Southwestern begins first phase of new student housing construction

FORT WORTH—Construction begins this spring on new two- and three-bedroom student housing at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Trustees approved plans April 6 for the first phase to be completed by July 2012.

Positioned along Seminary Drive, where the main entrance to the campus sits, the seminary will construct 12 buildings in two phases. The first phase, which includes six buildings, will go up in a field adjacent to current student housing. The second phase will replace the oldest section of current student housing, built in 1958.

Particular attention is being given to accessibility for families with children as designs call for units to be built in U-shaped clusters that encourage community. A nearby playground and pavilion will provide a common area for parents to study while children enjoy a safe environment for recreation.

“Students are a priority for us,” said Hance Dilbeck, a Southwestern graduate and newly elected chairman of the board of trustees. “The purpose of the seminary is to train students, and housing helps us to meet a very important need. I’m grateful for the administration’s leadership in putting together a great plan that is going to be both pleasing to the students and fiscally responsible.

Dilbeck recalled living in seminary housing with his wife and firstborn child.

“I know how important it is in building community within the student body, establishing relationships with lifelong peers, and we’re excited to get this project underway as quickly as possible and to see our students and their families enjoying the housing,” he said.

Once completed, the 12 buildings will hold 216 two-bedroom units and 36 three-bedroom units, for a total of 252 units. This doubles the current total of three-bedroom housing options on campus and better provides for families with children. Plans also include a commons area to the west with a playground, pavilion and picnic area.

Trustees got a first-hand look at the new chapel set to open at the end of this year, enjoying a barbecue lunch provided by Manhattan Construction followed by tours led by crew members.

The 3,500-seat chapel includes a prayer tower, library and choir and orchestra rehearsal rooms. Plans include four prayer gardens designed with Christ’s commission to reach the ends of the earth with the gospel in Acts 1:8 in mind.

Once completed, the chapel will be large enough to house weekly chapel services for the entire student body. Patterson anticipates hosting this year's winter graduation in the facility as well as the annual performance of “The Messiah.”

Southwestern's new chapel will feature the secure, climate-controlled Ira Leeta Phillips Library for the housing of the documents and a pen made from a palm tree, which was found with the Dead Sea Scrolls and presumably used by the scribes who wrote them. Once completed, the pieces will be on display and potentially travel in national exhibits.

Southwestern Seminary President Paige Patterson shared his excitement that newly acquired Dead Sea Scrolls fragments will be on exhibit in June 2012 with tickets available later this year.

Patterson also reported on plans to offer the new bachelor of science degree in biblical studies as part of a new program to equip inmates for ministry while incarcerated. With applications from inmates across Texas, Patterson emphasized there will be no discrimination based on religion, anticipating the possibility of teaching students from a variety of religious backgrounds or no exposure to or belief in God at all.

The successful “Taking the Hill” evangelistic campaign involving students paired with professors resulted in over 100 professions of faith within a one-mile radius of the school. Patterson said the effort is transitioning to “No Soul Left Behind” as participants return to homes that were missed in the earlier outreach. Another 124 students traveled to churches in 40 states to conduct weeklong revivals this year.

A 2.6 percent increase for the 2011-2012 budget was adopted, amounting to $34,897,481. Trustees were told by institutional advancement committee chairman Steve James of concern that lower Cooperative Program contributions have resulted in a $200,000 annual loss of income for the seminary. A 1 percent increase in tuition is planned for the fall, amounting to $2 per semester hour, as well as a 4 percent increase in campus housing rent, remaining 25 percent below the cost of housing in the area.

The board approved increases in career employee benefits, shortened the doctor of ministry degree from a four-year to a three-year program with two year-long seminars of 12 hours each plus a one-year dissertation, approved a resolution affirming a traditional view of marriage and elected new officers.

Nine new faculty members were approved. Trustees named Thomas Kiker assistant professor of pastoral ministry; John Wilsey, assistant professor of history and Christian apologetics at the Houston campus; Stephen Presley, assistant professor of biblical interpretation at the Houston campus; Charles Carpenter, associate professor of English at the College at Southwestern; James Johns, professor of biblical studies at the Houston campus; Patricia Nason, professor of foundations of education; Frank Catanzaro, associate professor of adult education; and Travis Dickinson, assistant professor philosophy and Christian apologetics at the College at Southwestern.

By way of a resolution trustees affirmed the definition of marriage as “uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime” as contained in the Baptist Faith and Message. The statement acknowledged the moral and legal “pressures upon the traditional view and practice of marriage” that frequently have the support of media and political figures, but recognized that Christians are called on to speak with clarity and definitiveness regarding biblical standards.

The board also passed routine policies relating to conflict of interest and board dismissal to keep the institution in compliance with practices recommended by accreditors. Other actions involved curriculum revisions to the school of music Ph.D., and a name change for the counseling center.

—Keith Collier and Rebecca Carter of Southwestern Seminary contributed to this report.