news at free will baptist bible college     Free Will Baptist Bible College in Nashville, TN, has been the official college of the Free Will Baptist Denomination since 1942. To find out more information about the school, visit their website at www.fwbbc.edu.

 

 

Leroy Forlines, Passes Systematic Theology Torch

Reverend Leroy Forlines (pictured below), Systematic Theology professor at Free Will Baptist Bible College for almost six decades, informed the administration that effective fall 2011 he would pass the denomination-shaping course to others. An icon among Free Will Baptists and the broader community of Christian scholars, Forlines has taught Systematic Theology at FWBBC since 1954, except two years when he pursued graduate studies and a semester while on mission in Russia.

Dr. Kevin Hester, a 1993 FWBBC graduate who chairs the Theological Studies Department, will teach the fall semester of Systematic Theology. The spring semester will be taught by Reverend Matthew McAffee, Biblical and Theological Studies coordinator and a 1999 FWBBC graduate completing doctoral studies at University of Chicago. Both men are former students of Professor Forlines.

Provost Greg Ketteman said, “Brother Forlines has devoted his life to teaching theology and helping others understand it as he does. The same passion that drives him to teach Free Will Baptist theology is evident in the lives of Dr. Hester and Mr. McAffee.”

Forlines will continue as Professor Emeritus at FWBBC, teach Eschatology, and serve as occasional guest lecturer in Systematic Theology. His major goal this year is to complete a book manuscript on secularism in America.

“I feel confident knowing that Systematic Theology at FWBBC will be in good hands,” Forlines said. “I think the course will be enriched by this transfer of responsibilities to Dr. Hester and Mr. McAffee. Both understand my approach to theology, plus they both furthered their education in other theological institutions. I hope their names will be mentioned with favor as theology instructors in the Free Will Baptist denomination.”

Forlines has been a member of the denomination’s Commission for Theological Integrity since 1962, serving as chairman most of that time. He has written six books, including The Quest for Truth, Classical Arminianism, Romans, the first volume in the Randall House Bible Commentary, and Biblical Ethics. The college named its premier theological emphasis, the “Forlines Lecture Series,” in his honor.

Dr. Kevin Hester reflected, “It was in Brother Forlines’ Systematics courses in 1992 that my love for theology blossomed. He is primarily responsible for my continued interest in the subject. As I consider the daunting task of teaching a section of his Systematics class, I am comforted to know that his door is always open, and he remains my teacher, my mentor, and my friend.”

Reverend Matthew McAffee said, “I am deeply appreciative for the theological heritage Brother Forlines worked so hard to establish, and I consider it one my life’s greatest honors as this remarkable man hands over a sacred trust rooted in the distant past of our movement and grounded in the scriptures. Whatever I do will be greatly influenced by what he has already done.”

President Matt Pinson considers Forlines a mentor and friend: “I never wanted this day to arrive—when Brother Forlines would lay aside his incredible legacy as Systematic Theology professor at FWBBC. But we are here in God’s timing and in His will. This man’s teachings and writings shaped the denomination I love. He influenced me as an FWBBC student and as president. Brother Forlines has a number of important projects to complete, and we wish him well.”

PENCIL Foundation Recognizes FWBBC

Free Will Baptist Bible College received a plaque of recognition May 4 at the 29th annual PENCIL Celebration for its supportive role at Tom Joy Elementary School, according to Thurman Pate, chairman of the Teacher Education Department. Hundreds of representatives from PENCIL’s 754 partners in Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools and presenters from the business community attended the event, including Mayor Karl Dean and Director of Schools Jesse Register.

Dr. Pate represented FWBBC during the 90-minute celebration at Lipscomb University’s Allen Arena and accepted the plaque on behalf of the college: “FWBBC was one of only four groups recognized for 20 years of enduring partnerships with PENCIL in which FWBBC students have been actively involved in Tom Joy Elementary’s field days, tutoring, parenting sessions, and more.”

