New faculty appointees bring ‘intercultural competence, fresh vision’ to Fish School

Two new professors have been appointed to the faculty of the Roy J. Fish School of Evangelism and Missions at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, including a new director of the World Missions Center and a new director of Hispanic Programs, President Adam W. Greenway announced during the spring meeting of the institution’s board of trustees, April 13. 

“Our commitment to provide the highest quality theological education for those seeking to take the Gospel across the globe is enhanced by the addition of these two missions educator-practitioners,” said Greenway. “The sun never sets on where Southwesterners are called to serve, and these two missions leaders will help ensure that reality continues until the Lord returns.”

Ian Buntain has been appointed associate professor of missions and director of the World Missions Center. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Art and Religion from Southwest Baptist University (1981) and his Master of Divinity (1986) and Doctor of Ministry (2003) from Gateway Seminary. 

He has served with the International Mission Board as a church planter, strategy group leader, and cluster leader in East Asia, and has also ministered in Canada, Singapore, and Malaysia. Beyond these roles, he has taught in seminaries around the world, including Baptist schools in the U.S., Canada, and East Asia. 

John D. Massey, dean of the Fish School, said that Buntain brings “over 40 years of varied ministry experience” to his new role at Southwestern. “His many years as pastor, NAMB church planter, theological educator, IMB missionary, and IMB missions leader have uniquely suited him to equip students across the campus through teaching in the Fish School, launching students on mission across the world, and deepening our partnerships with IMB, NAMB, state conventions, and SBC churches. He is a champion for SBC missions and the Cooperative Program that makes it work.”

Mark McClellan has been appointed professor of missions and director of Hispanic Programs. He earned bachelor’s degrees at Arizona State University (1969) and the University of Cincinnati (1971) and his M.Div. (1983) and Ph.D. (2000) from Southwestern Seminary. He has served at churches in Texas, Oklahoma, Indiana, and Arizona, and twice served as a church planter in Guatemala, first from 1983 to 1991, then from 1993 to 1998. 

His academic experience includes roles at Gateway Seminary, Boyce College, Oklahoma Baptist University, and, most recently, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. From 2015 to 2020, he served as ethnic evangelism and Hispanic ministries specialist for the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma.  

Massey said, “McClellan has served as a theological educator, administrator, pastor, IMB missionary, and has a lifetime of equipping church leaders in the Hispanic community. His experience, connections, and passion for Hispanic theological education will enable our seminary to continue to grow its existing Hispanic-language program, develop new programs of study, and enlarge our equipping capacity for the Hispanic community in Texas, North America, and across the Latin American world. 

“As a seasoned theologian-missiologist, Dr. McClellan will also be educating and equipping our students across the campus through missions courses he will teach as a faculty in the Fish School.”

Of these two appointments, interim provost David S. Dockery said, “Both of these new members to the Southwestern community bring wonderful experience, leadership skills, intercultural competence, and a fresh vision to these initiatives. These are significant steps forward for the Fish School of Evangelism and Missions as well as for the overall work of the seminary. We appreciate Dean John Massey’s initiative related to these appointments.”

The appointments of Buntain and McClellan are effective June 1.