Submitted by philip on Wed, 07/31/2013 - 13:22 Nearly 300 students received degrees from New Orleans Seminary and Leavell College. Chuck Kelley, the seminary’s president, challenged them to stay connected to who they are as followers of Christ, ministers of the Gospel and alumni of the seminary. By Frank McCormack, NOBTS Communications NEW ORLEANS – Chuck Kelley, president of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, challenged graduates to stay connected to who they are as followers of Christ, ministers of the Gospel and alumni of the seminary. Nearly 300 students received degrees ranging from undergraduate and graduate certificates to associate's, bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees when New Orleans Seminary held its spring commencement in Leavell Chapel May 18 and Leavell College held its commencement the previous day. Kelley began his charge to the seminary graduates with a word from the apostle Paul. "He's very special to us here at NOBTS, because we have conclusive evidence that he was one of our earliest students," Kelley joked. Kelley pointed to the fact that Paul often refers to himself as the apostle to the Gentiles. "And who are 'Gentiles'?" Kelley asked. "Clearly, people who live on Gentilly! So … [Read more...]

By Frank McCormack, NOBTS Communications NEW ORLEANS (BP) -- New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary President Chuck Kelley announced details of a $1.5 million gift to NOBTS from an anonymous donor and other scholarship gifts for bivocational and African American students during the trustee executive committee’s June meeting. The trustees also elected six new faculty members and launched several new teaching sites. Kelley told trustees the “providential gift” -- the largest single check during his presidency -- comes at a critical time of need for the seminary. The donor designated the gift be used in four ways. Ten percent of the $1.5 million gift will provide technology upgrades in Bunyan Building and Hardin Student Center classrooms. For only an additional $5,000, presentation equipment in both the Leavell Center and Leavell Chapel also will be upgraded, Kelley said. Bids for the project already are in hand, with work to begin this summer. “This will be the first time in our history that we’ve had all of our media presentation equipment on the same generation. We’re thrilled about that,” Kelley said. The second designation is for $600,000 to be used for the construction of an on-campus community center to house the … [Read more...]