Central Baptist Seminary president Molly Marshall resigns citing ‘ethical lapse’
The president of the Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Shawnee resigned last month following an “ethical lapse,” according to a statement released Monday.
The Rev. Molly T. Marshall, who became president of the school in 2004, submitted her resignation on March 1.
The seminary, which has its headquarters in Shawnee, also has nine other locations across the country serving more than 500 students.
“I humbly apologize to the board and the rest of the Central constituency and seek forgiveness,” Marshall said in a letter to the seminary’s board. “My deepest prayer is for the flourishing of the school and her new president.”
The board’s statement did not include specifics regarding Marshall’s resignation, citing the issue as a personnel matter.
When reached by The Star on Wednesday, Marshall said she could not comment.
“As we confront the many challenges presented by this circumstance, we also acknowledge Molly’s leadership of the last sixteen years,” said the Rev. Robert E. Johnson, the college’s interim president. “We thank the board for demonstrating transparency in this process and upholding the standards that Central Baptist Theological Seminary holds dear.”
The school’s new president, the Rev. Pamela R. Durso, will begin on June 1.
Durso, the executive director of Baptist Women in Ministry, was announced as the seminary’s next president in February, according to a press release at the time. Marshall had originally planned to retire in June.
An Ethics Daily podcast about Marshall, scheduled for release in March, was delayed due the resignation, according to a statement.
This story was originally published April 1, 2020 at 1:31 PM.
