(RNS) — Voddie Baucham Jr., a conservative Black pastor, author and seminary leader known for advocating for restricting women’s roles in the church and critiquing what he saw as “woke” influence on Christianity, has died at 56.
“We are saddened to inform friends that our dear brother, Voddie Baucham, Jr., has left the land of the dying and entered the land of the living,” the Founder’s Ministries announced Thursday (Sept. 25). Baucham had been leading the ministry’s new seminary in Florida.
“Earlier today, after suffering an emergency medical incident, he entered into his rest and the immediate presence of the Savior whom he loved, trusted, and served since he was converted as a college student,” the announcement said.
A graduate of Houston Christian University, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Baucham pastored churches in Texas for years before moving to Zambia in 2015 to lead a missionary seminary there. He returned to the United States in 2021 after dealing with serious health issues.
Earlier this year he was named president of Founders Seminary under the auspices of the Founders Ministry, a nonprofit with ties to Southern Baptists. “What a privilege it is to invest your life in training the next generation of pastors. And that’s what this is about,” Baucham said in a video announcing the new school. “We’re committed to training men with sharp minds, warm hea …