Inside Southern Seminary

Health & Rec. Center offers new class

Published by Emily Griffin on 26 Jan 2012

The Health and Recreation Center at Southern Seminary has developed a new fitness classes, Zumba.

Zumba, for women only, is a dance-fitness program that features calorie-burning, body-energizing movements set to Latin music. The program is effective and easy-to-follow. Zumba is being offered through May 17, 2012, and is under the instruction of Anna Cary, certified Zumba instructor. Offered Tuesday and Thursday from 8-9 p.m.

Other fitness classes offered through the Health & Rec. Center include:

Aqua Alive: A great workout for your muscles without the stress on your bones, this class is perfect for the expectant and/or postpartum mothers. Under the instruction of Linda Blincoe, Aqua Alive is offered Tuesday and Thursday from 5-5:45 p.m.

The Gauntlet: For men only, this class is ideal forthose interested in beginner to intermediate circuit training. Under the instruction of Rob Maine, the Gauntlet meets in Levering Gym on Tuesday and Thursdays from 3:30-4:30 p.m.

Fitness Boot Camp: For women only, Boot Camp is a total body workout designed to get you moving. Includes circuit training and interspersed running created for all fitness levels. Under the instruction of Clara Stam, Boot Camp meets Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8-8:45 a.m.

Mommy and Me Power Walking/Strength Training: This class is designed to be fun and accessible for moms with their children. Join instructor Lindsey Lierli on the track on Monday for power walking and in the Levering Gym on Wednesday and Friday for cardio, toning and socializing. Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10-11 a.m.

Practical Pilates: Participants partake in a series of mostly mat exercises working from the body’s core. The class is low impact, focusing on form, precision and control, while correcting posture and learning balance. Monday classes are more aerobic and under the instruction of Lauren Maine. Tuesday and Thursday classes are focused on stretching and under the instruction of Latesha Purdy. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 4:45-5:45 p.m.

Change in Southern Production request management

Published by Tim Sweetman on 04 Jan 2012

Southern Productions (formerly known as Media Services) is streamlining production.

Beginning January 9th:

  • All audio and video production requests should be emailed to southernproductions@sbts.edu
  • Completed orders can be delivered via interoffice mail or picked up from the Communications office in Honeycutt 205.
  • The Southern Productions office located in Norton 95, will be closing their doors to the public. For all duplication requests please fill out the production work order request on Inside Southern.
  • Video recording and editing requests will be subject to production capacity and approval by the Vice President for Communications.

For a description of services visit: http://inside.sbts.edu/files/2012/01/reminder-of-media-support-division.pdf.

Pierce leads Safety and Security

Published by Emily Griffin on 03 Jan 2012

Jay Pierce was named as chief of safety and security at Southern Seminary, Nov. 16, 2011. Pierce will oversee the 24-member campus safety and security team, which includes 11 sworn officers. Prior to his new post, Pierce served the Louisville Metro Police Department for 33 years.

A Louisville native, Pierce started his law enforcement career at age 18. His tenure with the police department included service as a member of the patrol squad, a criminal investigation detective, a homicide squad detective, supervisor and commander, a 20-year member of the SWAT (special weapons and tactics) team and a police instructor for 20-years.

Pierce retired from Metro police in 2006 as a major and second division commander.

“I wasn’t planning on going back into full-time work, but after praying about it and talking with my wife about it a lot, we decided that this position was a good move,” Pierce said. “I had always said that if the right job came around, that I’d be interested. This position was a great opportunity and it just suited me in every way. I feel blessed to have the position.”

Pierce and his wife, Lynnette, are members of Southeast Christian Church where they lead an adult Bible study class on Sunday mornings. The couple has three adult children and two grandchildren.

Winter weather safety update

Published by Emily Griffin on 22 Dec 2011


With the arrival of winter comes a rush of holiday activities, fewer daylight hours and much precipitation - the frozen kind.

Southern Seminary Facilities and Campus Security work around the clock to provide a safe and warm campus environment for students and staff. Please review the following policies, procedures and recommendations for a safe winter season.

Inclement Weather:

-Look to the Southern Seminary Web site to find weather-based cancellations and delayed-opening notifications. Twitter and Facebook will also have information available. Cancellations and delayed openings due to an overnight weather event will be posted no later than 6 a.m.

-Students and staff are encouraged to register for emergency text message notifications, which will include inclement weather notifications. You may sign up for text message updates here. Look also to local television and radio outlets for cancellation notifications.

-On-campus students and residents can count on food service remaining open even if campus is closed.

