American Baptist Theological Seminary
615-256-1463
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1800 Baptist World Center Drive
Nashville, TN 37207
Organization Details

Executive Director


Executive Director Dr. Forrest Harris Sr.
E-mail officeofthepresident@abcnash.edu
Term Start July 1999
Forrest's Experience: Dr. Forrest E. Harris, Sr., President of American Baptist College since 1999, holds a B.A. degree (Knoxville College), a B.Th. degree (American Baptist College), M.Div. and D.Min. degrees from Vanderbilt University Divinity School, where he was Benjamin E. Mays Fellow and recipient of the Florence Conwell Prize. While a student at Vanderbilt, Dr. Harris pastored Oak Valley Baptist Church, Oak Ridge, TN, brought together several community organizations, and founded the Oak Valley Development Corporation. He was president of the Oak Ridge Branch, NAACP. From 1985-1987, as instructor at Roane State Community College, he initiated a Black Studies curriculum and coordinated social outreach programs. In addition to his presidency at American Baptist College, since 1988, Dr. Harris has been a faculty member and Director of the Kelly Miller Smith Institute on Black Church Studies, Vanderbilt Divinity School. With Lilly Endowment and the Pew Charitable Trusts grants over $1.3 million, he coordinated a national ecumenical dialogue, 'What Does It Mean to be Black and Christian?' Over 12,000 people participated in this discussion resulting in publication of 'What Does It Mean to be Black and Christian: Pulpit, Pew and Academy in Dialogue,' (Townsend Press, 1995); and 'What Does It Mean to Be Black and Christian: the Meaning of the African American Church' (Townsend Press, 1997). President Harris has been instrumental in establishing a black church history and preservation project resulting in the establishment of a Black Church Historian Society in Nashville. In addition to journal articles, Dr. Harris authored 'Ministry for Social Crisis: Theology and Praxis in the Black Church Tradition' (Mercer University Press, 1993). He received a journalism prize from The Journal of Intergroup Relations, National Association of Human Rights Workers for his article, 'South Africa Beyond Apartheid,' The Journal of Intergroup Relations, National Association of Human Rights Workers, 1993.

Senior Staff


Name Title
Dr. Phyllis Qualls Vice President for Institutional Advancement, Communication & Marketing
Phyllis Hildreth Vice President for Strategy & Institutional Advancement
Richard Jackson Executive Vice President

Staff

Full Time Staff 28
Part Time Staff 8
Volunteers 2
Contractors 17
Retention Rate 93%

Plans & Policies

Does your organization have a Fundraising Plan? Yes
Does your organization have a Strategic Plan? Yes
Years Strategic Plan Considers 5
When was the Strategic Plan adopted? December 2016
Does your organization have a Management Succession Plan? Under Development
Does your organization have a Policy and Procedure Plan? Yes
Does the organization have a Nondiscrimination Policy? Yes
Does the organization have a Whistle Blower Policy? No
Does the organization have a Document Destruction Policy? No

Evaluation

Is there a formal evaluation for... Frequency (if applicable)
CEO/Executive Director Yes Annually
Senior Management Yes Annually
Non-Management Yes Annually

Affiliations

Affiliation Year
Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) 2015
Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce 2014

External Assessments and Accreditations

Assessment/Accreditation Year
Association for Biblical Higher Education 1971
National Register of Historic Places - Listed Property 2013

Awards


Award / Recognition Organization Year
Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCU) U. S. Department of Education 2013