Lamar Vest Inaugurated Tenth President of Pentecostal Theological Seminary
Cleveland, TN—October 23, 2014– Dr. R. Lamar Vest was inaugurated today as the tenth president of the Pentecostal Theological Seminary. The ceremony took place in the Cross Chapel on the Church of God institution’s campus.
Dr. R. Lamar Vest
Vest was selected by the PTS Board of Trustees in consultation with the International Executive Committee of the Church of God earlier this year and began his duties as president on August 1. Vest follows Dr. Steven J. Land who served as president from 2002-2014.
Previous presidents of the seminary have included Ray H. Hughes Sr., Robert White, J. Herbert Walker, Lewis Willis, and Donald M. Walker. Wade H. Horton was the first president, serving in an ex-officio capacity from 1974-1975 while general overseer of the Church of God. The late Cecil B. Knight served two terms, and holds the distinction of being the first full-time president.
According to Like A Mighty Army, the seminary was founded in 1974 in Cleveland as the Graduate School of Christian Ministries. The first five graduates received masters degrees two years later. The seminary was later renamed Church of God School of Theology, then Church of God Theological Seminary and finally Pentecostal Theological Seminary.
Vest’s credentials to serve as the leader of the Church of God’s seminary go back to his early calling to preach at the age of 14. He accepted his first pastorate at the age of 20 in his native South Carolina. Since that time, he has led a life of distinguished ministry service that includes positions as state evangelist for the Church of God in South Carolina, state youth and discipleship leader (Oklahoma, California, and Maryland), director of the International Youth and Christian Education Department for the Church of God, president of Lee College (now Lee University), member of the Church of God Executive Committee, and in 1990 he was selected to serve in the denomination’s top leadership post, general overseer. Vest served until tenure limitations placed him out of office in 1994. Just two years later he was re-elected to the committee, advancing again to general overseer in 2000 and serving until 2004.
Vest is one of the few ministers in the history of the Church of God to serve twice as general overseer. He has served on numerous committees and boards that have impacted communities around the world. He has been on the executive committee for the United Bible Societies’ Global Board and served as Chairman of the National Association of Evangelicals. His leadership has included service as Vice Chairman of the World Pentecostal Fellowship and Chancellor of Education for the Church of God. Most recently, Vest served as president of the American Bible Society from 2009 to 2013. Vest began his tenure with ABS in 1991 as a board member, and was elected chairman ten years later. He served for six years as chairman before being tapped to fill the post of executive vice president for Global Scripture Ministries in 2006. He served in that capacity until moving to the presidency in 2009 and serving for four years.
The October 23 inauguration included an array of special speakers to install the new president. PTS Board Chairman J. Martin Taylor welcomed the attendees, which included students, faculty, friends, and special guests, such as past presidents Steve Land and Donald M. Walker (1998-2002). Cleveland Mayor Tom Rowland called Vest, “an ambassador for the city,” while Lee University President Dr. Paul Conn spoke fondly of his decades-long relationship with Vest, including serving as Vest’s vice president when he was president of Lee College from 1984-1986. Nick Athens, chairman of the board of the American Bible Society addressed the audience on behalf of the organization and credited Vest with bringing ABS out of a difficult time.
Special music was provided by Vest’s granddaughter, Victoria Tilley, who led the congregation in “Be Thou My Vision.”
President Vest, left, with his wife, Vickie, is presented the presidential mace by General Overseer Dr. Mark Williams, while PTS Board Chairman J. Martin Taylor looks on.
An important aspect of the inauguration was the involvement of the PTS faculty. Scripture passages were read by Professor of Old Testament and Biblical Languages Dr. Lee Roy Martin and Professor of New Testament Dr. Ayodeji Adewuya. Later in the program, prayers were offered by Professor of New Testament and Theology Dr. Hollis Gause, as well as Dr. Cheryl Bridges-Johns, Professor of Discipleship and Christian Formation.
Church of God General Overseer Dr. Mark Williams offered the investiture, calling to the stage Vest and his wife, Vickie. He presented the new president with the presidential medal and mace stating, “You have heard and heeded the call of God and have willingly surrendered to His will for your life and ministry.”
In taking the podium, Vest immediately moved to a small white lectern set to the side that he explained was given to him as a gift from a South Carolina church where he preached his first sermon. He noted that he did not want to forget his ministry roots. He delivered his inaugural address from the podium expressing first his heartfelt appreciation to those who had been with him along his spiritual journey.
“I like to call this ceremony an installation rather than an inauguration,” Vest stated. “Today I am being ‘plugged in’ for service; God is the power source.”
Vest continued with his brief comments by saying, “I am overwhelmed by the opportunity and by what God has in store for the Pentecostal Theological Seminary…I thank God for where we (PTS) have been, but our best days are yet ahead….All that we do will be under God’s watchful eye and may he always find us faithful.”
The benediction was offered by Second Assistant General Overseer J. David Stephens.
By Cameron Fisher, Church of God Communications
