Staff
Dr. Marvin S. Turner
President
B.Th. Andersonville
M.A.A. Luther Rice
M.Div. Luther Rice
Th.D. Andersonville
Ph.D. (candidate) Louisiana Baptist University
Dr. Turner formerly worked in the engineering trade but has been in Christian Academia for the last ten years where he has taught extensively. He has earned a Bachelor of Theology, Master of Arts in Christian Apologetics, Master of Divinity, and a Doctor of Theology. He has also done graduate work in philosophy at Houston Baptist University and apologetic work at Veritas International University. His primary focus is in the areas of philosophy, theology, and apologetics. He received The Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges Award for his graduate work in apologetics at Luther Rice (2014). Dr. Turner was licensed to the ministry in 2009 and he has served the church in many different capacities. He now serves as the first President of West Florida Theological Seminary.
Dr. Robert J. Lovelace Jr.
Vice President
A.S. Pensacola Junior College
B.A. West Florida Baptist Institute
B.A. West Florida Baptist Institute
M.A. West Florida Baptist Institute
M.Div. West Florida Baptist Institute
Th.D. West Florida Theological Seminary
Dr. Lovelace is a United States Army Vietnam Veteran, a business owner, and a retired District Manager with twenty-nine years of service at Pensacola Junior College. He was called to preach in 1992 and has served as the Pastor of New Hope Primitive Baptist Church for the past eleven years. He currently serves as President of the Mt. Zion West Florida, Alabama, and Louisiana Primitive Baptist Church School Congress and as an Evangelistic board member of the Florida Primitive Baptist State Convention. In addition, he has taught at the seminary level, and he currently serves as an instructor at the Century Correctional Institution. Dr. Lovelace holds an Associate Degree in Science, a Bachelor's Degree in Bible, a Bachelor's Degree in Theology, a Master's Degree in Theology, a Master of Divinity, and a Doctor of Theology. He serves as the first Vice President of West Florida Theological Seminary.
Dr. Henry L. Arnold
Chairman of the Board
A.A. West Florida Baptist Institute
B.A. West Florida Baptist Institute
M.A. West Florida Baptist Institute
M.Div. West Florida Baptist Institute
Th.D. West Florida Theological Seminary
Dr. Arnold is an Air Force veteran, a successful business owner, and a retired Postmaster with forty years of service in the United States Postal Service. He was ordained as a deacon in 1979 and ordained to preach the Gospel in 1991. He has served as the Pastor of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church for the past twenty-three years. He has also taught at the seminary level and recently served as the President of the Congress of Christian Education, First West Florida District Association (Pensacola, Florida). He holds an Associate, Bachelor, and Master's Degree in Bible, a Master of Divinity, and a Doctor of Theology Degree. Dr. Arnold is a native of Pensacola and a proven leader within the community. We are proud to have him as our Chairman of the Board at West Florida Theological Seminary.
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Taffany Shipp
Director of Administration
B.S. University of Florida
M.A.A. (in progress) West Florida Theological Seminary
Taffany earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Telecommunications from the University of Florida, with a minor in Speech Communications. She worked in the broadcast industry for several years as a television and radio news anchor; and in 1989, she joined Merck, Inc. as a pharmaceutical sales representative where she retired after 18 years of service as a District Manager. Taffany currently works exclusively with youth in the way of education and mentoring. She tutors students, Pre-K thru high school, specializing in students who have Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). She served as Director of the Young People’s Department for First West Florida District Association for 4 years and she is the Youth Director at Bethel Baptist Church, Cantonment, FL where she has served since 2013. Taffany is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Christian Apologetics at West Florida Theological Seminary. She is a vital part of our Seminary serving in many capacities. We are blessed to have her as our Director of Administration.
Elder. Anthony Bassett
Student Body President
A.A. Gordon College
B.S. Troy State University
M.S. Kaplan University
M.S. Kaplan University
M.Div. (in progress) West Florida Theological Seminary
Elder Bassett is a retired Army Veteran with 24 years of active duty service and 12 years of reserve. During his distinguished military career filled with many achievements, he served as both a Drill Sergeant and a Recruiter. He was ordained as a minister in 2002 and now serves as the Pastor of Freewill Primitive Baptist Church in Pensacola, FL. Elder Bassett has earned a Bachelor Degree in Science, and two Master Degrees in Education. He has also done graduate work at Liberty University and he is currently enrolled in the Master of Divinity Program at West Florida Theological Seminary. We are proud to have him represent our students and our school. He serves as our President of the Student Body.
