Dr. Guy Richardson is ready to move into his next role at RTS. At the end of the 2019-2020 academic year, he will become President Emeritus and transition to full-time faculty and director of the Masters of Arts in Counseling (MAC) Program for the Jackson and Orlando RTS campuses. He’ll also continue to serve the school in advancement, strengthening our bonds with individuals and churches. Chancellor and CEO Dr. Ligon Duncan will serve as Acting President of the Jackson campus.
The world was very different in 1999 when Richardson and his wife, Denise, moved to Jackson with their two young girls. He began his career at the seminary as Senior Vice President and became President of the Jackson campus in 2004. Reflecting on his time at RTS, he shared, “I believe in and am committed to the mission of RTS, even more, today — to provide a rigorous education in God’s Word and the Reformed tradition — and providing the Lord’s church with strong, godly ministers and counselors.”
Dr. Duncan noted: “For twenty-one of the fifty-four years of our seminary’s history, Guy Richardson has been at the helm of the Jackson campus — and the hundreds of pastors, teachers, and counselors who were trained here are the fruit of his labors. We are thankful for his leadership now and in the future, as he continues to teach for us and direct our MAC program.”
Dr. Duncan continued, “The fact that the Executive Committee of RTS unanimously granted Dr. Richardson the title of President Emeritus, upon my recommendation, is an indication of our respect and appreciation for his ministry in our midst.”
Richardson became heavily involved with the counseling program in 2018 when he oversaw the transition from the Master of Arts in Family Therapy to the Master of Arts in Counseling. It was a significant change for the seminary, and required a large investment of his time. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for our students, because the program now meets the academic and clinical requirements for the state boards overseeing Licensed Professional Counselors in most states.”
Richardson is uniquely qualified to serve in his new role. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with a Master of Education in Counseling and a doctorate in Counselor Education. His academic preparation and experience meet the criteria needed for training counselors — an essential prerequisite for his new position. In addition to all this, Richardson brings his greatest asset: his pastor’s heart.
“There are so many hurting people, and we have been entrusted to care for them,” Richardson shared. “In addition to training our counseling students, our on-campus counseling centers in both Jackson and Orlando provide a quiet, behind-the-scenes ministry that faithfully serves our communities. We see hundreds of clients and hold thousands of counseling sessions every year. Our centers serve hundreds of families — many without health insurance or means to pay for counseling. I am thrilled to see this continue and expand and be part of the Lord’s work.”
For more information about the MAC program, visit rts.edu/counseling.