Scott Pace inaugurated as president of Southeastern Seminary, says students shouldn’t be 'detached from reality'
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS) has installed Scott Pace as its seventh president, with the new leader stressing the need for graduates who are not “detached from reality.”
Pace, 51, was installed Tuesday at the Wake Forest, North Carolina-based seminary. He succeeds longtime president Daniel Akin, who retired in July.
During his inaugural address, Pace told those gathered that “we exist to serve the local Church, not to supplant the local Church,” and noted the importance of church involvement for students.
“As an institution of higher learning, we can’t produce graduates who are detached from reality, living in an ivory tower, who don’t know how to translate their world class education into working class ministry,” he said.
Pace said he wants the seminary to be a “missional institution,” a “spiritual institution” and a “biblical institution,” describing the Bible as “the inspired, inerrant, infallible Word of God.”
“It is in fact sufficient as the sole and supreme authority for all of life,” he continued. “And as such, Scripture is the ultimate truth and foundational standard for all knowledge.”
“Beyond integrating Scripture into every field of study, we want to seek to equip students to personally love, study, and apply God’s Word into every area of their life,” he said. “We want to teach students to thirst and to drink from the well of living water for their soul to be truly satisfied.”
Pace also said he wants SEBTS to “teach students how to defend the Bible, how to trust the Bible, and how to teach and preach the Bible.”
In October 2025, Akin announced he would step down as president at the end of the 2025–2026 academic year, after 21 years in the role.
“Charlotte and I have prayed this matter through and talked with family and friends. We are convinced the time is right for us and the school,” Akin said in a statement.
“We are at perfect peace in our decision. The college and seminary are healthy and thriving, and I believe the best days are ahead for this Great Commission juggernaut.”
Akin, the longest-serving president since SEBTS was founded in 1950, is credited with helping the seminary reach record enrollment and giving.
In April, seminary trustees announced they had selected Pace, a Southeastern alumnus and professor, to succeed Akin.
Jeff Iorg, president and CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee, congratulated Pace in a statement to Baptist Press shortly after the announcement.
“I celebrate the successful transition at Southeastern Seminary,” Iorg said. “Pace will provide remarkable leadership as they continue to prioritize the Great Commission as their driving motivation for developing leaders for Southern Baptist churches and our global mission outreach.”
