Interpreting the Holy Spirit: the focus of Prevatte Lecture

     God’s Spirit is complex, kind, universal, sometimes ominous and impossible to flee. The Spirit vivifies all creation. Dr. Molly Marshall, president of Central Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Kan., examined the many facets of the Holy Spirit at Campbell University’s annual Prevatte Biblical Studies Lecture Series on Tuesday, Oct. 25.
     Marshall’s objective was to present a more holistic doctrine of the Spirit.
     “God’s universal presence as spirit means nothing is distant from the realm of God,” said Marshall. “For biblical writers, spirit was the powerful life force of God.” Marshall also characterized the Holy Spirit as “caring for creation” and “inspiriting all humanity.”
     “Spirit is present everywhere, but not always to the same extent,” she said. “Maybe we shouldn’t try to domesticate the Spirit, always thinking of the Spirit as sweet. Sometimes spirit is destructive. A blast from God’s nostrils caused the sea to cover the Egyptians.”
     The human spirit and the spirit of God aren’t identical, but undeniably related, Marshall added. The human and the Holy Spirit interface.
     “Creation is the display of the glory of God,” Marshall said, “The means God grants us to encounter the holy.”
     Marshall, who is the first woman to hold the position of president at any Baptist affiliated seminary accredited by the Association of Theological Schools, has been in theological education for over 22 years. She served as Visiting Professor of Theology, Spiritual Formation, and Worship and was elected Professor of Theology and Spiritual Formation with tenure at Central Baptist in 1997. She also served as Central’s acting academic dean until her appointment as president. Prior to serving at Central Baptist, she was associate professor of theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. She is a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University and received a Master of Divinity and Ph.D. from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Marshall completed further graduate work at Tantur Ecumenical Institute in Israel, Cambridge University and Princeton Theological Seminary.
     Campbell University’s Prevatte Biblical Studies Lecture Series was founded by the late E.J. “Jimmy” and Amaretta B. Prevatte and is sponsored by the Campbell Divinity School.

Photo Copy: Dr. Molly Marshall, president of Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Kan., was Campbell Divinity School’s Prevatte Lecturer.