The non-profit foundation (Public Education Needs Community Involvement Leadership) opened its doors in April 1982, and is the premier organization linking community volunteers and material resources with Metro Nashville Public Schools.

Provost Greg Ketteman, who served almost 30 years (1977-2006) as teacher, principal, and professional educator in Metropolitan Nashville Schools, logged one year as assistant principal at Tom Joy (1993) before moving on to broader responsibilities within Metro Schools and later joining the FWBBC administration in 2006.

“I experienced first-hand how important the PENCIL partnership with local businesses and educational institutions can be,” Dr. Ketteman said. “The organizational partnership now enhances the education of more than 74,000 students in the Nashville area. I’m so thankful that men like FWBBC’s John Carter, chairman of our Arts and Sciences Department, kept us involved in this vital community outreach. It’s good for FWBBC, good for our students, and good for the Tom Joy community.”

SACS Reaffirms FWBBC Regional Accreditation

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) notified Free Will Baptist Bible College that its regional accreditation has been reaffirmed for 10 years, according to Provost Greg Ketteman. SACS is the regional accrediting agency in the southeast and authorizes colleges to award associate, baccalaureate, and graduate degrees.

The reaffirmation came after a fall 2010 evaluation when a 10-member team from SACS spent three days on campus reviewing academic programs, faculty and staff qualifications, finances, the physical plant, library, board and governance, strategic planning, student life, and other dimensions of the college’s operations. Over a period of three years, more than 2,600 supporting documents were prepared for the reaffirmation visit. Prior to the on-site visit, an off-site team reviewed FWBBC’s compliance document. After the on-site visit, the SACS Commission on Colleges reviewed the teams’ reports and reaffirmed the college’s accreditation.

“SACS accreditation reaffirmation visits leave no stone unturned,” said Provost Greg Ketteman. “The reaffirmation is conducted by professionals who recognize quality higher education and help ensure wise use of resources. Our reaffirmation signals that FWBBC is a transparent, high-quality, wisely managed institution of higher education. When it’s time to choose a college for their children, parents can trust FWBBC.”

The reaffirmation process involved the entire college family as the on-site team examined trends, records, facts, truth-in-advertising, and conducted staff and student interviews, examining financial aid compliance and numerous other areas.

Compliance Committee chairman, Dr. Kevin Hester, said, “This reaffirmation decision by SACS is the end result of an intensive three-year effort by the administration, faculty, and staff to demonstrate FWBBC’s compliance with the standards and principles laid out by one of the premier accrediting bodies in the United States. This decision demonstrates the high quality of education available at FWBBC and its continuing commitment to excellence.”

The process of gaining initial regional and/or national accreditation, like the process of accreditation reaffirmation, puts the entire college under scrutiny. Few organizations reach the level of self-examination and peer-evaluation required by SACS. Every decision, plan, and action is a legitimate area of examination for accrediting association representatives who are selected by SACS from among other southern colleges and universities to serve as team members who review academics, finance, administration, and student services.

Teacher Education Chairman Dr. Thurman Pate celebrated the SACS reaffirmation: “Regional accreditation is vital to the Teacher Education program. One of the preconditions for approval of the TE program states, ‘Institutions eligible for institutional or regional accreditation are accredited without probation….’ For the teacher candidates who complete our program to receive their license, the college must maintain regional accreditation through SACS.”

After learning of the SACS reaffirmation decision, Wayne Spruill, FWBBC’s director of institutional research, pointed to the walls of his office lined with 136 notebooks filled with compliance documents, and said: “It’s rewarding to realize we have maintained records and documentation that support our efforts to educate leaders to serve God. The preparation and presentation of our compliance documents has been both an arduous process and a learning experience.”

Tom Sass, vice president for financial affairs, remarked: “Reaffirmation signals that even during hard economic times, FWBBC has met the rigorous financial requirements set forth by SACS. Accreditation keeps opportunities for financial aid available to our students.”