-The Southern Seminary Facilities crew will tend to snow removal and salting of relevant walkways.

-If Louisville is anticipating a large weather event, students and staff are encouraged to avoid over-night and long-term parking in the Honeycutt lot to ease in snow and ice removal.

Winter safety:

-Be vigilant in watching food on the stove and in the oven. Campus fire alarms are most often triggered by burnt food.

-Should the campus power go out, do not use a stove or any other appliance to heat an apartment, dorm room or office.

-Use space-heaters cautiously and correctly.

-Please water and properly tend to live-Christmas trees. Dispose of your trees soon after the holiday.

-Wear reflective clothing when exercising outdoors in the evening and be aware of those around you.

-Factor time into your schedule to clear frost, snow and ice off your car windshields, windows and mirrors. Give your car ample time to warm up. Note that obstructed driving can be a ticketed violation from city and state police.

General Safety:

-Females should try not to walk alone at night. Campus security will escort anyone that feels uncomfortable walking alone - just call x4444 or 502-897-4444. There is no reason for anyone to have to walk across campus by himself or herself.

-Should you see someone or something suspicious, call x4444 or 502-897-4444.

-Burning of candles is not permitted in on-campus housing.

-As a general rule, do not leave packages or luggage in your car, and always lock your car - even while on campus. The majority of on-campus criminal offenses are thefts from unlocked cars. Also take responsibility for locking office and housing doors and recreation center lockers.

Southern honors Perkins at retirement reception

Published by Emily Griffin on 20 Dec 2011

Bob Perkins retired as chief of safety and security at Southern Seminary, Dec. 2, 2011. Before his retirement, Perkins led the Office of Campus Security for 10 years.

Perkins announced his retirement in the fall, feeling a call to focus more time in service to his local church, Emmanuel Baptist Church in Shelbyville, Ky., and continue his work as a coordinator with the Kentucky Baptist disaster relief services.

Perkins tenure at Southern included:

- Equipping all Southern Seminary and Boyce College classrooms with electronic emergency notification signs (blue-lighted signs);

- Working with the Louisville Metro Emergency Management Agency to purchase and place a 1,600-watt emergency notification siren located on the roof of the Honeycutt Student Center;

- Developing partnerships with insurance agencies to ensure the campus is adequately insured at a desirable rate;

- Growing the Office of Campus Security and Safety from a team of six to today’s 24 team members; and

- Efficiently preparing and equipping the campus for all types of weather and security events.

Southern Seminary honored Perkins’ years of service with a Dec. 14 retirement reception.

Dan Dumas, senior vice president of institutional administration, said of Perkins: “Bob, in my estimation, provided world-class leadership on every front. One of the things that stands out the most when talking about Bob’s leadership is that he was always on the spot in any type of crisis. Whenever there was something going on, he would always give up his time and be around to deal with what had to be done. He cared for the campus like it was his own and he cared for the students like they were family. What makes Bob unique and special is that he did everything with grace, care, and he is gospel-centered - and that is the most important thing. Bob did security as an expression of the Gospel and with world class leadership, and for that I am very grateful.”

Dumas and the Southern administration gifted Perkins with a framed panoramic image of the campus and a pocket watch inscribed with the Southern Seminary shield. A bouquet of flowers was presented in appreciation to Perkins’ wife, Cheryl.  The couple has five adult children and eight grandchildren.

Lawrence Smith, dean of students at Southern Seminary, said of Perkins; “Your care with the students is really appreciated. We had some situations that were pretty tender, you always handled that well and I appreciate your willingness to work so hard for our students.”

Perkins came to Southern Seminary in June 2001 after a 23-year career in Kentucky law enforcement. During his law enforcement career, Perkins served for 15 years as a detective, worked within a narcotics unit and retired as a sergeant working with a uniform platoon unit.

Since 1995 Perkins has been active with Men on Mission, a division of the Kentucky Baptist Convention (KBC) that supports on-mission activities. Within Men on Mission, Perkins offers leadership in disaster relief operations and leads disaster relief training sessions across the state.

All Master-Level Students: Southern Grant

Published by Emily Griffin on 10 Nov 2011

Registration for winter term is now open and, for the first time, the Southern Grant will be offered to students enrolled in winter courses. Master-level students who take 6+ on-campus credit hours will receive a $150 Southern Grant at the close of billing for winter term. No application is necessary. Questions can be directed to Financial Aid at financialaid@sbts.edu or (502)897-4206.

