By Dr. Philip Attebery, Vice President • BMA Theological Seminary
The entire Baptist Missionary Association Theological Seminary family of administrators, alumni, faculty, staff, students and trustees was saddened to learn about the passing of Dr. Philip R. Bryan, our institution’s fourth president and current president emeritus.
BMA Seminary’s relationship with Philip Bryan began more than 60 years ago. Bryan, who passed away on May 20, attended the seminary as a student and completed the Bachelor of Divinity degree in 1962. He also served as a part-time instructor before accepting full-time responsibilities in 1963, and served twice as the seminary’s dean-registrar (1967-75; 1979-83) before accepting the president’s position in 1983. In 1999, Bryan retired from the presidency and returned to the classroom where he continued to serve as a professor of Theological-Historical studies until his full retirement.
Bryan’s academic accomplishments included earning several degrees in higher education. These included the A.A. from Jacksonville College in 1956; B.A., University of Oklahoma in 1958; B.D., BMA Seminary in 1962; M.A., Ph.D., Baylor University in 1966 and 1973. His doctoral research concluded with a dissertation entitled An Analysis of the Ecclesiology of Associational Baptists, 1900-1950.
According to Dr. Charley Holmes, the seminary’s fifth president, Dr. Bryan was a true Missionary Baptist. “Dr. Bryan’s commitment to Landmark principles, such as local church autonomy and associational practices, were unmatched. He held strongly to the doctrine of eternal security of the believer and provided a much-needed source of wisdom and support for my time as president.”
The first sermon I remember hearing Dr. Bryan preach focused upon the text of Ezek. 22:30, where the prophet pronounced the absence of someone to “stand in the gap” and prevent the Lord’s destruction of Jerusalem. I heard this message about the time I was deciding to attend seminary. Dr. Bryan’s emphasis on the need for equipped men to stand in the gap further assured my decision to enroll at BMA Seminary.
Dr. Bryan’s years of faithful service and earnest contention for the faith should encourage others to prepare themselves as laborers for the Lord’s harvest. Dr. Bryan was a brilliant, humble and encouraging leader for both our school and the Baptist Missionary Association. Although he will be sorely missed, the BMA Seminary family remains grateful for the time we knew and served with him while he stood in the gap.
