Phil Roberts' future at MBTS in question by Peter Lumpkins

In January, 2001, trustees unanimously elected Dr. Phil Roberts as the fourth president of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. After over a year's search for a president, this was truly a day of celebration since the trustees had fired Dr. Mark Coppenger for "irreparable damage" Coppenger's uncontrolled anger had apparently caused to the work environment. Now, it seems chaos at the administrative helm is surfacing once again >>>

UPDATE: Associated Baptist Press just released a story: "Seminary trustees to confront president over audit, management issues"

Sources say a full trustee meeting has been called for this Friday, February 10th, the agenda of which is to seek the dismissal of Dr. Phil Roberts as president of the seminary. Apparently, an attempt by several trustees to garner a voluntary resignation from the president failed.

Last October, a messenger to the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) moved that an inquiry be established to discern exactly what happened to approximately $500,000 the MBC had given the seminary over several years the stated purpose of which was to establish a chair of evangelism.  The way I understand it, the motion was referred to the appropriate committee. To date, no chair of evangelism has been established and no account of the money has been publicly revealed.  

Nor should it be supposed that anyone supposes Dr. Roberts or any other administrator has or is being accused of criminal activity. Rather, from what I gather, the issue is potentially administrative mismanagement. Even so, Midwestern does not need another administrative crisis. It does appear like it has one nonetheless. 

May our Lord bless Southern Baptists with a good old fashioned, heaven-sent, Holy Ghost revival...

With that, I am...

Peter 

Comments

[Fred Johnson]

That's just awful.

[CASEY]

First Board meeting of MBTS starts at 800am CST Friday. The "called" meeting(by the Chmn and Exec Comm) follows immediately after the first Board meeting. Please pray that the proceedings will proceed with clear deliberate good Christian ethical business efforts.