SBTC gives $100,000 toward new Southwestern Seminary chapel

FORT WORTH?”Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention are joined at the heart based on biblical inerrancy and Baptist distinctives,” stated SBTC Executive Director Jim Richards April 3 as he presented $100,000 from the convention to help build a new chapel on the Fort Worth campus.

“The chapel will be used to promote worship and provide biblical instruction,” Richards said as he delivered the check made possible through surplus in-state funds. In addition to a common goal of “reaching Texas and touching the world,” Richards said the seminary and state convention are ministry partners through Southern Baptists’ Cooperative Program missions-funding channel. Fifty-four percent of the undesignated receipts of more than 1,850 SBTC-affiliated congregations are given toward SBC mission causes, which includes Southwestern.

“While SBTC loves the other five Southern Baptist seminaries, Southwestern holds a special place in the hearts of Texas Baptists,” Richards said, praying “that God would use the new chapel for his glory as we uplift the name of Jesus Christ.”

Trustees heard and approved plans to raise an additional $21.4 million beyond an initial $16 million lead gift from long-time seminary supporters Harold and Dottie Riley of Austin.

A digital video representation of the proposed new chapel is shown online at www.swbts.edu/newchapel. The Spanish-style, 106,000 square-foot building will include a 3,500-seat auditorium, classroom and conference areas, and a prayer tower visible for miles around.

The current seminary auditorium, built in 1950, holds 1,000 people, Southwestern Seminary President Paige Patterson explained. That prevents assembling all of the student body for chapel and limits the number of people in the community who can attend events such as the annual presentation of “The Messiah.”

“In the chapel we model ‘how to do church,’ he explained on the website. “We will teach students how to ‘lift an offering'” while modeling effective exposition and application of God’s Word, demonstrating of proper public prayer and Bible reading, as well as participating in music that honors God and exalts the Savior.

More than 30,000 alumni worldwide will be asked to consider dedicating seats in the new facility in honor or in memory of individuals at a cost of $2,400 for the lower floor or $1,200 for the upper gallery.

The capital campaign called “Preparing Tomrrow’s Ministers … Until Jesus Comes” will be used to build the chapel as well as a facility to house the Roy Fish School of Missions and Evangelism.