The Gathering CBFNC Newsletter - November 2006

November 2006

Volume 11, Issue 8

The Leadership Development Ministry Council has as its focus the identification, nurture, and support of Baptist clergy leaders.

In this issue of the gathering, you’ll read of ways CBFNC is very active in pursuing this ministry.

We support divinity school students who will be the leaders of the next generation.

We distribute resumes of ministerial candidates.

We train and encourage search committees.

We provide retreats and breakout sessions for currently serving ministers.

A movement needs leaders if it is to move.

These leaders need spiritual depth, passionate convictions and circles of camaraderie.

CBFNC offers opportunities for the exploration and expression of each of these.

Hey Youth Minister, how about a little R&R? 2007 Youth Ministers Retreat for Rest and Renewal February 26 - March 1, 2007 Need Rest?

North Myrtle Beach, SC

Great beach-front lodging at North Myrtle Beach, SC and a flexible schedule which allows you to choose the events which best meet your specific needs - attend a seminar, spend time alone in prayer, go walking on the beach, play a round of golf, or catch up on some sleep - you choose!

Need Renewal?

Excellent worship services that will help renew your spirit and call Variety of seminars to meet the most demanding ministry questions including: (seminars subject to change) Ministry with Digital Youth If a Conflict Should Ever Happen...

Fun(d) Raising Plus - you have the opportunity to meet and The Dead Prophet Society fellowship with other ministers who are A Lifetime of Youth Ministry facing the same struggles and challenges Growing in Leadership Skills that you face! and many more!

Speaker – Dr. Jack Causey, Director of Services for Ministers at the Center for Congregational Health.

Visit www.cbfnc.org/comingevents.html for registration form and more details. Ministers from outside NC welcome!

CBF of North Carolina Fellowship Dinner during the Baptist State Convention First Baptist Church, Greensboro, NC $10 per person

Tuesday, November 14, 2006 at 5:30 p.m.

Speaker: Richard Brunson, NC Baptist Men

Paid reservations are necessary as space is limited.

Visit www.cbfnc.org/comingevents.html for the registration form and return it no later than Thursday, November 2.

After the deadline of November 2, please call 888-822-1944 to determine availability of late reservations.

November 2006

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CBFNC UPCOMING EVENTS Throughout November Regional Fellowship Meetings To find a meeting in your area, see www.cbfnc.org/comingevents.html.

November 11, 2006 Experience the World: A Missions Day Camp Event for Children Trinity Baptist Church, Raleigh For details and registration form, see www.cbfnc.org/youth.html.

November 14, 2006 CBFNC Fellowship Dinner during the Baptist State Convention of NC First Baptist Church, Greensboro For details and registration form, visit www.cbfnc.org/comingevents.html.

December 29, 2006 - January 2, 2007 Antiphony Conference Atlanta, Georgia Sponsored by CBF Global Missions and The Samuel Project, for university and graduate students.

For details or to register, visit www.antiphonyonline.org January 19-21, 2007 CBFNC Youth Ski Retreat Pipestem, West Virginia For details or to register call CTI Group Adventures at 800-285-7273.

January 27, 2007 Children’s Choir Festival Temple Baptist Church, Durham For details and registration form, see www.cbfnc.org/youth.html.

February 16-17, 2007 Youth Choir Festival First Baptist Church, Greensboro For details and registration form, visit www.cbfnc.org/youth.html.

February 26 - March 1, 2007 Youth Ministers Retreat North Myrtle Beach, SC For details and registration form, see www.cbfnc.org/comingevents.html.

March 16-17, 2007 CBFNC General Assembly First Baptist Church, Hickory Watch for coming details.

April 20-22 or 27-29, 2007 Youth Spring Retreats Vineyard Camp, Westfield, NC For details and registration form, visit www.cbfnc.org/youth.html.

Leadership Development A Challenge for the Future There is a shortage of positive leadership today. While we have an abundance of leaders who seem eager, ready, willing and able to lead good people down the wrong road of life, from drug dealers on the street and gang leaders in our neighborhoods seeking to destroy the lives of our children, to some corporate executives who court greed and fraud only to find themselves in court after stealing lifetime savings from our aging population, good leaders seem few and far between.

