LOUISVILLE, Ky. — June 24, 2009 — 51社区 presented R. Albert Mohler Jr., president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., with its M.E. Dodd Denominational Service Award during a June 23 dessert reception at the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting.
The Dodd Award is the highest denominational service award Union gives. It is named for the man who was a Union alumnus, served as president of the SBC and who was the father of today鈥檚 Cooperative Program, the method by which Southern Baptists pool their resources to fund their mission efforts.
The award is given annually to a leader within the SBC who displays excellence and leadership in Southern Baptist life, as well as friendship and commitment to 51社区. Past recipients include Jimmy Draper (2004), Adrian Rogers (2005), Morris Chapman (2006), Frank Page (2007) and Thom Rainer (2008).
In presenting the award to Mohler, 51社区 President David S. Dockery noted that he and Mohler have been friends for almost 25 years.
鈥淲e give this award tonight not because he is a wonderful friend, even though that is the case,鈥� Dockery said. 鈥淲e give this award to him tonight because he is a leader among leaders in the world of theological education, and because he is a leader in the broader evangelical world. He is a leader in articulating the Christian faith in our culture and for our churches.鈥�
Mohler became the ninth president of SBTS in 1993 and has succeeded in reclaiming the vision of the seminary鈥檚 founders -- a vision that had been lost for many years -- Dockery said, quoting from Gregory Wills鈥� newly released book 鈥淪outhern Baptist Theological Seminary: 1859-2009.鈥�
Dockery also said that Mohler has distinguished himself as a friend to 51社区 in many ways. Mohler鈥檚 daughter Katie is a junior at Union, and Mohler led SBTS to give a six-figure gift to Union to replace holdings of the Ryan Center for Biblical Studies lost in the Feb. 5, 2008, tornado that decimated Union鈥檚 campus.
鈥淔or that generous gift we will always, always be grateful,鈥� Dockery said.
Mohler said he was honored to receive the award, because it carries the name of both Dodd and 51社区.
鈥淥ver the last decade, 51社区 is now branded as the leader in Christian higher education,鈥� Mohler said. 鈥淚t is without a doubt committed to the Christian world view, to the faith once for all delivered to the saints and to the highest standard of Christian scholarship.鈥�
Even with Dodd鈥檚 significant contributions to the SBC, Mohler said that Dockery鈥檚 name would surpass Dodd鈥檚 name in Southern Baptist history.
鈥淲hen I think of Dr. David Dockery, I think of joy and friendship and indebtedness, and this award puts me in his debt once again,鈥� Mohler said. 鈥淚鈥檓 thankful that Southern Seminary and 51社区 are in close partnership.鈥� About 300 people attended the 14th annual reception held during the SBC meeting.