34 Notable alumni of
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Updated:
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary is 1401st in the world, 496th in North America, and 465th in the United States by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 34 notable alumni from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary sorted by their wiki pages popularity. The directory includes famous graduates and former students along with research and academic staff.
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Steven Furtick
- Occupations
- pastorsongwriter
- Biography
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Larry Stevens Furtick Jr. is an American Baptist evangelical Christian pastor, author, and composer of Elevation Worship. He is the founder and senior pastor of Elevation Church, based in Charlotte, North Carolina.
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Jeff Struecker
- Occupations
- novelistwriter
- Biography
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Jeffery Dean Struecker is an American author, pastor, and former United States Army Ranger who was involved in the Battle of Mogadishu in 1993. He also participated in the 1989 invasion of Panama (Operation Just Cause) and in Kuwait during Operation Desert Storm. Struecker has co-authored five published books. Struecker was portrayed by Brian Van Holt in the 2001 film Black Hawk Down. In 2017, he was inducted into the Army Ranger Hall of Fame.
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Albert Mohler
- Enrolled in Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
- Graduated with Master of Divinity
- Occupations
- writertheologianpreacherchancellor
- Biography
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Richard Albert Mohler Jr. is an American evangelical theologian, the ninth president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, and host of the podcast The Briefing, where he daily analyzes the news and recent events from an evangelical perspective.
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Russell D. Moore
- Occupations
- theologian
- Biography
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Russell D. Moore is an American theologian, ethicist, and preacher. In June 2021, he became the director of the Public Theology Project at Christianity Today, and on August 4, 2022, was announced as the magazine's incoming Editor-in-Chief.
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Flame
- Years
- 1981-.. (age 43)
- Occupations
- rapper
- Biography
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Marcus Tyrone Gray, known as Flame (often stylized in all caps), is an American Lutheran (Lutheran Church Missouri Synod) Christian hip hop rapper with Clear Sight Music. He has released nine albums. Flame has been nominated for several Dove and Stellar Awards. The Our World: Redeemed album was nominated for a Grammy Award.
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Mark Dever
- Occupations
- preacherwriterpastormissionaryscholar
- Biography
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Mark E. Dever is a theologian and the senior pastor of the Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., and the president of 9Marks (formerly known as the Center for Church Reform), a Christian ministry he co-founded "in an effort to build biblically faithful churches in America. Dever also taught for the faculty of Divinity at the University of Cambridge and also served for two years as an associate pastor of Eden Baptist Church in Cambridge."
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Wallie Amos Criswell
- Occupations
- pastor
- Biography
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Wallie Amos Criswell, was an American pastor, author, and a two-term elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention from 1968 to 1970. As senior pastor of the First Baptist Church of Dallas for five decades he became widely known for expository biblical preaching at a popular level, and is regarded as a key figure in the late 1970s "Conservative Resurgence" within the Southern Baptist Convention.
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Ed Stetzer
- Enrolled in Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
- In 1994 graduated with Master of Divinity
- In 2003 graduated with Doctor of Philosophy
- Occupations
- editorwriter
- Biography
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Edward John Stetzer is an American author, pastor, and Christian missiologist. He is Dean and Professor of Leadership and Christian Ministry at Talbot School of Theology at Biola University. He also serves as Distinguished Visiting Scholar at Wycliffe Hall at Oxford University. Stetzer is Regional Director for Lausanne North America, the Editor-in-Chief of Outreach (magazine), and regularly writes for USA Today and CNN.
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J. Frank Norris
- Occupations
- priestjournalistpublisher
- Biography
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John Franklyn Norris, more commonly known as J. Frank Norris was a Baptist preacher and controversial Christian fundamentalist.
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Gregory Alan Thornbury
- Biography
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Gregory Alan Thornbury serves as Vice President of Development at the New York Academy of Art in New York City. He was formerly president of The King's College in New York City from 2013 to 2017, and chancellor from 2017 to 2018. Before King's, he was Professor of Philosophy, Dean of the School of Theology & Missions, and Vice President for Spiritual Life at Union University in Jackson, Tennessee.
