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GGBTS trustees authorize fundraising, elect new dean

by Jeff Jones, posted Monday, October 17, 2005 (18 years ago)

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (BP)--Meeting in Scottsdale, Ariz., to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Arizona Regional Campus, Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary trustees authorized a new, five-year fundraising campaign and elected Michael Martin as vice president of academic affairs and academic dean.

The fundraising campaign, part of a five-year plan President Jeff Iorg outlined to trustees last spring, is divided into two simultaneous phases. The enhancement phase will raise $5.5 million in contributions to enhance academic operations, enlarge the faculty and improve the library. In the second phase, the seminary will raise $7.5 million to endow academic programs, primarily through named faculty chairs.

Speaking to trustees before the vote to approve the campaign, Iorg said, “This is a watershed moment for Golden Gate Seminary. The decision in the next few minutes, and the implications, are crucial to our future.

“This giving campaign is not about building an institution. It is about giving our best, and being the best school possible, so students can be trained to give their best around the world for Jesus Christ,” Iorg said.

The campaign will begin March 2006, pending approval in February by the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Trustees also voted to approve the appointment of Michael Martin as the vice president of academic affairs and academic dean. Martin has been dean of Oklahoma Baptist University’s Joe L. Ingram School of Christian Service since 2003 and was a professor of New Testament at Golden Gate from 1984-2003.

“As I look back at this sequence, I know that my years at Oklahoma Baptist University have made me a better administrator. I am excited about coming back to the diverse and challenging ministry that is present at Golden Gate. I love the seminary and look forward to ministry with the faculty.”

Martin and his wife, Beth, have two sons, Philip and Garrett.

The trustees also took the next steps to approve the reinstatement of the Ph.D. program at the seminary. A committee from the Association of Theological Schools reviewed the program proposal earlier this month and will make recommendations to the ATS commissioners in January. Following final faculty approval of the program, the ATS commissioners will consider the seminary’s petition in January 2006. Dwight Honeycutt, interim vice president of academic affairs, told the trustees, “We hope for final approval early next year which will enable us to enroll students in the program for fall 2006.”

The seminary’s Arizona campus hosted a dinner on Oct. 11 for the trustees, faculty, staff and friends of the seminary. Several individuals, churches and a local foundation were recognized for their financial support of students at the Arizona campus. The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Bill and Barbara Jewett from Yuma, Ariz., in recognition of their gift of $250,000 to establish the Jewett Faith and Grace Scholarship Endowment, which provides financial assistance to students at the Arizona campus.

Steve Bass, the executive director of the Arizona Southern Baptist Convention, told the audience, “We are proud to partner with the seminary as we reach out to the state of Arizona with the saving message of Jesus Christ. The leadership training the seminary provides for our churches in Arizona allows us to fulfill our mission of reaching Arizona for Christ.”

Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary is a Cooperative Program ministry of the Southern Baptist Convention and operates five campuses in Northern California, Southern California, Pacific Northwest, Arizona and Colorado.