Pat Robertson to step down. Pat Robertson will retire as president of Regent University, the Virginia Beach school he founded, next year, the university announced April 28. Robertson, 79, founded the school in 1978 and has been president since 2000. After his retirement on July 1, 2010, he will remain the university’s chancellor and a member of its board of trustees. “Serving as Regent University’s president has been an honor and a joy,” Robertson said in a statement. “I am so delighted by the achievements of our rapidly growing school. As chancellor and a trustee, I will now focus on helping guide the university toward the next level of strategic growth and the implementation of our master plan.” The school that opened with 77 students and seven faculty now has more than 4,500 students who earn their degrees on campus or online. Robertson has also stepped down from some responsibilities at the Christian Broadcasting Network, the religious broadcasting empire he founded in 1960. In December 2007, the CBN board elected his son, Gordon, as chief executive officer. The elder Robertson remains chairman of CBN. (RNS)
Retirement seminars set. A series of “Preparing for Retirement” seminars are planned around the state this month, sponsored by the Virginia Baptist Mission Board. Speakers will be Jeff Cranford, financial support planning specialist for the board, and Shawn Dorrough, senior relationship manager with GuideStone Financial Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Dates and locations of the seminars are Monday, May 18, at Orcutt Baptist Church in Newport News; Tuesday, May 19, at Parham Road Baptist Church in Richmond; Wednesday, May 20, at Manassas Baptist Church in Manassas; Thursday, May 21, at North Roanoke Baptist Church in Roanoke; and Friday, May 22, at the Lebanon Baptist Association building in Glade Spring. To reserve a space, contact Hee Sook Son at GuideStone at [email protected] or (214) 720-6507.
BTSR plans courses. Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond’s School of Christian Ministry has announced three upcoming continuing education opportunities. They include:
• Church Finance Seminar: This seminar will address practical ways for churches to control finances and communicate their financial status to members. May 14 from 12 noon-1:30 p.m. in Virginia Hall, Room 111. Registration fee is $15. Leaders are Barbara Morton, executive minister of church business administration at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Richmond, and Steve Law, church administrator at Bon Air Baptist Church in Richmond.
• Theological Reflection Course: This online course examines the process of theological reflection as a tool for decision making in a local ministry context. May 25-June 21. Tuition is $125. Leader is Betty Pugh Mills, pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Richmond.
• Unlocking Social Ministry Seminar: This seminar explores the biblical basis for meeting human needs and for social justice advocacy, and offers models for educating and mobilizing congregations for community involvement. June 4 from 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. in Virginia Hall. Registration fee, which includes lunch, is $75. Leader is Valerie Carter, associate pastor for glocal missions at Bon Air Baptist Church in Richmond.
For further information about these opportunities or to register, click on www.scm.btsr. edu, call (888) 339-2877 or email scminfo@ btsr.edu.