Perhaps most troubling of all is the fact that we are facing a shortage of clergy to lead the spiritual lives of those connected to our churches.

Our churches need both clergy and lay persons who are committed to following the teachings of Jesus and imparting that information to those who come within their spheres of influence.

CBFNC is breaking new ground to assist in the development of dedicated Christian leaders for the future. Through its Leadership Development Council, CBFNC is actively involved with our divinity schools in North Carolina. We have recently begun initiatives to go beyond providing substantial scholarships by developing programs that will directly touch the lives of many more students.

In addition to Theological Education Scholarships, the current CBFNC budget includes appropriations for Mentor/Network Support for Seminarians; a Young Leaders Network; Congregational Leadership Development; a Spirituality Resources Event; a Chaplain’s Dinner at General Assembly; a Student Ministry Internship; Institutional Partners Support, Reference and Referral; a Children’s Workers aTraining Event; a Next Generation Leadership Initiative; a Youth Ministers Retreat; and an Involuntarily Terminated Minister’s Retreat. These initiatives will effectively advance our goal to meet the needs of our future leaders in a variety of ways.

The CBFNC Mission Resource Plan’s suggested giving distribution allocates 16% to Higher Education at our seven Baptist Universities and Colleges in North Carolina and 14% for Theological Education at the five Divinity Schools and House of Studies in North Carolina. As the old saying goes, “we are putting our money where our mouth is” – both in our budget and in the suggested Mission Resource Plan.

Money is only one crucial component necessary to develop Christian leaders for the future. An even more crucial component to this process is YOU. Our students need one-on-one mentors.

Christian lay persons and clergy need to “adopt” a seminary student and give of their time to share the wisdom of their Christian walk through life.

- DON HORTON, MODERATOR Churches and other Christian organizations need to provide an intern program or part-time work to give our students real life experiences in a nurturing environment. These experiences could also help them financially as they struggle to make ends meet while completing their education.

Each of us has an important task to perform if we are going to meet the Challenge for the Future.

Your task may involve money, time, prayer or the use of some other gift that God has given you.

Make determining your task a priority.

If you need help in determining how you can get involved in developing Christian leadership for the future, you may call Rick Jordan, Coordinator for the Leadership Development Council, or contact the Dean of a Divinity School near you. They will be more than happy to assist you in this effort, and so will God, if you will let Him.

Experience the World A Missions Day Camp Event For Children Grades 1-6 Saturday, November 11, 2006 Trinity Baptist Church, Raleigh 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Cost $15 per person Visit www.cbfnc.org/youth.html for details and registration form.

FINANCIAL REPORT SEPTEMBER 2006 CONTRIBUTIONS CBFNC Budget — $47,289 Other — $127,245

2006-2007 MONTHLY BUDGET GOAL: $65,417

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MISSIONS UPDATES

LINDA JONES, MISSIONS COORDINATOR

In being missional... in trying to be “on mission” for God, we try to see who we are as a congregation. What are our unique gifts and skills that can have an impact for Jesus? These churches have found their mission experience to be personal and life changing, and it has had significant impact on the life of their church and those it is reaching out to! Listen to their stories...

Winter Park Baptist Church in Wilmington (WPBC) is making its fourth trip to Pearlington, Mississippi in October to help build homes for Hurricane Katrina victims. Pearlington is a small unincorporated community of 1,700 residents and is often referred to as the “Forgotten City.” During the first three trips to Pearlington, WPBC started a total of five homes and all are completed and occupied at this point in time. WPBC is partnering with Byrd’s Chapel Missionary Baptist Church of Oak Hill for this next trip. They will have a team in excess of 25 members and will start construction of two homes. One of the things that touched them was not only did the people of Pearlington help with the construction of their new home, but they often went with the team to work on other residents’ homes. Many residents not only verbalized their appreciation, but showed their gratitude by treating the Mission Team members to Cajun cuisine such as steamed crayfish and other First Baptist Church in Greensboro Cajun dishes. All of this wonderful food was prepared out of the FEMA trailers In March several members of FBC Greensboro traveled to New Orleans to that the residents have been living in since Hurricane Katrina hit some fourteen assist in the hurricane recovery effort coordinated by FBC of New Orleans. months ago.

