by Anna Pinson | Sep 16, 2024
For Immediate Release
GALLATIN, TN—Welch College enrolled 399 students for its fall 2024 semester, similar to last fall’s headcount of 393, according to Matthew McAffee, Provost of Welch College.
“We are so delighted to welcome this promising group of new students to Welch College,” McAffee said. “We pray the Lord will grant His richest blessings upon them as they pursue their vocational preparation for life and ministry.”
At press time, college officials reported 142 dormitory students (10 of which are graduate students), 33 commuter students, 39 non-residential graduate students, 60 Adult Studies/Online students, and 125 dual enrollment students. Full-time equivalency (FTE) was 251 students. Total enrollment statistics indicate students from 25 states, 1 territory, and 10 other countries.
“It’s such a wonderful thing seeing students back on campus,” Welch President Matt Pinson said. “We have a great group of committed students this year. Only one other year, 25 years ago, did Welch have as many other countries represented in the student body. On-campus enrollment is not quite as high as it was last year, but we’re holding steady and gradually building up after our enrollment took a plunge in the wake of COVID.”
“Also, ministry enrollment is up, with a larger number of pastoral ministry students in the freshman class,” Pinson added. “In a few more years, we project we’ll be back up to the 40-year record enrollment the college experienced the year before COVID.”
For more information about Welch College, email recruit@welch.edu or visit the college’s website at www.welch.edu.
by Anna Pinson | Aug 29, 2024
For Immediate Release
GALLATIN, TN—Dr. Timothy Tennent, former president and professor of World Christianity at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky, will deliver a series of guest lectures during the 2024 Leroy Forlines Lectures at Welch College, according to President Matt Pinson.
“This year we’re excited to merge our Forlines Lectures and Missions Conference into a series of lectures by world-renowned missiologist Timothy Tennent,” Pinson said. “He will be lecturing on the theology of world missions, which is appropriate since one of the topics mentioned when the lectureship was founded was ‘world mission.’” The presentations are scheduled for October 14-15, 10:00 to 12:00, in Celorio Auditorium on the Welch campus.
The Leroy Forlines Lectures began in 1993 at Welch College as a means of bringing well known speakers to campus who could address challenging issues of the day related to theology, philosophy, worldview, world mission, and other topics. They are named for long-time Welch professor and dean F. Leroy Forlines. The lectureship, which had not been held for a few years, was reinstated in 2023 by means of a generous endowment by Professor Forlines’s wife Dr. Fay Forlines.
“It’s a unique privilege to have Dr. Tennent on campus again,” President Pinson said. “He’s one of the best known missiologists in the evangelical community, and he brings a sound biblical and theological vision to bear on his subject. We’re so glad to be able to bring together our biennial missions conference with our annual Forlines Lectures and have Dr. Tennent lecture on the theology of world missions.”
Tennent is a highly regarded preacher, professor, missiologist, and author. Before his inauguration as president of Asbury Theological Seminary in November of 2009, he held teaching positions at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and Toccoa Falls College. He has also taught and ministered in Eastern Europe and Asia.
Tennent received his M.Div. from Gordon-Conwell, a Th.M. from Princeton Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. He is also a 2008 graduate of a three-year mentor project in Academic Leadership sponsored by the Lilly endowment.
He is author of numerous books and articles, including Christianity at the Religious Roundtable (Baker Academic), Theology in the Context of World Christianity (Zondervan), Invitation to World Missions: A Trinitarian Missiology for the 21st Century (Kregel Academic), and For the Body: Recovering a Theology of Gender, Sexuality, and the Human Body (Zondervan).
Tennent’s wife, Julie, also a graduate of Gordon-Conwell, has led numerous Bible studies and is active in Friendship International in Lexington, Kentucky. She is a church organist and pianist, having produced several recordings and a cantata known as All the Glory. The Tennents have two adult children.
IM, the Free Will Baptist international missions agency, along with other affiliated missions organizations, will feature exhibits and information sessions at the conference. The event is free of charge and open to the public. Gifts to help make the Forlines Lectures possible may be made to Welch College by sending a check marked “Forlines Lectures” to Welch College, 1045 Bison Trail, Gallatin, TN 37066, or by giving online at welch.edu/give with designation to the lecture series.
by Anna Pinson | Aug 27, 2024
For Immediate Release
GALLATIN, TN—Several Welch faculty contributed chapters to the new book Jonathan Edwards: A Reformed Arminian Engagement published by B&H Academic, according to Welch president Matt Pinson.
