Paul Gregoire, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary registrar for 29 years, passed away March 21 after a brief battle with cancer.
“Paul Gregoire was a faithful servant who embodied what we are about at NOBTS, servants who seek to be faithful to His calling,” said Jamie Dew, NOBTS president.
Dew shared the news with the seminary family at the start of the regularly-scheduled chapel service, minutes after receiving word of Gregoire’s passing.
“I praise God this morning for his faith. I praise God for the dying grace that I got to see with my own two eyes last night in his final hours,” Dew said.
Gregoire joined the NOBTS staff in 1987 as a computer analyst as the seminary first ventured into the computer age. At that time, registration involved long lines of students snaking through the library with “four-part McBee slips” hand-signed by faculty members.
Registrar from 1993 until his retirement as registrar emeritus last year, Gregoire superintended 134 graduations and signed an estimated 16,000 diplomas.
“Dr. Gregoire believed deeply in the ministry of the seminary and gave his life’s service to make us more effective,” said Norris Grubbs, NOBTS provost. “He served generations of students and faculty during his time as registrar.”
Gregoire taught throughout his tenure as an adjunct professor and particularly enjoyed teaching in the seminary’s prison extension center, Grubbs noted.
Gregoire earned the associate of divinity in pastoral ministry, master of religious education, and the doctor of education (’92, changed to a Ph.D. in ’02) from NOBTS, all while pastoring St. Bernard Baptist Church in Chalmette, Louisiana and raising two sons with his wife, Mae.
For some time, Gregoire held the distinction as the only Southern Baptist seminary registrar who served also as dean of admissions.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Marilyn Stewart and originally published by New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
