NEW ORLEANS – Trustees at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary set a course for the seminary’s future by establishing two degree-granting extension centers, restructuring undergraduate and church music degrees and launching new doctoral specializations during their spring meeting April 12.
By Gary D. Myers
New Orleans Seminary Public Relations
NEW ORLEANS – Trustees at New Orleans Baptist
Theological Seminary set a course for the seminary’s future by
establishing two degree-granting extension centers, restructuring
undergraduate and church music degrees and launching new doctoral
specializations during their spring meeting April 12.
The meeting opened with an encouraging report from
NOBTS President Chuck Kelley. In his remarks, Kelley presented a
positive picture of the seminary’s recovery and future. He called
attention to the assistance of Southern Baptists in the seminary’s
recovery process.
“We are very grateful for the difference the
Cooperative Program made in the New Orleans Seminary Hurricane Katrina
experience,” Kelley said. “Southern Baptists kept a challenge from
becoming a crisis.”
“We are no longer in survival mode. We are in growth
and opportunity mode,” he said. “The SBC threw its full weight into
giving us a future, we must give back a world class seminary.”
According to Kelley, the future of NOBTS will
include an enhanced residential program in New Orleans, an enlarged
extension center system and, in the years to come, expanded Internet
course offerings. The local church, he said, will continue to play an
integral role in the seminary’s philosophy. According to Kelley,
exciting days are in store for NOBTS.
“Every instinct, every fiber of my being tells me
God has a mighty plan for the future of this city and this school,”
Kelley said. “We are going to see such things the world will talk about
for years to come.”
Following Kelley’s report,, trustees approved a plan
to develop the Atlanta and Orlando extension centers as degree-granting
sites, or “hubs.” Extension students who live closer to Atlanta or
Orlando may earn up to 18 hours of their on-campus credit at the two
sites instead of traveling to New Orleans.
Provost Steve Lemke said the plan will “greatly
enhance” the seminary’s extension work in Florida and Georgia and save
students the expenses incurred by traveling to New Orleans for all
their on-campus hours.
In the past students had to earn 30 hours of credit
on the main campus in New Orleans – a costly endeavor for students from
South Florida and Georgia. Under the new plan, extension students only
have to earn 12 hours of credit in New Orleans.
Students who primarily attend the Atlanta and Orlando site must also
complete 12 hours of credit at the New Orleans campus.
The plan, to be launched in the fall semester of
2007, calls for students to complete at least one three-hour mission or
disaster relief course in New Orleans. The plan must receive approval
from the seminary’s accrediting agencies.
During the discussion of the “hubs,” Kelley
announced that the Atlanta extension center will relocate from Decatur,
Ga. to Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Marietta, Ga. Classes will begin
meeting in Marietta during the Fall 2006 semester.
Trustees also voted to restructure undergraduate
degrees in the seminary’s Leavell College. The revisions, resulting in
more flexible degrees with more free electives, are designed to help
non-traditional students with previous college credit transfer into
Leavell College to complete their degrees.
The revisions add six hours of free electives to
both the bachelor of arts in Christian ministry and the associate in
Christian ministry degrees. The degree continue to offer a strong
emphasis on ministry, Biblical studies and theological training. Total
hours remain at 126 for the bachelor’s and 70 for the associates degree.
The board then voted to revise the challenging
master of music in church music (MMCM) degree – making the program
accessible to more students. The degree, accredited by The North
American Schools of Music, is a difficult academic program with a high
concentration on music theory. Very few students, even those with music
degrees, are able to qualify without completing a year of leveling work.
Lemke explained that the changes are needed because
the colleges that do offer the prerequisite bachelor of music have seen
a dramatic drop of about 70 percent in enrollment over the past decade.
The accrediting agency allows for small adjustments
to the master of music in church music to tailor the program to the
mission of an institution, he said.
“Our mission is to equip leaders to fulfill the
Great Commission and the Great Commandments of the local church and its
ministries,” he continued. “So to do that, we are going to argue that
these revisions are necessary.”
Along with the revisions to the master of music in
church music, trustee voted to align the course numbers and names of
music course offered in other degrees such as the master of arts in
worship studies, the master of divinity with specialization in worship
studies, the master of divinity with specialization in church music and
the master of arts in Christian education church music concentration.
They also voted to establish worship studies specializations in the
doctor of ministry and doctor of educational ministry programs.
As a result of vote to revise the master of music in
church music, NOBTS must now submit the proposed changes to the
accrediting agency. This proposal must receive approval before the
changes can be implemented.
Trustees also approved a full launch of two
restructured ministry-based master of divinity degrees – a church
ministry degree and a collegiate ministry degree. These ministry-based
degrees combine a strong emphasis on the classic theological
disciplines such as biblical studies and theology with on-the-job
training in a church or collegiate ministry setting.
Both degrees require one year of practical ministry
with an option of a second year of ministry. In addition to a mentor at
the ministry site, students will also have an NOBTS faculty mentor to
guide the learning experience. A portfolio for students will include
copies of classroom and practice assignments and mentor evaluations.
The church ministry track includes pastor ministry,
church staff and ministry leadership concentrations. The flexible
programs open to both main campus and extension center students.
Trustees also voted to rename the Center for New
Testament Textual Studies (CNTT) in honor of H. Milton Haggard. The
Haggard family, long-time supporters of the center’s work, left a
$799,000 estate gift to the CNTT. The gift will be used to establish a
permanent endowment to fund The H. Milton Haggard Center for New
Testament Textual Studies.
During the meeting, Kelley announced the formation
of several key task forces. Assistant Provost Jimmy Dukes will lead a
task force to create a model for expanded internet course offerings.
David Meacham, chairman of the division of pastor ministries will lead
a study team looking at ways to enhance the extension center system.
Two other faculty task forces were formed – one to promote the master
of divinity ministry tracks; another to facilitate seminary involvement
in the restoration of New Orleans.
At the close of the meeting, trustees voted to
re-elect the entire slate of officers who served during the difficult
2005-2006 school year. Ray Moncrief will serve another term as
chairman, Craig Campbell will continue as vice chairman and Phil
Hanberry will serve again as secretary-treasurer.
In other action, trustees:
• approved undergraduate and graduate certificate programs in worship studies.
• approved a $19 budget.
• reduced tuition rates for main campus students.
• approved construction of two new faculty homes.
• approved construction of a new maintenance facility.
• approved significant upgrades to student dorms.
• approved the Hispanic Theological Institute. The
institute, currently under development, will offer Spanish language
studies in Florida, Georgia and Louisiana.
• toured the Hurricane Katrina devastation in the Lower Ninth Ward and in the Gentilly neighborhood.