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David P. Gushee
- Years
- 1962-.. (age 62)
- Occupations
- ethicisthistorian
- Biography
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David P. Gushee is a Christian ethicist, Baptist pastor, author, professor, and public intellectual. Growing up, Gushee attended and completed his college years at College of William and Mary in 1984. After college, he received his Ph.D. in Christian ethics from Union Theological Seminary in 1993. Among the titles listed, Gushee has shown hard work and dedication in different parts of his job and was awarded for his achievements. Gushee is most known for his activism in climate change, Torture, LGBT inclusion, and Post-evangelicalism.
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Dondi E. Costin
- Occupations
- military leader
- Biography
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Dondi Enos Costin is a former major general in the United States Air Force. He has led the United States Air Force Chaplain Corps and served as Chief of Chaplains of the United States Air Force since August 30, 2015. He retired effective September 1, 2018, and served as president of Charleston Southern University until June 30, 2023. On March 31, 2023, he was named president of Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia.
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Miguel A. De La Torre
- Occupations
- theologian
- Biography
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Miguel A. De La Torre is a professor of Social Ethics and Latino Studies at Iliff School of Theology, author, and an ordained Southern Baptist minister.
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Ron Lewis
- Occupations
- Christian ministerpoliticianfaculty member
- Biography
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Ronald Edward Lewis is an American retired politician who was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from 1994 to 2009, having represented the 2nd congressional district of Kentucky.
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Bryant Wright
- Occupations
- pastor
- Biography
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Bryant Wright is a Baptist pastor and author. He served as senior pastor of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Marietta, Georgia from its founding in 1981 until 2019. He also served as elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention from June 2010 to June 2012. He succeeded Johnny Hunt, who had served two one-year terms. Wright was succeeded as SBC president by Fred Luter. After having retired as Senior Pastor of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in 2019, Wright continues to work with Right From The Heart Ministries, and in 2020 was named President of Send Relief, a Christian humanitarian and charitable organization, by the International Mission Board and the North American Mission Board.
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Dan Crary
- Occupations
- musician
- Biography
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Dan Crary was born September 29, 1939, in Kansas City, Kansas, and is an American bluegrass guitarist. He helped re-establish flatpicked guitar as a prominent soloing bluegrass instrument. Crary is an innovator of the flatpicking style of guitar playing. He is also a Speech communications Professor at California State University, Fullerton. Crary categorizes himself as a "solo flatpicker" and has recorded several projects that feature him along with guests, usually other innovators of the guitar in all styles.
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Judy Baker
- Occupations
- politicianconsultant
- Biography
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Judith W. Baker is an American Democratic politician, small business owner, and educator from Missouri. She is a former member of the Missouri House of Representatives and a former Region VII Director for the United States Department of Health and Human Services. Baker was a candidate for Missouri State Treasurer in the 2016 election, but was defeated in the general election by Eric Schmitt.
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David O. Dykes
- Years
- 1953-.. (age 71)
- Occupations
- religious servant
- Biography
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Dr. David O. Dykes is Pastor Emeritus and the former Senior Pastor of Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler, Texas. He is also the author of several Christian books. Under his leadership Green Acres became "one of the leading churches in America," according to president of the SBC Executive Committee Morris Chapman.
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A. C. Dixon
- Occupations
- theologian
- Biography
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Amzi Clarence Dixon was a Baptist pastor, Bible expositor, and evangelist who was popular during the late 19th and the early 20th centuries. With R.A. Torrey, he edited an influential series of essays, published as The Fundamentals (1910–15), which gave Christian fundamentalism its name.
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Benjamin Ladner
- Years
- 1941-.. (age 83)
- Occupations
- university teacheracademic administrator
- Biography
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Benjamin Mance Ladner is an academic expert in the fields of philosophy and religion. He was president of American University from 1994 to 2005, when he was ousted.
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Edgar Young Mullins
- Occupations
- theologian
- Biography
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Edgar Young Mullins was a Southern Baptist minister and educator, who from 1899 until his death was the fourth president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, the flagship school of the Southern Baptist Convention.
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Charles Van Zant
- Occupations
- politicianarchitect
- Biography
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Charles E. Van Zant is an American architect and Southern Baptist minister who served as a Republican member of the Florida House of Representatives. From 2012 to 2018, Van Zant represented the 19th District, which includes Bradford County, Putnam County, Union County, and southern Clay County. Van Zant previously represented the 21st District from 2008 to 2012.
