The Way Home Podcast: David Dockery On the History and Future of Christian Education

Daniel Darling

Today, we have Dr. David S. Dockery on The Way Home Podcast! David S. Dockery is the 10th President of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He also serves as Distinguished Professor of Theology, Executive Editor of the Southwestern Journal of Theology, and Director of the Dockery Center for Global Evangelical Theology. He is regarded as one of the most recognized leaders and senior statesmen in the world of Christian higher education. Today on The Way Home Podcast, Dan and David discuss the history and future of Christian Education, and how Christians are poised to shape the future of higher education. We also discuss David’s new book, Special Revelation and Scripture (Theology for the People of God)(2024), and his long history as a preeminent scholar of the doctrine of inerrancy. If you want to learn more about Christians in higher education, or simply learn more about President Dockery’s work, then this episode is for you!

Show Notes

David S. Dockery: Prior to his service at Southwestern, Dockery served as the 15th President of Union University for nearly two decades during which time the enrollment more than doubled, the net assets of the institution more than tripled, the budget quadrupled, and Union vaulted to a place of national leadership in Christian higher education. Union experienced 16 straight years of enrollment increases while seeing the number of donors to the institution nearly triple. Much of this took place in response to the strategic implementation of four distinctive and far-reaching institutional plans, which included the major development and renovation of the campus while surpassing the goal of a $100 million comprehensive campaign.

Dockery also helped to guide Union’s response and recovery in 2008 to an EF-4 tornado, one of the largest natural disasters ever to hit an American university campus. Following his years of service as President and University Professor of Christian Thought and Tradition, Dockery was named President Emeritus. He also served for more than five years as the 15^th President of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School before the institution named him honorary Chancellor and Professor of Christianity and Culture. He previously served as the Chief Academic Officer at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he also held a tenured faculty position in theology and New Testament. He has also served as a visiting or affiliate faculty member at a number of institutions.

Dockery has served as President of the Evangelical Theological Society and as Board Chair for the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities. In addition, he has served as Chair of the Consortium for Global Education and the Christian College Consortium. He is the only person to ever serve in this combination of leadership positions. Dockery currently serves as President of the International Alliance for Christian Education.

Guest’s Content: Christian Higher Education: Faith, Teaching, and Learning in the Evangelical Tradition(2018), Christian Worldview Handbook(2019), What Does It Mean to Be a Thoughtful Christian? (Questions for Restless Minds)(2022), Special Revelation and Scripture (Theology for the People of God)(2024)

As you move toward the cross this Lenten season, check out my book The Characters of Easter.

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