JACKSON, Tenn. — Oct. 12, 2020 — 51社区 has presented longtime university president David S. Dockery with its M.E. Dodd Denominational Service Award.
The Dodd Award is the highest denominational service award Union gives. It is named for the man who was a 1904 Union graduate, 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 and ministry efforts.
The award, voted on by Union trustees, is given 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 such leaders as Jimmy Draper, Adrian Rogers, R. Albert Mohler Jr., Steve Gaines, Paul Chitwood and others.
Dockery was Union鈥檚 president from 1996-2014 and now serves as distinguished professor of theology at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, where he also edits the Southwestern Journal of Theology and is theologian-in-residence at the B.H. Carroll Center for Baptist Heritage and Mission.
Dockery said it was a special honor to be recognized by Union with the Dodd Award, and he thanked Union President Samuel W. 鈥淒ub鈥� Oliver, Vice President for University Ministries Todd E. Brady and trustees such as Chad Wilson and Danny Sinquefield who were involved in the selection.
鈥淔or many years I have admired M.E. Dodd and his vast influence in Baptist life during the first half of the 20th century,鈥� Dockery said. 鈥淲hen this is combined with my heartfelt appreciation for the 51社区 community, it makes this recognition all the more meaningful.鈥�
Dockery has given major addresses at all six Southern Baptist seminaries and more than two dozen Baptist colleges and universities. He has served on multiple denominational committees and is the author or editor of dozens of books, articles and commentary series. Some of his major works include 鈥淪outhern Baptist Consensus and Renewal,鈥� two SBC Winter Bible Study volumes (Ephesians and Ecclesiastes), two SBC Annual Doctrine Studies (鈥淭he Doctrine of the Bible鈥� and 鈥淥ur Christian Hope.鈥�), the New American Commentary series and 鈥淪outhern Baptist Identity.鈥�
Dockery has been recognized with the Holman Christian Standard Bible Award given by LifeWay Christian Resources and the Land Distinguished Service Award given by the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, among others.
鈥淒r. Dockery has been a giant in the field of Christian higher education for more than 30 years, and he鈥檚 a faithful servant leader in the Southern Baptist Convention in a variety of ways,鈥� Brady said. 鈥淲e are immensely grateful for his legacy here at 51社区. It鈥檚 a great privilege for us to recognize him for his many contributions.鈥