NEWS FLASH – 11/24/2003
Former President Recognized
Dr. John W. Gregson, former BMA Seminary professor and administrator, was honored recently on the seminary campus. The seminary celebrated Dr. Gregson’s 80th birthday on November 6, 2003, by asking him to bring a message during chapel services and with a reception. At the right, Gregson is joined with current president, Dr. Charley Holmes, and president emeritus, Dr. Philip Bryan.
Dr. Gregson served as professor and registrar from 1957 to 1967 and then as president from 1967 to 1971. He returned as a professor from 1990 to 1999.
On May 19, 1980, the BMA Seminary Student Center was renamed Gregson Center in his honor. Students and faculty members use the center for relaxation and formal gatherings. In 2001, the Gregson family graciously provided funds to refurbish the Gregson Center.
Laymen Help Roof Seminary Apartments
The seminary is grateful to several volunteers for their recent work on the seminary’s student housing. Bro. Lonnie Polk of Matthews, Missouri organized a work-crew to replace the roofing on three of the seminary duplexes. The duplexes are normally used to house students with families.
Polk came up with the idea while visiting his son’s family in one of the apartments. Jeff Polk is a Master of Divinity student at BMA Seminary. He noticed a leak in the roof and began planning a way to make the needed repairs.
The volunteers from First Baptist Church, Matthews, Missouri (Lonnie Polk, Chris Polk, Al Hill, and Chuck Curry) and Sheridan Terrace Baptist Church in Palestine, Texas (Jeff Polk and Jessie Williams) worked from November 3-4, 2003.
Bro. Donald Hammock, seminary business manager, said, “It was a pleasure to work with these volunteers. Thanks to their sacrifice the seminary was able to roof three buildings for the price of one. Such dedication of time and willingness allows the seminary to keep down costs to students.”
Chuck Curry, one of the volunteers, said, “I am not called to be a preacher but I can certainly be a servant. I am capable of doing manual labor. People can find a way to serve if they want to.”
Dr. Philip Attebery, seminary dean, added, “The seminary greatly appreciates the time and energy these men have devoted to helping our ministry. I am grateful to their families for lending them to us for a few days. Many student families will be protected by these roofs for many years. These repairs will help those students to concentrate on their studies, etc. rather than leaky roofs.”
Parsons Published in Scholarly Journal
Dr. Greg W. Parsons, BMA Seminary Professor of Biblical Studies, contributed an article to the April-June 2003 issue of Bibliotheca Sacra entitled “Guidelines for Understanding and Proclaiming the Book of Ecclesiastes, Part 1.”
Bibliotheca Sacra is a theological quarterly that has been published by Dallas Theological Seminary since 1934. The publication itself dates back to 1843 and “seeks to serve scholars, (DTS) alumni, pastors, teachers, and serious lay Bible students.”
The article notes that the Book of Ecclesiastes is “one of the most difficult Bible books to understand.” Parsons says that the first guideline is to interpret each verse in light of the overall context of the book— structure, purpose, and message. He advises students to avoid excessive generalizations from Ecclesiastes and to discover the book’s overall purpose in light of the final conclusion (12:13-14). Parsons also admonishes students to “recognize that the concept of the fear of God is not an afterthought but is a theme woven into the fabric of the book (3:14; 5:7; 7:18; 8:12-13).”
The article also notes several implications for interpreting the book. First, is to be aware of the rare words and phrases that are repeated. Second, is to “note various suggestions for interpreting seemingly contradictory verses.” Third, “avoid the prooftexting used by members of various cults.”