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Seminary Scouts Out New Thing
These new students are drawn to the seminary's diversity – the most ethnically rich school in the Graduate Theological Union and increasingly diverse in terms of denomination. A growing number of students come from the Pentecostal tradition and African Methodist Episcopal church. They find a program geared toward working adults , with evening courses and a curriculum that situates the classroom in the midst of real-world ministry. They combine intellectual inquiry with practical application: it's Brueggemann on BART and the exegesis of East Oakland. ABSW is not the same school as 20 years ago, even a decade ago. Something new is emerging on Dwight Way. "We are experiencing a seismic shift in theological education," says Keith Russell, seminary president, "a shift brought on by the fracturing of our denominations, the rise of an anti-theological camp, and the advent of post-modernity in which theological claims are contested and the old shibboleths of the church are crumbling." But rather than resist change, the school is embracing it, Russell says, celebrating the "new thing" that the Spirit is doing and eagerly anticipating what's next: the seminary is searching for a new dean; and in the fall, the school will launch a doctor of ministry program, three certificate programs, and special concentrations for the master of divinity. "In the midst of profound change, we're not burying our heads in the sand," Russell says."We're standing up and proclaiming what a great time this is to be training leaders for the church of the 21st century." So, too, the seminary is sending out scouts, leaders who see plainly the giant systems of violence, exclusion and despair yet also envision new paths of ministry for the church. They are leaders like senior Jonathan Zingkhai, who works with addicted men in San Francisco and recently returned to his native Nagaland to address the social stigma of HIV/AIDS. Or Carlton Rhoden (Class of 2005), who is helping to organize faith communities around justice issues through the ecumenical Oakland Community Organizations. Or Lauren Ng (Class of 2005), who is creating new worship opportunities for youth at First Chinese Baptist Church in San Francisco. What these leaders share in common is a commitment to justice sustained by spirituality, according to the Rev.Michelle Holmes, vice president. "This is who we are, and this is what the seminary is about – the development of theologically and biblically informed leaders who are skilled in the practice of ministry for personal, ecclesial and social transformation," Holmes says. Increasingly, the seminary's mission appeals to students who want a rigorous education that is suited to the realities of their communities, education that speaks to "souls and systems," as Russell puts it. Three new certificate programs will provide avenues for such training beginning in the fall: two for people interested in theological exploration, the other for leaders who already possess the M.Div. degree yet want more advanced studies. Also in the fall, the seminary will add concentration options for the M.Div., allowing students to focus their electives and senior projects in one of five areas: African American ministry, Asian American ministry, pastoral care and counseling, preaching, and women's studies and religion. And later this spring, the seminary will announce details about a new D.Min. program that will focus on the theology and practice of urban ministry. "Our focus is not for everyone ,"Holmes notes. " But rather than apologize for this, we need to proclaim boldly and clearly our identity." "We have an opportunity to honor our heritage by declaring a vision that transcends any one denomination," Russell says. The practical import of this is that the seminary will increasingly give its energy to cultivating relationships with leaders and churches who share the school's vision, whether they be Baptist or not. Indeed, the school may even consider changing its name, Russell says. The Rev. Robert Wilkins, a seminary board member and former student, now president and CEO of the YMCA of the East Bay, is another scout with a minority report. And he's not surprised by what he sees. The times are not very different from that of the first century, Wilkins notes , when the early church was not the dominant institution, yet it found a way to manifest itself and grow. This parallel "ought to give us a lot of hope and a lot of encouragement,"Wilkins says, to embrace post-modernity – "because that's who we are." Given such a situation, the opportunities for the seminary, are "so ripe and so multiple," he adds. And Russell agrees. "Yes, there are giants in the land. But we can't be timid.We need to seize the new day." |
Twenty-eight new students entered
American Baptist Seminary of the
West this year, one of the largest
recent classes. Nine alone started
this spring, a sure sign that something's
afoot in Berkeley.
© 2001 American Baptist Seminary
of the West
All Rights Reserved