WHEREAS, 2017 marked the 100th anniversary of the decision of the Southern Baptist Convention to establish the Baptist Bible Institute in New Orleans; and
WHEREAS, 2018 marks the 100th anniversary of the first classes offered by the Baptist Bible Institute in New Orleans; and
WHEREAS, The New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary was established one hundred years ago as the first educational institution created as a direct act of the Southern Baptist Convention, initially as the Baptist Bible Institute with a focus on training students for ministry and establishing the Baptist cause at the gateway to Central America; and
WHEREAS, In 1946 the Southern Baptist Convention renamed the institution New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and reaffirmed the commitment to missions and evangelism training; and
WHEREAS, Many thousands of graduates of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary have labored faithfully to take the gospel to the ends of the earth; and
WHEREAS, Many hundreds of faculty, staff, and students have remained committed to the core values of Doctrinal Integrity, Spiritual Vitality, Mission Focus, Characteristic Excellence, and Servant Leadership; and
WHEREAS, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary has worked to provide theological education to any God-called man or woman throughout the world, including maximum security prisons; and
WHEREAS, This “School of Providence and Prayer” has been sustained, nurtured, and safeguarded by the cooperative efforts of Southern Baptists; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the messengers of the Southern Baptist Convention, meeting in Dallas, Texas, June 12–13, 2018. give thanks to God for the establishment of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in 1917; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we express gratitude for the legacy of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in the preservation and propagation of the good news that Jesus is “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29); and be it further
RESOLVED, That we affirm the commitment of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in pursuit of the Great Commission in New Orleans and beyond; and be it finally
RESOLVED, That we covet the prayers of Southern Baptists for New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary’s continued faithfulness to the mission of providing theological education to any man or woman answering God’s call.