Charles A. Tidwell, professor of administration at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary for 30 years, died Jan. 28. He was 89. He was born July 14, 1931, in Montgomery, Ala. Tidwell earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Baylor University, a Master of Religious Education degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in 1955, and a Doctor of Education degree from Southwestern Seminary in 1970. He later did additional studies at The American University in Washington, D.C., during a sabbatical leave in the areas of church program development and church family financial planning. Prior to his seminary teaching, Tidwell was a church administration consultant, section leader and editor with the Baptist Sunday School Board, now Lifeway Christian Resources. He also was assistant professor of religious education and Bible at Mississippi College. Throughout his long career, he served churches in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Germany. Tidwell joined the faculty at Southwestern Seminary in 1965, teaching most of the courses offered in the School of Religious Education’s department of administration over the next 30 years, as well as developing new courses in this field. In 1977, he was named to fill the newly endowed Chair of Denominational Relations established by the Sunday School Board. He was the author of The Educational Ministry of a Church and Church Administration: Leadership for Effectiveness in Ministry, and he was co-author of Creative Church Administration and a Training Potential Sunday School Workers manual. He is survived by his wife of more than 60 years Norma Jean, their two children, Charles and Evelyn, and their families.
EDITOR’S NOTE: A celebration of life service is scheduled at 2 p.m. on June 5 at Agape Baptist Church, 3900 Southwest Blvd., in Fort Worth. (Updated May 10.)
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