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 Keith Russell |
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FROM THE PRESIDENT On The Eve of a New Day The report was a mixture of good news and bad. Yes, the land was flowing with milk and honey as we have been promised, but there are giants in the land. The majority reported that the presence of the giants outweighed the benefits of the milk and honey and cautioned that Israel should not proceed into this new land. Only Caleb and Joshua gave a minority report; they challenged the people to honor God's promise and go forward. As is often the case, the minority report was rejected in favor of the majority view that caution was necessary. You might wonder what this story has to do with the future of American Baptist Seminary of the West. In my mind we are on the eve of a new day.We have been making preparations for this new day for some time. We have invested $7 million in renovating and retrofitting our campus. We have developed a new curriculum to train future leaders. We have developed a competent and committed staff and faculty. We have the support of a group of dedicated trustees. And we continue to receive gifted students to educate. I have been sending out my own spies. Like the original 12, they come back with similar tales of giants in the land. I agree there are some giants we must face. For instance, the giant of denominational disunion and dissension within the ABC must be faced. The giant of lean economic times of churches must be faced. The giant of an anti-seminary movement in the church must be faced. The reality of racism and discrimination must be faced. But like Caleb and Joshua, I think God is able to carry us over into a new time. The best years of the seminary are before us. In order to enter a new day, I believe we must see the current crises in our denominational life as an opportunity to reinvent ourselves. The sad truth is that we can no longer count on ABC regions or churches to be our primary source of students or resources. We need to expand our reach into other parts of the church and serve those groups who need to be trained. We are seeing an increase of AME, Pentecostal, and other Free Church traditions coming to the seminary. This February we had nine new students, most from Methodist traditions. To move into a new day we will need to reach out more aggressively to the larger church. While we are proud of our ABC heritage, we must expand our outreach to others. Perhaps we will need to change our name as we move into a new day. We are in search for a new dean to lead us. We are designing new programs, including a doctor of ministry degree and three certificate programs that will give laity and graduates more opportunity to engage in seminary training. News about our D.Min. program will be announced shortly. Exciting possibilities are before us. I am greatly encouraged by our opportunities, knowing full well we must be open to change and exercise courage to face the giants. However, I know God requires action before promises are delivered. The promise of a new day for ABSW will require action on our part as we move beyond the limits of the moment and affirm the potential of the future. I am excited about our new day and the new life it offers. Will you join us in scouting out the terrain? As we move ahead boldly we will need your support, your prayers, your encouragement, your gifts, and your advocacy. I say that we are well able to rise up and claim a new day! How about you? Faithfully yours, |
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