85R19618 JCD-D By: Gooden H.R. No. 1215 R E S O L U T I O N WHEREAS, Dr. Ervin D. Seamster Jr. became the seventh president of Southwestern Christian College on January 16, 2017; and WHEREAS, An alumnus of Southwestern Christian College, Dr. Seamster earned a master of divinity degree from the Southern Methodist University Perkins School of Theology and a doctor of ministry degree from United Theological Seminary in Ohio; he served for nine years in a number of ministry positions at Marsalis Avenue Church of Christ in Dallas, and in 1999, he founded Light of the World Church of Christ, where he continues to lead the congregation as the senior minister; and WHEREAS, Dr. Seamster joined the faculty of Abilene Christian University in 1999, and during his three years with the institution, he was invited to be a special consultant to the university president; in that role, he worked to recruit exceptional minority students for the doctoral fellows program, and he also taught courses in Old Testament theology and urban ministry in the 21st century; his other notable accomplishments include cofounding Northwest Preparatory Academy in Houston and serving as president of the real estate consulting firm EDS & Associates; and WHEREAS, In addition to fulfilling his many professional and ministerial duties, Dr. Seamster has given generously of his time and talents to numerous civic endeavors; from 2013 to 2016, he served on the board of the Dallas Central Appraisal District, and he is currently a Dallas County precinct chair; and WHEREAS, Dr. Ervin Seamster Jr. is uniquely qualified to build on the rich tradition of excellence at Southwestern Christian College, and the institution will surely benefit from having this visionary leader at its helm; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas Legislature hereby congratulate Dr. Ervin D. Seamster Jr. on his appointment as president of Southwestern Christian College and extend to him sincere best wishes for a successful tenure; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Dr. Seamster as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.