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Douglas L. Carver
- Biography
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Douglas Lanier Carver is a retired American Army officer who served as the 22nd Chief of Chaplains of the United States Army. He was appointed to this assignment on July 12, 2007, and was the first Southern Baptist chaplain to be promoted to the position of Chief of Chaplains in more than 50 years.
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J. William Jones
- Occupations
- authormilitary chaplainhistorian
- Biography
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J. William Jones was an American Southern Baptist preacher and writer who became known for his evangelism and devotion to the Lost Cause of the Confederacy. During the American Civil War of 1861–1865, the newly ordained Jones was a Confederate chaplain and conducted many revival meetings. Later, he became a campus minister at several universities and in his final years, chaplain for the United Confederate Veterans. After editing the papers of Gen. Robert E. Lee, Jones became the Secretary-Treasurer of the Southern Historical Society for 14 years and served on his denomination's Home Missions Board. He wrote many books about the Lost Cause and Christianity.
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Joseph Shore
- Years
- 1948-.. (age 76)
- Occupations
- opera singer
- Biography
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Joseph Shore was an American operatic Baritone and voice teacher. He has excelled particularly in the operas of Giuseppe Verdi.
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Robert Don Hughes
- Years
- 1949-.. (age 75)
- Occupations
- novelistscience fiction writer
- Biography
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Dr. Robert Don Hughes, is an American educator, writer, and pastor. He has authored mainstream fantasy and science fiction and evangelical non-fiction.
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Charles C. Baldwin
- Years
- 1947-.. (age 77)
- Occupations
- military officer
- Biography
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Charles Cread Baldwin is a former Chief of Chaplains of the United States Air Force.
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Reginald Bibby
- Occupations
- religious studies scholartheologianuniversity teachersociologist
- Biography
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Reginald Wayne Bibby is a Canadian sociologist. He has held the Board of Governors Research Chair in the Department of Sociology at the University of Lethbridge since 2001.
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Steve Goss
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Benjamin Stephenson Goss was an American politician. He served two terms (January 2007 – December 2010) as a Democratic member of the North Carolina Senate. He represented the 45th Senate district, including constituents in Alexander, Ashe, Watauga, and Wilkes counties. He was defeated for re-election in 2010 by Republican Dan Soucek.
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James H. DeVotie
- Biography
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James Harvey DeVotie was a Baptist minister in the American South. Born in Oneida County, New York, he was a pastor in South Carolina, Alabama and Georgia. He was a co-founder of Howard College in Marion, Alabama, later known as Samford University near Birmingham. He was a long-time trustee of Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. He served as a Confederate chaplain during the Civil War. After the war, he worked for the Southern Baptist Convention.
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Douglas Hahn
- Biography
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Douglas Hahn is an American prelate who served as the seventh Episcopal Bishop of Lexington. He was elected on August 18, 2012, and consecrated on December 15, 2012, in Lexington, Kentucky. He served until March 9, 2016, when he was suspended for one year for lying during the bishop interview process about past adultery with a parishioner. In October of that year, the Standing Committee of the diocese asked that Hahn resign as head of the diocese. In December, Hahn agreed to resign as of the end of his suspension, on March 10, 2017.
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James W. Kelly
- Enrolled in Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
- Graduated with Master of Theology
- Occupations
- Christian ministermilitary officer
- Biography
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James Woodrow Kelly was a rear admiral in the United States Navy. He was Chief of Chaplains of the United States Navy from July 1965 to July 1970. He is an alumnus of Ouachita Baptist University and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
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John Hall Buchanan, Jr
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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John Hall Buchanan Jr. was an American politician who served as a Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1965 to 1981, representing Alabama's 6th congressional district.
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James Washington Watts
- Enrolled in Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
- In 1986 graduated with Master of Divinity
- Occupations
- professor
- Biography
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James Washington Watts is an American professor of religion at Syracuse University. His research focuses on the rhetoric of Leviticus. His publications also compare the Bible with other religious scriptures, especially in their ritual performances, social functions, and material symbolism.
