Dr Kevin T. Bauder to assume new position of Research Professor of Systematic Theology

I read the announcement, and then looked around the site, but there’s no info about who is going to take Dr. Bauder’s place as President.

I assumed it was dual role. Was there any direct mention of Bauder no longer being the president?

I was thinking ‘dual role’ too until I read

Bauder looks forward to assuming the new responsibility. “For me, this is a dream job,” he says. “I’ve enjoyed the presidency, but I believe that I can do more good for the seminary and its mission by teaching and writing.”

That sounded to me like he is going to leave the presidency role for the new position. But it’s not a direct mention, just a vibe.

That is great news.

This is extraordinarily good news and will, if institutionalized Fundamentalism survives, be seen as a historical transition towards more responsibly comprehensive emphases and funding priorities in Fundamentalist higher education.

While I don’t agree with Joseph often, I have to admit that I’ve been very excited about this development. I think that Dr. Bauder is perfect for this role, and I hope that other schools - and I’m looking squarely at you, Greenville - follow suit soon.

I understand the problems with funding such a position. But I am convinced that this is exactly what we need to see more of in Fundamentalism if it’s going to survive.

While I share everyone’s enthusiasm and congratulate Dr. Bauder, the obvious questions here (which no one has asked yet, aside from who the next president will be) are:

1) What does such a title really mean in a small seminary if Bauder is still going to be teaching?

“Students at Central Seminary also support Bauder’s appointment. Rob Wagner, senior class president, said, ‘I am excited to know that another generation of Central Seminary students will have Dr. Bauder as their theology professor…’”

In my limited experience, I believe that such positions normally entail extensive time away to write books and (in today’s world) become an ambassador of the school through the use of media. Research professors normally do not teach.

Conversely, most seminary professors have sufficient time to do research and writing if they so desire.

That leads me to…

2) How can Central afford this on the heels of the failed attempt at merger with Faith amidst growing concern for the future of the school? Is this a new but different type of attempt at moving forward? How is one to take this within the grand scheme of things?

In any case, blessings and congratulations to Dr. Bauder. I look forward to seeing what he produces.

In the seminary circles closest to Fundamentalism, Paul, I’m not sure if it’s the case that research professors don’t normally teach; some don’t, some do (I think it’s normal, e.g., for them to offer advanced seminars on topics they’re working on). What is the case is that if they do they have reduced loads (Carson regularly teaches at Trinity, for example, but I think only a couple courses), freedom from administration, and, as you mentioned, regular sabbaticals (Carson goes to Tyndale house one out of every three years). The blurb mentioned Bauder having a reduced load and no administrative duties, though I too wonder whether he’ll get regular sabbaticals.