The Board of Trustees of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary met October 19–20 for their fall meeting, where they welcomed eight new members, heard President R. Albert Mohler, Jr. trace nearly 170 years of God’s faithfulness to the institution, received a remarkably strong financial report, and were reminded from 2 Timothy of the gravity of the seminary’s calling to prepare those God has called to ministry.
Presenting institutional research that charts Southern Seminary’s enrollment since its founding in 1859, Mohler reported a current total headcount of more than 5,800 students. He noted that this growth has come during two decades in which theological education has been in what he called “a catastrophic free fall,” with several historic institutions closing or scaling back programs in the past year alone. “I just am astounded that by God’s grace, the institution is still on the ascent,” Mohler said. “And I just want to say it is not due to strategic planning since 1859. It is due to God’s blessing.”
Mohler noted that the growth extends across every level of the institution, from Boyce College through the seminary’s master’s and doctoral programs, with the fastest growth at the graduate level. He also restated the seminary’s commitment to the Master of Divinity as the standard degree for pastors. “We do not want anyone who’s training to be a pastor to do anything short of the Master of Divinity,” he said.
Mohler also addressed artificial intelligence, which he called “one of the major challenges of our generation,” and urged Christians to “defend authentic human ministry, authentic human communication, authentic human learning in the generation ahead.” He continued, “I think we may be, as Christians, among the last people on earth who understand what it means to be a human being made in the image of God. And we are going to have to contend for it.”
Turning to 2 Timothy 1:6, where Paul exhorts Timothy to “fan into flame the gift of God,” Mohler said the verse should serve as the seminary’s mission statement. “The task of a theological seminary is to fan into flame the call of God for ministry,” he said. “We want to do nothing to douse that flame, to minimize that flame, to starve that flame. We want to do everything to feed that flame.” He thanked trustees for their part in stewarding “the glory and the gravity of what is entrusted to us.”
Board Chairman Bruce Chesser presided over his first meeting since his April election. “It is a joy to meet together as the board of trustees to conduct the important task entrusted to us and to hear how the Lord continues to bless Southern Seminary and Boyce College,” Chesser said.
In his Treasurer’s Report for the 2025–26 fiscal year, Senior Vice President for Institutional Administration Jon Austin reported total revenue of $57.1 million and an increase in net assets of more than $5 million. Revenue grew 5.6% year over year while expenses grew only 1.7%, reflecting the institution’s continued financial discipline and stewardship. “By God’s grace, we finished the year strong,” Austin said.
In other business, the board welcomed eight new trustees attending their first meeting: Wes Church (SC), Nick Johnson (OK), Jeff Mooney (CA), Mark Pulliam (KY), Hunter Roe (GA), Dave Russell (NC), Jason Simon (MS), and Jacob Speight (TX). Trustees also elected Drew Allenspach (DE) as an interim trustee. He will serve until the 2027 SBC annual meeting, filling a vacancy in the Maryland and Delaware seat.
Trustees approved the designation of Matthew D. Westerholm as the Carolyn King Ragan Professor of Church Music and Worship, effective January 1, 2027. Sabbatical leave was approved for Gregory A. Wills, Professor of Church History; T.J. Betts, Donald L. Williams Professor of Old Testament Interpretation; Adam Howell, Associate Professor of Old Testament Interpretation; and Shawn D. Wright, Professor of Church History.
The Fall 2026 meeting affirmed the Lord’s continued blessing on Southern Seminary and Boyce College and the board’s commitment to steward the institution faithfully for the generations to come. Mohler commented, “The blessings of the Lord are abundant and we press forward with confidence and joy as we see the vast reach of this school and its mission.”