SBTS blood drive, Nov. 9

Published by Emily Griffin on 09 Nov 2011

It’s not too late to take part in the Southern Seminary blood drive benefiting the American Red Cross. Those interested in participating can visit Levering Gym (upstairs) until 4 p.m. this afternoon.

Earn course credit at T4G 2012, April 9-12

Published by Emily Griffin on 02 Nov 2011


Southern Seminary will offer a course taught by Russell D. Moore on April 9-12, 2012, in conjunction with the Together for the Gospel conference. This elective course is available to graduate and undergraduate students and will meet during spring reading days.

Standard student tuition rate will be applicable and will cover the conference admission fee. The course will consist of pre-conference lectures, conference attendance and coursework. This elective will count for on-campus credit.

Together for the Gospel will provide an excellent learning experience featuring world-renowned speakers, including Southern Seminary’s own R. Albert Mohler Jr., who will deliver a plenary address. In addition, Russell D. Moore will speak at a conference breakout session.

To register for the course, students can add the course “Studies in Theology: Together for the Gospel” to their spring schedule through the normal registration process. The course number is 27177 for graduate students and TH 315 for undergraduate students.

Students who have questions about the logistics of the course can contact the Academic Records office at (502) 897-4209 and academicrecords@sbts.edu

Norton Lectureship

Published by Emily Griffin on 20 Oct 2011


Southern will welcome Dr. Jean Bethke Elshtain Oct. 25-26, 2011, for the fall 2011 Norton Lectureship. Elshtain will be discussing “Human Identity at the Crossroads: Three Reflections”. Please make plans to attend the lecture series, which will be hosted in Heritage Hall.

Tuesday | October 25, 2011

1:00 p.m. | “Futurist Ravings and Dark Forebodings”
2:30 p.m. | ”Medicine and the Meaning of Healing”
4:00 p.m. | Book Signing

Wednesday | October 26,2011

10:00 a.m. | “Neither Heroes nor Victims: Disability and Identity”
11:30 a.m. | Kindle Giveaway *

Regularly named as one of America’s foremost public intellectuals, Jean Bethke Elshtain is the Laura Spelman Rockefeller Professor of Social and Political Ethics, Divinity School, The University of Chicago, with appointments in Political Science and the Committee on International Relations and holder of the Leavey Chair in the Foundations of American Freedom, Georgetown University

Dr. Elshtain, who received the Ph.D. from Brandeis University, is the author or editor of over twenty books and over five hundred essays in scholarly journals. In addition, she frequently lectures in the United States and abroad on themes of democracy, ethical dilemmas, religion and politics, and international relations. Before her current post at the University of Chicago, Dr. Elshtain served on the faculty of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and Vanderbilt University.

*Attend and you could win an Amazon Kindle through the SBTS Lecture Rewards Program.

“Towers” hosts free writing seminar, now in Norton 101

Published by Joshua Hayes on 14 Sep 2011

SBTS Communications invites all students, faculty and members of the Southern Seminary community to attend the “Towers” writing seminar, Friday, Sept. 23. Initially scheduled to take place in Honeycutt 246, the location has been changed to Norton 101.

Jeff Robinson will help attendees hone academic, creative, Web and popular writing, with particular emphasis on journalism.

Robinson has won more than 20 awards for writing and journalism excellence in his 20-plus years of experience. He served as an editor and reporter for several newspapers in the southeast, his writings appear in USA Today, The New York Times and Baseball America, and he was the director of news and information for Southern Seminary from 2000 until 2010. At present, Robinson is co-writing a book about John Calvin with SBTS church history professor Michael A.G. Haykin, due next year from Crossway.

“Towers” will provide lunch for those who RSVP by Wednesday, Sept. 21, at noon. RSVPs can be sent to towers@sbts.edu or by calling (502) 897-4000.

Schedule as follows:

  • “This Is My Father’s World”: Christian news writing in a fallen world, the WORLD Magazine approach to biblically focused journalism (9-9:45 a.m.);
  • Journalism 101: the “formula” for clear, concise news writing contrasted with feature writing and in light of common fallacies (10-10:45 a.m.);
  • Nuts and Bolts: Crucial Aspects of News Writing: writing leads, conducting an interview and meeting deadlines (11-11:45 a.m.);
  • “I Hear Your Voice Calling”: feature writing and developing one’s “voice” or style for accepted journalistic practice (1-1:45 p.m.);
  • Don’t Waste Your Journalism: encouragement as to how news writing will make one a better student and gospel minister, with Q&A (2-2:45 p.m.)

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