FROM THE PRESIDENT

Dear Friends:

This is a very challenging time to attempt to lead a theological school. So many things have changed. Once we could assume that our Baptist colleges would send future ministers to our seminaries, but that steady stream of candidates is now a mere trickle. Once we could assume that our Baptist camps and congregations would be regularly calling people into the vocation of ministry, but that steady stream of candidates is now a mere trickle. Once we could assume a partnership between regions and the seminary, but those funding covenants have now come to an end.

From what sources are future ministers coming to the seminary? African-American churches continue to call men and women into the vocation of ministry at a greater rate than the rest of the Christian church. There seems to be a decline of candidates for ministry in our white churches complicated by a new trend among some white leaders to denigrate theological education. Some American Baptist leaders believe that seminary education is a detriment to good leadership. Our Latino churches have, for the most part, not yet endorsed seminary as necessary for ministry, and many of our Asian churches are grappling with how to identify new leaders for the 21st century.

How do we provide support for theological education in these changing and uncertain times? I want to suggest four approaches that we are taking here at ABSW.

1. We are staying faithful to our historic mission. We are continuing to train Biblically literate, theologically equipped, and historically educated candidates for ministry. There is no substitute for basic training in Bible, theology, church history and the pastoral arts.
   
   
2. We are making more and more connections with congregations as part of our training program. Our academic work is centered in the life of congregations so that our students are having an important dialogue between the classroom and the congregation. This also helps to reinvigorate current pastoral leaders through their involvement with theological students.
   
   
3. We are reaching out more aggressively to Baptist congregations for support and including other Christian churches in our work. While we are committed to our American Baptist affiliation, we must also reach out to other groups, such as the African Methodist Episcopal, AME Zion, Assembly of God, Church of God in Christ, and other Baptist groups in order to strengthen and sustain our work.
   
   
4. We are unapologetically ecumenical even as we seek to explore and honor our evangelical heritage and witness. Christian leaders need to understand in more depth both the church and the world and that will not be done through isolation or by practicing some form of theological arrogance.

We need the help of every alumni/ae, church and friend to succeed in the 21st century. We need new partners who value the importance of theological training. We need churches that make leadership development a priority. We need alumni/ae who want to say thank you for their training by providing financial support for this new generation. We need advocates who speak for the work that we are doing and who pray that we meet the challenges which we face.

Thank you for all that you have done to support ABSW. While the times are challenging for theological education, the possibilities for cultivating new leaders are exciting. We are grateful for our partners in this journey.

Can we count on your continuing and expanding help? I would be delighted to talk with anyone who would like to help us. Call me at 510/841-1905 ext. 224, or send an e-mail to krussell@absw.edu.

Faithfully yours,

Keith A. Russell
President