Issue: Winter 2014 | Posted: January 27, 2014

Dockery reflects on Union presidency

Almost 18 years to the day of his election as Union University's 15th president, David S. Dockery bade farewell to the institution in an emotional address Dec. 5 to university trustees, administrators and community leaders.

Dockery was originally scheduled to give a final report to trustees during their Dec. 6 meeting. That meeting, however, was canceled due to inclement weather. So instead, Dockery used a reception held in his honor in the Carl Grant Events Center to recap his 18 years as Union president, thank those who have encouraged and supported him and announce his parting gifts to the university.

"We are so thankful, from the bottom of our hearts, that you have given us the privilege to be a part of this incredible institution for 18 years," Dockery said. "We are overwhelmed when we stop and reflect upon what has happened during these years."

In January 2013, Dockery announced his intentions to step down from the presidency and assume the position of chancellor no later than July 2014. He said at the reception that he had decided the chancellor's position would be only an honorary role.

In the months ahead, he plans to provide ongoing consultation with a Christian publisher while participating more with the Manhattan Declaration project, a movement of Orthodox, Catholic and evangelical Christians for life, marriage and religious liberty. He will also continue his role as adviser and mentor for some young college and seminary presidents.

Prior to Dockery's final address at the reception, the university showed a video honoring him for his contributions to Union, with comments from such people as Frank Page, president of the Southern Baptist Convention's Executive Committee; R. Albert Mohler Jr., president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; Carl Zylstra, former president of Dordt College; Randy Davis, executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Convention; and several Union faculty, staff and alumni.

"There are some leaders who really have the ability to be good scholars," Zylstra said in the video. "There are some leaders who have the ability to be great managers. There are some leaders who have the ability to show devout inspiration that's contagious to the entire organization.

"To find all those qualities in one person, the way they are exhibited and embodied in David Dockery, is truly amazing," Zylstra continued. "It's been a blessing and an inspiration to dozens of colleges and universities across the United States and even around the world."

Justin Barnard, associate professor of philosophy at Union, said in the video that Dockery would not want his legacy to be all about him, but about what God has done and will do at Union.

"He himself would want students and faculty and staff and administration and donors to be optimistic about the future," Barnard said. "And the reason he would want them to be optimistic about the future is the great God that we serve."

Dockery recalled the first interview he did after his election as Union's president on Dec. 9, 1995, in which he was asked where he would like to see Union at the end of his presidential tenure.

"I would like to see a university with a great faculty committed to excellence in teaching, research, publication and service," he answered. "I would like to see a staff that cares for and enables students. I would like to see a campus with quality facilities that are beautiful and aesthetically pleasing as well.

"I would like to see a university that serves as a resource to businesses, to the world of health care and education and to churches all across the United States. I hope that Union will be a shaper of Christian higher education throughout the nation."

The answer contained several other objectives that Dockery said, "By God's grace, we have come pretty close to seeing a lot of those things happen."