JEFFERSON CITY – Rumors that Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary may lose its accreditation are “baseless,” said the acting chairman of the Midwestern (MBTS) Board of Trustees.
In a March 7 interview with The Pathway, Kevin Shrum, pastor, Inglewood Baptist Church, Nashville, Tenn., noted that MBTS is in “a pretty good place” financially despite the Feb. 10 resignation of R. Philip Roberts as president. Since March 1, the seminary has been led by an acting interim president, Robin Hadaway.
Shrum spent Feb. 27 through March 1 on campus listening to administration, faculty and students. He spoke in chapel and in various settings where he essentially said, “this challenge will pass; we will make it through.”
Severance was discussed with Roberts on Feb. 10, Shrum said. He added that terms will not be disclosed. “I will say that the severance agreement allows both MBTS and Dr. Roberts to move forward in a positive manner,” Shrum said.
Shrum said the main goal of the April 16-17 MBTS trustees meeting will be to adopt the search structure that will lead the seminary to the right president.
Missouri Baptist Convention Executive Director John Yeats predicts a great future for Midwestern.
“We anticipate a long-term, healthy relationship with Midwestern,” Yeats said March 9. “Midwestern is key to our reaching the heartland of our nation with the gospel.”