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Midwestern Seminary announces Lee and Tammy Roberson Endowed Chair of Church History  

Posted November 2, 2021 by Michael S. Brooks

During Midwestern Seminary’s fall Board of Trustees meeting, President Jason Allen announced the establishment and funding of the Lee and Tammy Roberson Endowed Chair of Church History.

Lee and Tammy Roberson, who reside in Hobbs, N.M., are owners of business ventures in the oil and gas industry and Roberson Farms, LLC. The Robersons are members of Taylor Memorial Baptist Church, a Southern Baptist congregation in Hobbs, and Mr. Roberson is entering his seventh year as a Midwestern Seminary trustee.

The church history chair is the seminary’s second endowed faculty chair in Midwestern Seminary’s history. In 2010, Midwestern Seminary and the Missouri Baptist Convention announced the Missouri Baptist Chair of Partnership Missions, later renamed the Gary Taylor Chair of Missions and Evangelism.

“It is increasingly important to be mindful not only of our seminary’s past and present but also its future,” Allen said. “One of the ways we hope to do this is by securing endowed chairs for key professorships in primary disciplines within our curriculum.

“By God’s grace and as a result of a series of conversations over the summer and into the fall, Lee and Tammy Roberson have stepped forward to provide key monetary support in the form of an endowment for a chair in church history, now named in their honor. What is more, Lee Roberson saw fit to endow the faculty chair in honor of his mother, Mrs. Margaret McClure, a faithful and exemplary member of a Southern Baptist congregation in New Mexico. We are greatly encouraged by the Robersons’ unwavering support and their commitment in their own local ministry contexts as well as to our institution and Southern Baptists more broadly.”

Lee Roberson, who has served as a seminary trustee since 2014 and currently serves as the board’s chairman, said he holds the administration and faculty of Midwestern Seminary in the highest esteem, and he is eager to see what the future holds for the seminary as more students are trained for gospel ministry.

“Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is a place in which the Word of God is held in the highest esteem,” Roberson said. “The study of the Word and the study of church history gives us the knowledge, confidence, and faith to know that the inerrant Word of God is true. The study of church history, and the Word alongside it, are pleasing to God and ensure we can confidently be faithful gospel witnesses to the world.

“Tammy and I are more than pleased and humbled to support the theologians at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary who dedicate their lives to study, teach, preach, and live out the history of the Church in unique ways. We support, care for, and pray for all those serving in Kansas City who are truly for the Church.”

Midwestern Seminary Provost and Professor of Church History Jason Duesing reflected on the significance of the endowed chair related to Midwestern Seminary’s mission, saying, “It is a joy to see this chair established as it is a statement that emphasizes the DNA of church history studies at Midwestern Seminary.

“The study of church history should be done in service to churches present and churches future, with a view toward those around the world who do not yet have a church history.”

Allen added the establishment of the church history chair is a hint of things to come at Midwestern Seminary and indicated rigorous theological commitments bolster the endowed positions.

“Our endowed chairs each have robust memorandums of understanding between the institution and those who donate,” Allen said. “These ‘MOUs’ ensure that all who fill those endowed chairs will remain theologically faithfully, thus adding additional doctrinal accountability for the seminary until Jesus returns.”

The first occupant of the Lee and Tammy Roberson Endowed Chair of Church History will be named at a later date.


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