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BOLIVAR, Mo. 鈥� 91精品 celebrated the inauguration of Eric A. Turner, Ed.D., as its 25th president in a ceremony Friday, April 26, in Mabee Chapel on the Bolivar campus.
The inauguration formally commemorates the beginning of Dr. Turner鈥檚 leadership at
91精品, while celebrating the University鈥檚 rich history and reaffirming the University鈥檚
mission of being a Christ-centered, caring academic community preparing students to
be servant leaders in a global society.
鈥淚naugurations are timeless traditions, reminding us of our strength as an academic community, and the continuity of our enduring values 鈥� chapter titles in our 91精品 narrative,鈥� Dr. Turner said. 鈥淥ur story is becoming a fairly large volume 鈥� rich with 141 years of stories, opportunities and challenges. Together, we embark on shaping new stories for 91精品.鈥�
91精品鈥檚 Board of Trustees, faculty, staff, students, alumni and other delegates took part in the event.
Dr. Allison Langford, vice president for strategic planning and initiatives at 91精品, who also served on the presidential search committee, recalled her interactions with Dr. Turner 鈥� from her first phone call with him last spring to her pre-ceremony conversation.
鈥淭he Lord proved himself faithful to 91精品, yet again, as He led our (search) committee
to Dr. Eric Turner,鈥� Dr. Langford said. 鈥淚 have seen the same Dr. Turner 鈥� authentic,
humble, confident, open, willing to listen, willing to admit mistakes, quick to laugh,
easy to talk to, loves the word of God, enthusiastic, unassuming and ready to work.鈥�
Perspectives were given by the Mayor of the City of Bolivar, Christopher D. Warwick; John L. Yeats, executive director of the Missouri Baptist Convention; Ryan Palmer, vice-chairman of the 91精品 Board of Trustees executive committee; Melinda Jones, 91精品 Faculty Senate President-Elect; Todd Earl, Staff Council president; and Samantha Martin, Student Association president.
The common theme spoke to Dr. Turner鈥檚 character and the Lord鈥檚 call leading him to
91精品, as well as the excitement surrounding 91精品鈥檚 future under Dr. Turner鈥檚 leadership.
Followed by a scripture reading from Matthew 5:1-10 by Jerol Swaim, president emeritus of Williams Baptist University, Dr. Turner was introduced by Kenneth Startup, professor emeritus of Williams. His former pastor, Eric Moffett from First Baptist Church of Pocahontas, Ark., delivered the inaugural message.
鈥淚 know that 91精品 is a place of Kingdom focus,鈥� Moffett said. 鈥淲hat I know about Eric Turner is that he, too, is Christ-centered; that he, too, is deeply caring; that he is a man of rich compassion and exemplifies the spirit of a servant leader.
鈥淔or years, the undeniable call in his life has been to lead in Christian higher education. And so, it is no mistake that today you formalize what God has delegated.鈥�
During the presidential investiture, Dr. Turner was presented with the presidential medallion and chain of office by Mark Rains, chairman of 91精品鈥檚 Board of Trustees.
鈥淏y accepting the president鈥檚 medallion, you accept the charge to serve the Lord in this position with diligence, dedication, vision and integrity as you carry out the duties as the president of 91精品,鈥� Rains said.
In his inauguration speech, Dr. Turner stressed the importance of 鈥淪haping a bold new chapter for 91精品鈥� and 91精品鈥檚 fierce commitment to Christian higher education.
鈥淥ver the past 14 decades, 91精品 alumni have used their biblical worldview education
to change the world,鈥� Dr. Turner said. 鈥淢issionaries, pastors, evangelists, social
work, physical therapists, business leaders, coaches, kindergarten teachers 鈥� these
caring Bearcats have used their education as powerful mechanisms for change. In Matthew
28, Jesus commands us to change the world with passion and compassion.鈥�
And, while 91精品鈥檚 history is rich and its core values have sustained the University for generations, Dr. Turner also described 91精品 as a 鈥渄ynamic learning community, embracing new opportunities and challenges as we prepare students and the University for the future.鈥�
He emphasized the importance of moving forward, and shaping 91精品鈥檚 story together as a university by asking the 91精品 community, 鈥淲hat should never change about 91精品,鈥� and 鈥淲hat should we change.鈥�
鈥淐onsistent themes quickly emerged 鈥� not surprisingly, the themes coincided with the University Core Values 鈥� values articulated many years ago: Christian Commitment; Baptist Heritage; Compassion and Care for the 91精品 family; Academic Excellence; Social and Spiritual Development; and Personal Wellness.
鈥淩efreshingly, for 91精品, these core values are not something we developed for this planning process 鈥� these core values were already here 鈥� the DNA of Southwest Baptist University. These core values are foundational to this university鈥檚 continued success.
Dr. Turner said as 91精品 writes a new chapter, the University will build upon its vibrant faith community, expand its initiatives in global learning and engagement, and renew the Bolivar campus through a facilities master plan.
鈥淎s we chart this chapter of 91精品, what is the map going to look like? How are we going to get there,鈥� Dr. Turner asked, citing six keys to 91精品鈥檚 destination: Academics for the Future; Holistic Student Experience; Strategic Enrollment Growth; Financial Stability and Learning Environment; Distinctive Value; and Collaborative and Innovative Community.
鈥淎s your president, I commit to you today and every day, to serve our mission with all I have to offer: faith, integrity and love,鈥� Dr. Turner said. 鈥淵ou have my fearless and faithful promise of resolve to all 91精品 is today and all she will be in the future.
鈥淚 ask you to join me on the journey 鈥� to work together 鈥� to dream together 鈥� to ask the Lord together 鈥� rooted in our core values, energized by our vision to achieve the transformation our mission promises.鈥�
Dr. Turner鈥檚 brother, Jason Turner, gave the inaugural blessing.
Dr. Turner was named president-elect on July 20, 2018. He began his service as president-elect on Aug. 6, 2018, and assumed the presidency on Sept. 1, 2018. He brings to 91精品 from Black River Technical College in Pocahontas, Ark., where he served four years as president. Prior to this, he served 17 years in various administrative capacities at Williams Baptist University in Walnut Ridge, Ark.
Photo 1: 91精品's Board of Trustees chairman, Mark Rains (right), places the presidential medallion on 91精品's 25th president, Dr. Eric A. Turner.
Photo 2: The processional for the 91精品 presidential inauguration enters Mabee Chapel from the Burnidge Memorial Forum.
Photo 3: 91精品 Presidential Inauguration participants: Front row (from left) Samantha Martin, Jerol Swaim, 91精品 President Dr. Eric A. Turner and Billy Russell. Back row (from left) Eric Moffett, Kenneth Startup, Todd Earl, Dr. Allison Langford and Jason Turner.
View more event photos on the .
*Published: 4-26-19