing his strategic initiatives for the first five years of his presidency, which he outlined during his address at the 2024 Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) annual meeting.

Dew stated the next phase is concerned with stewarding NOBTS for future generations by continuing to increase enrollment and grow the institution’s financial viability.

“We want with one hand to serve and steward NOBTS today, and with the other hand try to set NOBTS up tomorrow for strength and health,” he said.

Dew told the trustees the institution is well-positioned to build for the future.

“In my mind, we’re doing what we’re supposed to be doing as an institution if we are getting stronger financially, structurally and procedurally,” Dew said. “And if we’re having fun doing it, then I think that’s a win. I think all those things are being done right now, so I’m very grateful.”

Faculty appointments/updates

Dew informed the board about presidentially appointed faculty members, who will serve for two years and then be eligible for election by the trustees. 

Those presidentially appointed faculty are:

• Fabio Castellanos, assistant professor of New Testament and Greek
• Luke Johnson, assistant professor of global missions
• Alex Oakley, assistant professor of Christian philosophy

Other faculty updates included the upcoming retirement of Ken Taylor, professor of urban missions, and the election of Mark Johnson, assistant professor of evangelism and pastoral ministry, as the new president of Louisiana Christian University.

Additionally, trustees elected two new faculty members who recently finished serving their two-year appointed period:

• Don Wilton, professor of preaching and pastoral ministry
• Ted Williams, assistant professor of expository preaching

Curriculum updates, reports and other business

Trustees received an overview of the upcoming year’s budget and a 3% increase in headcount for the academic year.

Additionally, trustees approved recommendations from the board’s committees, including a change allowing students to earn a Master of Theology (ThM) degree while pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) degree and other curriculum updates.

Trustees finishing terms

At the end of the meeting, the board honored trustees who are finishing their terms:

• Amanda Walker, Louisiana
• Zeola Carey, Michigan
• Shawn Paschal, Texas
• David Um, Baptist Churches of New England  

Um, shared a heartfelt message to the board about his time of service.

“Ten years ago when I began as a trustee, only God knew how much of my heart would become dyed NOBTS purple and gold,” he said. “The mission of NOBTS won me over.”

Um said the greatest thing he was a part of as a trustee was playing a role in Dew’s selection as president.

“In 2018, I was given the honor of joining the search committee for the next president of NOBTS,” he explained.

“I had a first-row seat to witness God at work in choosing Dr. Dew and Dr. Tara to build a team to lead the seminary through the treacherous times ahead. Through NOBTS, I am better equipped to serve the Lord, my church and the lost in Boston. As I leave NOBTS, I commit to live out our motto: Prepare here, serve anywhere.”

The fall meeting of the board of trustees will be Oct. 6-8.

(EDITOR’S NOTE — Timothy Cockes is news editor at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.)