FWBBC underwent two accreditation reaffirmation visits during the 2010-2011 academic year—the regional visit by SACS and a national visit by ABHE (Association for Biblical Higher Education), the agency that accredits degree-granting Bible colleges in the United States and Canada. Results from the ABHE reaffirmation visit are expected to be positive and will be announced later this summer.

President Matt Pinson said, “This is a great day for FWBBC. I salute our dedicated faculty, staff, and student body for a job well done. I hope the SACS accreditation reaffirmation provides yet another reason for Free Will Baptist parents to send their children here. We have an excellent program, and the broader community of professional educators has confirmed what we have known all along—Free Will Baptist Bible College provides top quality education for our students.”

FWBBC Vice President Retires After 17 Years

Dr. Milton Fields, vice president for institutional planning at Free Will Baptist Bible College, announced his retirement at the close of the 2010-2011 academic year, according to Provost Greg Ketteman. The Board of Trustees cited Dr. Fields’ innovative leadership during their spring 2011 meeting. President Pinson presented Dr. Fields with a plaque recognizing his 17 years of service to the college during commencement, and a dinner in his honor was held May 26.

Dr. Ketteman said, “You can’t replace professional, creative leaders like Milton Fields. His incredible work legacy and influence at the college set him apart as one of those rare individuals who change the entire educational landscape.”

Dr. Fields joined the college faculty in 1994 as chairman of the Teacher Education Department after pastoring Free Will Baptist churches 29 years in Georgia, Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi, and serving as a respected teacher and principal in a number of schools (1976-1994). He was named academic dean (1998-2006) and then vice president for institutional planning (2006-2011), during which time he also served on the President’s Cabinet.

Converted at age 12 in a Vernon, Alabama, tent revival conducted by his father and FWBBC alumnus Malone Cobb, Fields enrolled at Mississippi State University to become an aeronautical engineer, then transferred to FWBBC in 1964 where he answered the call to preach. He felt led to home missions and church restoration work, and spent almost 30 years rescuing struggling churches.

“I have often said that each of the churches where I served as pastor was dead, dying, or dead broke when I arrived,” Dr. Fields said. “But the churches grew, paid off debts, and one of them became a full-time pastorate. Then came the call to FWBBC, and for 17 years I have had the privilege of serving with some of the finest Christian leaders anywhere. My greatest blessing at FWBBC has been working with the professional faculty and staff. They are well qualified spiritually and academically.”

Dr. Fields graduated from FWBBC with a B.A. degree in 1967. He subsequently earned a B.S. degree at the University of Alabama (1976), the M.Ed. degree at the University of South Alabama (1980), and the Ph.D. at the University of Southern Mississippi (1983). He served with the Mississippi State Department of Education, the Tennessee State Department of Education, and as an evaluator and team chair for both the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE). He also served on the Commission on Accreditation for ABHE and frequently conducted seminars at their annual meetings.

His broad ministerial outreach includes 30 years directing youth camps (1968-1998), moderating associations in Mississippi and Alabama, duties as clerk of the Florida State Association, and serving on state Executive Boards in Florida and Georgia. He wrote articles for Contact magazine, curriculum for the Free Will Baptist Church Training Service, and materials for other publications.

President Matt Pinson said, “When I came to FWBBC as president, Dr. Fields was one of my mentors as I transitioned from the pastorate to college administration. He understood what was happening and let me lean on his vast experience as a professional educator, providing time for me to catch up with the learning curve. He’s a good friend and colleague. We look forward to his continuing role with FWBBC as a presidential advisor and a field representative.”

Milton and Helen Fields have been married 46 years. They recently relocated to Ethelsville, Alabama, where Dr. Fields fishes every chance he gets, reads a variety of books, and enjoys gardening in his home state. He was recently appointed to ABHE’s Commission on Accreditation Appeals Board, which means that he will continue to consult with both FWBBC and emerging Bible colleges.

“God is not finished with me yet,” Dr. Fields said. “He is just changing my assignment somewhat.”