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Emmett Dunn, director of the Baptist World Alliance (BWA) Youth Department, was one of six persons conferred with an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree by the Liberia Baptist Theological Seminary (LBTS) on March 31.
“The Board of Trustees with the Administration of the Liberia Baptist Theological Seminary recognizes Emmett Lafayette Dunn’s distinguished labor in His Service, the commitment to humanitarian advances and excellent leadership to the church, the community, the nation, and the world,” the citation reads. Dunn, a Liberian and alumnus of LBTS, showed “excellence and promise” from early. This promise has been fulfilled in his studies, life and work as he “has increased in wisdom and stature and in favor of God and humanity.” |
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Despite his involvement on the global stage, the BWA director “has not allowed his global identity to detract from his local commitments to the Body of Christ” in Liberia. Dunn was chair of the Board of Advisors of the Ricks Institute School in Liberia from 2006-2012 and serves on its Board of Trustees. Ricks, founded in the 1880s, is a Baptist school from kindergarten to grade 12, with a coeducational residential campus. He also served as a member of the Board of Trustees of LBTS from 2009-2012. Dunn was born in Monrovia, Liberia’s capital. After earning a Bachelor of Theology degree from LBTS, he was ordained to the Christian ministry in 1987 at Providence Baptist Church, his home church, and was appointed education director and assistant minister. He received a World Council of Churches scholarship and studied at the Virginia Theological Seminary and the Howard University School of Divinity, in the United States. He has done additional studies in sustainable community development at Colorado State University. Dunn became director of the BWA Youth Department in 1994 and, as of 2006, helps to coordinate planning for the Baptist World Congress, conferences and meetings. Others conferred with the honorary Doctor of Divinity degree by LBTS were Liberians Anthony Jonah and Mydea White, as well as Americans John Mark Carpenter, second president of LBTS, philanthropist Earl Stafford and advocate for Liberia, Esther Worthington. Baptist World Alliance® |