October 22, 2026
FORT WORTH, Texas — President David S. Dockery expressed “gladness and deep gratitude” for the Lord’s work at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary during the last four years in his report to the Board of Trustees on Oct. 21, rejoicing in the blessings of continued enrollment gains and the financial health of the institution.
“There are very hopeful days ahead for Southwestern Seminary,” Dockery said. “We’re at a very, very good place, way ahead of schedule for I think what anybody would have expected. And the only way to explain that is that God has done a good work at Southwestern Seminary, and we dare not take credit or glory for that which belongs to Him.”
Dockery said the first day of meetings with the Board of Trustees was “an extraordinarily good day” as the members collaborated and held important conversations on the decisions they faced. Chairman Robert Brown (’85) also expressed gratitude for the actions and the united spirit of the Board.
“This is indeed a wonderful and a joyous time to come together and to celebrate, but also to calibrate and to look forward to what God is wanting to do and is doing at Southwestern,” Brown said, adding that the foundation for that work has been the prayer of the Southwestern family.
Dockery said God’s favor on Southwestern can be seen through the growth in metrics such as enrollment and credit hours taught, which experienced another increase for the fall 2026 semester, including a rise in students enrolled in the Master of Divinity program, doctoral programs, Chinese program, and an increase in Southern Baptist students.
Fall enrollment for 2026 was 2,959, compared to 2,912 last fall, while fall credit hours were 16,780, compared to 16,025 last fall. Since 2022, the seminary has seen increases of 289 students in fall enrollment and 2,037 in fall credit hours taught.
For the 2025-2026 academic year, the seminary recorded a non-duplicating headcount of 3,640, compared to 3,403 in 2021-2022, and full-time equivalent enrollment of 1,505 compared to 1,375 in 2021-2022.
In the 2025-2026 fiscal year, tuition and fees met budget projections for a third consecutive year, while giving was up 19 percent and unrestricted giving totaled $3.7 million, well above the projected $2.4 million. The seminary was also able to switch to a self-funded insurance model, made possible by the available cash reserves.
Dockery also reflected on recent high points on Seminary Hill, including the centennial anniversary celebration of Cowden Hall, the home of the School of Church Music and Worship; the faculty addition of renowned Old Testament scholar Lawson Younger; student mission trips; the removal of the sanctions by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges; and campus renovations completed in Truett Auditorium, the Recreation and Aerobics Center, and many campus classrooms.
He also reported that the reorganization of the staff structure of the seminary in recent months has gone well.
Brown said the trustees are like the bricklayers who helped to rebuild St. Paul’s Cathedral after the Great Fire of London in 1666. While some of the workers only had the narrow perspective of completing their job of laying bricks to rebuild the landmark cathedral, one bricklayer recognized that he was a part of a great work for God.
“The great work of rebuilding Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is still and will always be in progress,” Brown said. “This is the work to which we have been called. … Let us stand tall with our eyes focused on the task which is so much greater than ourselves or the challenges that we have faced in the past, as well as those of today.”
Brown said it’s important that trustees are motivated by fulfilling the mission of Southwestern and the self-awareness that they are a part of something greater than themselves as they preserve Southwestern’s heritage, address current needs, and plan for the future.
“We in this room are blessed to be a part of something great,” Brown said. “May we always be on mission, let us remain dutiful in our loyalty, in our care, with good judgment.”
Trustees joined the seminary community on Oct. 20 in a Day of Prayer gathering, held at each trustee meeting since the fall of 2022.
During the Oct. 20-21 meeting, the Board unanimously approved a number of recommendations, including a capital budget of $1.7 million to be used for campus improvements. The projects to be completed in the upcoming year include work on the infrastructure and updates to be made in campus security, technology equipment, and student housing.
The Board also approved the final version of the updated Advance Southwestern 2030 institutional plan, providing continuity for the institution moving forward. Approval was given to begin the necessary steps needed to add a Bachelor of Arts in Business at Texas Baptist College, pending approval of the new curriculum.
The honorees for the annual B.H. Carroll and L.R. Scarborough awards were approved, with recipients to be announced in the spring.
The Board also expressed gratitude to Interim CFO Dale Ford for his 30 years of service to Southwestern, especially for his past five years of financial leadership and stewardship. Ford, who will retire soon, received a standing ovation as he was recognized.
During the Oct. 20-21 meeting, trustees also unanimously approved:
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