Overview

• Akin announced the decision during a campus chapel service held as SEBTS marked its 75th anniversary and hosted its Board of Trustees.
• His retirement becomes effective July 31, 2026, concluding roughly 21–22 years of service; he turns 69 in January.
• He informed trustees by letter and said he and his wife are convinced the timing is right for him and the school.
• Enrollment has grown about 40% since 2004 to 2,263 students in 2024–25, positioning SEBTS as the Southern Baptist Convention’s third-largest seminary.
• SEBTS leadership praised his clarified mission for a “Great Commission” school, and coverage highlights his public stands on structural racism and sexual abuse within the SBC.