Phil Roberts named 4th president of Midwestern Seminary unanimously

by Staff                                                                                                                            Vol. XIV, No. 2, February 2001

Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary trustees unanimously elected R. Philip Roberts as the fourth president of the Kansas City-based Southern Baptist seminary during a called board meeting Jan. 8-9. Roberts told trustees on Tuesday that he is accepting the position as "a trust from God, the Southern Baptist Convention, and from you."

Roberts will begin his duties in mid-February, completing a seven-year tenure with the North American Mission Board where he currently serves as vice president for the Strategic Cities Strategies Group.

Board chairman Carl Weiser, pastor of Hyland Heights Baptist Church in Lynchburg, VA, said the seven-member committee had reviewed more than 30 resumes and concluded, "Dr. Roberts is the man of God who will lead this seminary with vision, confidence, and dependence on almighty God."

"My own philosophy of seminary education is that it's an extension of the Great Commission," Roberts said in the interview. "It is the highest and most sophisticated form of what Jesus taught us to do." Roberts said he intends to draw on his strength of involving students in practical ministry and encouragement toward mission service. While "respectful of creative and new ways to approach theological education," Roberts said the strength of seminary is its ability to balance ministry with theological studies. He intends to emphasize a supportive community for seminary students, noting, "There's a lot more teaching that goes on in addition to the classroom."

Raised in "a mission environment," Roberts said he benefitted from the example of his father, the late Ray Roberts who served as executive secretary of the State Convention of Baptists in Ohio and helped plant churches in that state as well as the New York and Penn-Jersey conventions. "We live in a world of 6 billion people, most of whom do not know Jesus Christ or have not heard his name," Roberts said, noting that he is committed to developing ministers who can reach the world for Jesus Christ.

Roberts spoke of his past association with Midwestern, stating, "It has been my joy under his leadership to have served as an adjunct professor, chapel speaker, and occasional missions lecturer. I look forward with a real sense of divine joy at what God has for the future of Midwestern Seminary."

The new president brings to the job broad experience in training ministerial students. As director of the interfaith witness team at the North American Mission Board, Roberts often taught seminary students to understand the perspective of other religious groups in order to witness more effectively. He served as professor of missions and evangelism at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary from 1990-94 and co-directed the Lewis Adison Drummond Center for Great Commission Studies.

In regard to a question about the role of women in ministry, Roberts affirmed the inclusion of an amendment to the Baptist Faith and Message relating to the family. "I believe the role of pastor and pastor/leader is a role designated for males." He noted Midwestern's reputation for training women for other ministerial roles, particularly those serving alongside their husbands in church-related vocations.

Although the Southern Baptist Convention's statement of faith makes the denomination's position clear on the matter, Roberts said, "It doesn't mean we have to shut down discussion." He added, "For 20 centuries, the vast majority of the Christian church endorsed that view," with objections raised "only in the last few years," he said. "We would stand with the mainstream of the Christian witness."

Roberts commended Midwestern's current faculty, noting that his nephew, Kyle Roberts, an M.Div. graduate from 1999, often reflects on "the wonderful teaching" he had in his studies. "Everything I've heard has been affirmative and positive" about the faculty, Roberts said, adding, "I look forward to working with them." [BP]