Veteran Baptist librarian C. Berry Driver Jr. has been named associate vice president of academic resources, librarian and professor of church history at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, president R. Albert Mohler Jr. announced, Oct. 23.
“Southern Seminary is incredibly proud that Berry Driver is joining us as librarian and professor of church history,” Mohler said. “He is one of the most highly respected librarians in the theological world, and he combines great professionalism with scholarship and a love for students. He comes to us after years of service at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and we are proud and thankful to have him join the Southern Seminary faculty at this strategic time.”
Since 1996, Driver has served as dean of libraries at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, where he also has served as professor of systematic theology since 1998. Previously, Driver was director of library services and taught at the Northeast Branch of Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary in Schenectady, N.Y.
“Pursuant to our Lord’s providence, I am honored to receive his call to ministry at Southern Seminary,” Driver said.
“Instrumental to my consideration was the unique and promising vision of Southern Seminary’s leadership, assuring their historic institution’s godly theological tradition of training for the gospel ministry in a campus environment of holy learning,” he said. “Add to this the commitment by the faculty and administration to keep at the center of biblical research an august collection of bibliographic resources. With their determination of providing the means of access via the changing venues of applied technology, one could not but accept the invitation to join such blessed endeavors.”
Randy Stinson, senior vice president for academic administration and provost, said Driver is the “right man to take us to the next level in terms of library services. His role is central to the future of the institution. I am grateful for his willingness to make the move.”
Matthew J. Hall, vice president for academic services, said Driver has “unmatched experience, gifting and credentials. He is uniquely suited to carry on Southern’s legacy of excellence in theological library services in such a way that will also look toward the future for opportunities for strategic innovation and expansion.”
Driver, Hall continued, is a “skilled administrator, a Christian scholar and a man devoted to Christ. I am absolutely delighted that Dr. Driver will be joining the Southern Seminary family.”
Driver will begin his work at Southern Seminary on Jan. 13, 2014.
A native Alabamian who was ordained to the gospel ministry at First Baptist Church in Selma, Ala., Driver has served as pastor of churches in Alabama, Tennessee and New York.
Driver holds the doctor of philosophy from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary, master of science in library science from University of Kentucky, master of divinity from Southwestern Seminary and bachelor of arts from University of Alabama.
Driver and his wife, Catherine, are parents of three children. Their current church membership is with Travis Avenue Baptist Church in Fort Worth.