The GTU and ABSW Mourn Rev. Dr. Paul M. Martin

For Immediate release, March 24, 2016

The GTU is deeply saddened to report news of the death of the Rev. Dr. Paul M. Martin, President of the American Baptist Seminary of the West. Dr. Martin died suddenly on Wednesday, March 23, during a trip to Denver.

Dr. Martin was a dynamic and beloved pastor, scholar, educator, preacher, radio commentator, and spiritual leader. He served in professional ministry for nearly sixty years, including more than fifty years as pastor of congregations in Colorado, California, and Virginia. Martin became President and Professor of Pastoral Theology at ABSW in 2009, after a year as the school’s interim president. During his seven-year tenure as President of ABSW, Dr. Martin was a member of the GTU Board of Trustees and its Council of Presidents, serving most recently as Convener of the Council of Presidents and on the search committee for the GTU’s Academic Dean.

Martin came to ABSW after sixteen years as Senior Pastor of Macedonia Baptist Church in Denver. He brought his passion for pastoral ministry to the presidency at ABSW, committing himself fully to the school’s mission of preparing church leaders for the twenty-first century. Under Martin’s leadership, ABSW grew increasingly ecumenical, providing training for students in more than twenty Christian denominations, including the American Baptist Churches USA and the Progressive National Baptist Convention.

Paul Martin was born and raised in South Central Los Angeles, where he would later serve as pastor. He received his bachelor’s degree in religion, psychology, and Greek from Pepperdine University, earned his Master of Divinity from the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University, and received his Doctor of Philosophy at the California Graduate School of Theology.

The GTU extends its sympathy to Dr. Martin’s wife, Dr. Agnes Martin, as well as to their entire family and the ABSW community. Details regarding a memorial service have not yet been announced. American Baptist Seminary of the West will be celebrating the life of Rev. Dr. Paul M. Martin at its chapel service on Monday evening, March 28, at 6:00 pm.