by Jackson Watts

Last week our National Association met in Little Rock for its 82nd annual meeting. The Commission for Theological Integrity held a seminar, and also elected a new Commission member.

Convention attendees are offered dozens of opportunities to take in seminars. However, long before seminars were common on the National program, the Theological Commission sponsored an annual theological trends seminar on Monday afternoon. This year that tradition was continued by Dr. Andrew Ball. Ball is professor of philosophy at Wallace State Community College in Hanceville, Alabama. He presented a seminar on Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide in Theological Perspective. Those who attended had a number of meaningful questions and comments as this issue encroaches more and more on the life of God’s people.  Soon we will be providing a follow-up resource on this topic here on the blog, so check back soon  for more on this.

In the past year the Commission lost one of its members, Reverend Randy Corn, due to resignation. He had to resign due to health reasons, but we deeply appreciate the contributions he made during his time on our Commission.

At the Convention Dr. Thomas Marberry was elected to fulfill Brother Corn’s unexpired term, ending in 2019. Marberry is pastor of First FWB Church in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and distinguished professor of New Testament at Randall University. Previously, he served as vice president for academic affairs at Randall. Marberry earned a B.A. from Baylor University, a M.Div. from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. in the New Testament studies from Baylor University. He has taught Greek, theology, and church history for almost four decades, and has written extensively. He has published two Randall House Bible Commentaries–Galatians and 1,2,3 John, and is currently completing a commentary on the book of Luke. Dr. Marberry has been a presenter at the Theological Symposium many times, and has contributed to Integrity: A Journal of Christian Thought. We welcome him to our Commission!