Edited by Pinson, the book, recently published by the academic publishing arm of LifeWay Christian Resources, presents a Reformed Arminian interaction with the theology of the great Reformed theologian, philosopher, and preacher Jonathan Edwards (1703–1758).
In addition to Pinson, contributors include Robert Picirilli, professor emeritus of New Testament and Greek at Welch; Paul Harrison, long-time adjunct in Church History and Greek at Welch who now serves as pastor of Madison Free Will Baptist Church in Madison, Alabama; Matthew McAffee, Welch provost and dean of Welch Divinity School; Kevin Hester, vice president for institutional effectiveness and dean of the school of theology at Welch; and Barry Raper, associate professor of ministry and special assistant to the president for ministry formation at Welch who also serves as senior pastor at Bethel Free Will Baptist Church in Chapmansboro, Tennessee.
“This book allows the distinctive thinking of the Reformed Arminian expression of theology to shine,” Pinson said. “That’s because there are things we really like about Edwards’s Reformed theology but things we differ from with Edwards when it comes to his Calvinist doctrine of salvation.”
Several Arminian and Calvinist scholars highly commend the book. One of those is Michael A. G. Azad Haykin, Professor of Church History at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, who wrote the foreword for the book: “The authors of the essays in this fine collection are quite prepared to acknowledge Edwards as an important mentor in their lives and yet part company with him on certain issues that relate to freedom and soteriology. . . . A collection of Reformed Arminian essays on one regarded as a quintessential Calvinist is a surprising turn of events, but it is a turn that is both a profitable and an enjoyable read.”
Wesleyan-Arminian scholar Matt Ayars, former president of Wesley Biblical Seminary, said, “This book is needed now. The rapidly changing landscape of Methodism, pan-Wesleyanism, and more broadly Protestant evangelicalism in North America means the establishment of new boundary lines. . . . This book, with the spirit in which it is written, is the kind of work that will simply make the church better in the immediate future.”
Chris Chun, Director of the Jonathan Edwards Center at Gateway Seminary in California, calls the book “a fresh and creative contribution to the ongoing discussions in Edwards studies. . . . This page-turner offers a captivating exploration that underscores the real divergences between Calvinists and Reformed Arminians.”
Tom Nettles, Senior Professor of Historical Theology at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, states, “I recommend the book heartily. . . . Its authors’ grasp of the secondary literature is profound, and their interaction with primary Edwardsean texts shows an impressive, sympathetic, and instructive depth of understanding.”
Brian Shelton, Chair of Christian Studies and Philosophy at Asbury University says, “As the landscape of evangelical thought shifts, this nuanced approach with its generous attitude can help to rectify overstated theological partitions.”
Rhyne Putman, Vice President for Academic Affairs at Williams Baptist University, calls the volume “a unique collection of essays that truly models the art of charitable, appreciative, and balanced theological disagreement . . . a must-read.”
John Mark Hicks, Emeritus Professor of Theology at Lipscomb University, notes: “Any discussion of the differences between the Dordt version of Reformed theology and Reformed Arminianism and Wesleyan Arminianism must engage this book.”
Copies of the book may be ordered from numerous bookstores and online outlets or from Welch College Press (welchpress.com) at the discounted price of $19.99.
by Anna Pinson | Aug 2, 2024
For Immediate Release
GALLATIN, TN—Welch College announces an opening for the Financial Aid Coordinator position. We seek a dedicated individual to manage and supervise the Student Financial Aid Office, ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations while providing a high level of customer service to meet the financial aid needs of our students and administration.
Key Responsibilities
The Financial Aid Coordinator will counsel students and parents on financial assistance in meeting their educational goals, serve on the Financial Aid and Scholarships Appeals Committee, develop student costs of attendance, collaborate with campus departments, ensure compliance with financial aid regulations, manage state grants and scholarships, and maintain a comprehensive Financial Aid Policy and Procedures Manual, among other responsibilities.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree
- Experience dealing with and serving people
- Ability to work independently and meet deadlines
- Active church involvement, Christian commitment, and alignment with the college’s mission
- Good organizational and communication skills
Interested candidates should submit the following:
- A cover letter outlining qualifications and interest in the position
- A detailed resume
- Contact information for three professional references
Please send applications to Craig Mahler, Vice President for Financial Affairs, by email at cmahler@welch.edu. The application deadline is Thursday, August 15, 2024.
