John Leland Center for Theological Studies

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John Leland Center for Theological Studies
John Leland Center logo.png
Type Private
Established1998
Affiliation Baptist
President Rev. Dr. Kenneth R. Pruitt
Location
Arlington County
,
Virginia
,
United States

38°53′08″N77°10′00″W / 38.8856°N 77.1668°W / 38.8856; -77.1668
Website http://www.leland.edu

The John Leland Center for Theological Studies, known as Leland Seminary, is a nondenominational theological institute in the Baptist tradition based in Arlington County, Virginia, with several satellite locations elsewhere in Virginia. [1] Leland is partnered with the Baptist General Association of Virginia [2] and the District of Columbia Baptist Convention, [3] though the center has ties with a range of denominations and churches. [4] Leland is a member of the Washington Theological Consortium. [5]

Contents

The center's namesake, John Leland, was an 18th- and 19th-century Baptist minister in the United States who was a proponent of the separation of church and state [4] and an opponent of theological seminaries. [6] : 235 

History

At a 1997 Baptist World Alliance meeting, several Baptist leaders discussed developing the Washington Metropolitan Area's first Baptist seminary. [7] [8] These individuals resolved to create the center which began offering classes the next year. [7] [8]

Randel Everett, the center's first president, stepped down in late 2006. [4] [9] Mark J. Olson became Leland's second president in 2007. [10] In 2019, William H. Smith became Leland's president. [11]

Academics

The seminary is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS). [12] [13] The seminary offers the following ATS-approved degrees: Master of Divinity, Master of Christian Leadership, and Master of Theological Studies. [12] [14] The seminary also offers several graduate certificates. [15] [1]

Leland's School of Ministry offers the center's undergraduate-level courses, including a diploma in theology program. [16] Students seeking a bachelor's degree may be able to transfer credit from the School of Ministry into two Bluefield College Bachelor of Arts degree programs. [17] [18]

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References

  1. 1 2 "History". John Leland Center for Theological Studies. Retrieved February 25, 2019.
  2. ↑ "Mission & Ministry Partners". Baptist General Association of Virginia . Retrieved February 25, 2019.
  3. ↑ "Partnerships". District of Columbia Baptist Convention . Retrieved June 6, 2010.
  4. 1 2 3 Witham, Larry A. (2005). Who Shall Lead Them?: The Future of Ministry in America. Oxford University Press. p. 97. ISBN   978-0-19-516697-2 . Retrieved October 2, 2009.
  5. ↑ "Member Institutions". Washington Theological Consortium . Retrieved October 2, 2009.
  6. ↑ Butterfield, L.H. (1952). "Elder John Leland, Jeffersonian Itinerant" (PDF). Proceedings of the American Antiquarian Society. 62. Worcester, MA: American Antiquarian Society: 154–252. ISSN   0044-751X.
  7. 1 2 Brackney, William H. (2008). Congregation and Campus: Baptists in Higher Education. Mercer University Press. pp. 310–11. ISBN   978-0-88146-130-5 . Retrieved October 2, 2009.
  8. 1 2 Witham, Larry (August 30, 2002). "Baptist seminary moves into new home". Washington Times . via Internet Archive. Archived from the original on April 7, 2003. Retrieved October 2, 2009.
  9. ↑ Marus, Robert (August 1, 2006). "Randel Everett to resign from Leland Center in Va". Associated Baptist Press. Archived from the original on July 19, 2011. Retrieved October 2, 2009.
  10. ↑ Dilday, Robert (June 14, 2007). "North Carolina pastor named president of Leland Center". Religious Herald . Archived from the original on July 21, 2011. Retrieved October 2, 2009.
  11. ↑ Francis, Barbara (January 31, 2019). "Transitions for the week of 2-1-19". Baptist News Global .
  12. 1 2 "Member Schools: John Leland Center for Theological Studies". Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada . Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  13. ↑ Elliott, Hannah (June 29, 2006). "Leland Center receives accreditation; faculty lauded for 'notable scholarship'". Associated Baptist Press. Archived from the original on July 19, 2011. Retrieved October 2, 2009.
  14. ↑ White, Jim (March 17, 2009). "John Leland center to offer leadership degree". Religious Herald . Archived from the original on July 21, 2011. Retrieved October 2, 2009.
  15. ↑ "Graduate Programs Overview". John Leland Center for Theological Studies. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  16. ↑ "About Leland School of Ministry". John Leland Center for Theological Studies. Retrieved February 25, 2019.
  17. ↑ "Educational Partnerships". John Leland Center for Theological Studies. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  18. ↑ White, Jim (November 28, 2010). "Bluefield College, Leland Center to partner on theological training". Baptist News Global. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
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