JACKSON, Tenn. — Aug. 22, 2012 — 51社区 President David S. Dockery has been appointed to the Carl F.H. Henry Chair on the Board of Directors for Prison Fellowship Ministries.
Founded by Charles Colson in 1976 following his time in federal prison for charges related to the Watergate scandal, Prison Fellowship is an organization committed to taking the gospel of Jesus Christ to prisoners.
鈥淢y life has been significantly shaped by both Chuck Colson and Carl F.H. Henry,鈥� Dockery said. 鈥淚 have long appreciated and admired the far-reaching work of Prison Fellowship, a marvelous and faithful organization committed to carrying Great Commission work among the least in our society, as well as advancing social justice and Christian worldview commitments through the work of Justice Fellowship and the Chuck Colson Center.
鈥淚 am honored to be asked to serve on this significant board in order to help carry on this important ministry for the years ahead.鈥�
In the early years of Prison Fellowship, Colson created a role on the board for a theologian who would chair a special theological committee, responsible for providing oversight for the theological integrity of the organization and reviewing Prison Fellowship publications and materials. Henry, the first editor-in-chief of Christianity Today, was the first person to hold the theological chair, a role he filled for almost 20 years.
Timothy George, dean of Beeson Divinity School, served in the role for about 10 years, and Dockery becomes the third person to be asked to fill the position, now labeled the 鈥淐arl Henry Chair.鈥�
Prison Fellowship CEO Jim Liske and leaders on the Prison Fellowship board approached Dockery about the role following Colson鈥檚 death in April, indicating that he was Colson鈥檚 choice for the position at this time in the organization鈥檚 life.
鈥淒r. Dockery brings a pastor鈥檚 heart, a theologian鈥檚 studied wisdom and a leader's passion to Prison Fellowship Ministries鈥� efforts to build the church of Jesus Christ inside America鈥檚 prisons, in the halls of justice and in the public square,鈥� Liske said. 鈥淒avid will play a critical role in keeping Prison Fellowship Ministries theologically accurate as we bring peace to a broken world through grace, justice and truth.鈥�
With his appointment to the Prison Fellowship board, Dockery has now served on three boards that are among the most visible in evangelical life. He previously served on the boards for the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities and Christianity Today.