Welch College is a Christian college located in Gallatin, Tennessee, whose mission is to educate Christian leaders to serve Christ, His Church, and His world through biblical thought and life. We are committed to providing high-quality education in a supportive, spiritually enriching environment.
We look forward to welcoming a dedicated professional to our team to help continue providing excellent financial aid services to our students.
by Anna Pinson | Aug 2, 2024
For Immediate Release
GALLATIN, TN—Angie Edgmon, who has served in the Financial Aid Department at Welch College for twenty-six years, will be leaving the college, according to Craig Mahler, Vice President for Financial Affairs.
During her tenure at Welch, Mrs. Edgmon began as Financial Aid Assistant, then has overseen the department since May 2011 as Financial Aid Coordinator. This office ensures compliance with federal and state regulations and helps with financial needs of students. “Angie’s love for Welch’s mission to educate Christian leaders is evident in her diligent and sacrificial service in the Financial Aid Office and her genuine support of students and their families as they navigate the financial aid process,” Mahler said.
Welch President Matt Pinson said, “Angie made her mark on Welch College over the past quarter-century. This is something that can be said of very few people, regardless of their workplace. In addition to being steady and reliable for so many years, week-in and week-out, she has been kind and friendly, treating students and their parents, as well as her fellow Welch employees, with respect and warmth. We pray God’s blessings on her as she begins this next chapter.”
Mrs. Edgmon is a 1994 graduate of Welch. She commented, “It is with much prayer that I made the difficult decision to leave Welch after so many years. Being able to work closer to home was the main drawing point for me and my husband. It is bittersweet to leave the college and colleagues that I love so much.” After many years of commuting from Dickson, Tennessee, Mrs. Edgmon is taking a position with the Tennessee College of Applied Technology in Dickson. She has graciously agreed to provide limited support after her final day of full-time employment on August 2.
by Anna Pinson | May 31, 2024
For Immediate Release
GALLATIN, TN—The Welch College Rejoice! Ministry Team announces that their summer tour will begin Sunday, June 2. The ensemble will hold services in ten churches in six states during their four-week tour. The team will also attend Free Will Baptist state meetings in North Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Ohio.
The summer tour’s program will feature hymns, gospel songs, and modern worship arrangements designed to encourage and evangelize. The members of the 2024 Rejoice! Ministry Team are Malena Campis, Ellie Crabtree, Marc Edgmon, Reilly Holloman, Silas Houser, Camden Lewis, Cheyenne Lewis, Abigail McAffee, Brook Proctor, Jacob Robertson, Rachael Wilkerson, and Landon Wolfe.
“God has given us the gift of psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to share His gospel with the world,” said Todd Parrish, Vice President for Institutional Advancement. “It is our prayer that this team will lead our Free Will Baptist people to worship the Lord and that God will bless and use them as they minister around our denomination.”
June 2 AM Hull Road FWB Church, Snow Hill, NC
June 2 PM Prospect Free Will Baptist Church, Dunn, NC
June 3 NC FWB State Meeting, Greensboro, NC
June 5–6 TX FWB State Meeting, Henderson, TX
June 9 AM Locust Grove Free Will Baptist Church, Locust Grove, OK
June 12 PM Lifegate Free Will Baptist Church, Winchester, VA
June 13–14 VA FWB State Meeting, Winchester, VA
June 16 AM Cramerton Free Will Baptist Church, Cramerton, NC
June 19 PM Heritage Free Will Baptist Church, Columbus, OH
June 21–22 OH FWB State Meeting, Columbus, OH
June 23 AM Sciotodale Free Will Baptist Church, Portsmouth, OH
June 23 PM Dogwood Ridge Free Will Baptist Church, Wheelersburg, OH
June 26 PM Sand Hill Free Will Baptist Church, Sandusky, OH
June 30 AM Immanuel Free Will Baptist Church, Gallatin, TN