They cleaned out the flooded home of a New Orleans homeowner and prepared the house for rebuilding. In late May, ten members worked at the Village of Hope in Ukraine, digging footings for the new family cottage and working on a dormitory and the food services building. In June the church construction team from FBC spent a week in South Carolina working with members of other churches to frame up a new fellowship hall for the Double Pond Baptist Church. Also, two FBC members joined almost 70 others from across the U.S. on a medical/church planting trip to two villages on the Amazon in Peru.

Locally FBC members are involved in tutoring and leading VBS in the Rosewood Park area of Greensboro, as well as ministering in a number of Christian social ministries, such as Greensboro Urban Ministry, Salvation Army, Agents of Grace, and others.

Winter Park Baptist Church in Wilmington

Every year some 850 million people suffer from hunger and hunger-related causes. In fact, a child dies of hunger every five seconds, and that’s after the nations of the world pledged to halve extreme poverty by 2015.

The Bible tells us that we will always have the poor among us and we will always have a moral obligation to care for them.

So, how is your church going to address world hunger in 2006?

You are encouraged to use a brand new, 28-minute DVD/online study guide that tells the challenging and constructive story about how global Baptists are working together to address worldwide hunger. To view a video clip, download an excerpt of the online lesson and order the DVD, visit http://www.ethicsdaily.com/.

“face2face” CBF Global Missions Speakers in North Carolina November 26 - December 13, 2006 CBF’s ministry "face2face" was developed to help connect churches with missionary speakers. These speakers will be available for Sunday mornings, Sunday evenings, Wednesday nights, WMU and Baptist Men meetings, and other gatherings November 26 - December 13 in North Carolina to help focus attention on learning about, praying for, and giving to support Global Missions. To schedule a speaker, contact Vickie Traynum, vtraynum@thefellowship.info, providing your top 3 choices for events and dates. Churches are expected to supply housing, meals, and local transportation for the speakers. If possible, please help with travel. To learn more about “face2face,” visit http://www.thefellowship.info/face2face/.

Forest Hills Baptist Church in Raleigh encourages its members to put their faith into action. Members participated in two trips to the Gulf Coast cleaning out and refurbishing houses in 2006. Also, during the summer, members from the Chinese and Anglo congregations taught ESL classes in East Asia.

Thirty individuals from Forest Hills traveled to Kiev to present VBS to the children of “The Ark” as well as refurbish a building to house boys. A seminar was held to teach caregivers how to deal with children with special needs. Fifty senior high students and leaders traveled to Alaska to do backyard Bible studies and home repair through MissionsConnect. Middle school students spent three days in the Raleigh area working at projects like the food bank, building wheel chair ramps, etc. The college students traveled to Baltimore participating in a variety of ministries that serve the needs of people. In addition, a team of adults and youth will travel to South Africa to work with Mabopane children at the Lotus Home during Christmas holidays.

Christian Flights International…

Changing the world, a child at a time.

Can you really make a difference in Haiti? If you ask the children of Ranquitee, the answer is absolutely - YES! CFI is a cross-cultural, non-denominational community of believers supporting a mission located on a six-acre campus near Ranquitte, Haiti, a village in the north central mountains. CFI now works with a second generation of Haitians being raised up to lead the local programs. It’s all about giving our Haitian friends hope and a future...

Education…CFI has helped spearhead a program that now boasts a preschool, primary and secondary schools which serve over 1000 students daily.

Health Care…To ensure that students and their families have at least basic affordable health care, we operate a clinic on our campus next to our school.

Safer Water…CFI is working to maintain a system of wells throughout Ranquitte to provide cleaner water thereby reducing the leading cause of sickness and death.

Soil Conservation…To help recover the stripped land and help grow food, CFI has invested over $20,000 to terrace and reforest the land.

For further information, visit CFI on the web at: www.christianflights.org

November 2006

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THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION IN NORTH CAROLINA A major focus of the Leadership Development Ministry Council is the four partnering seminaries in North Carolina.

CBFNC provided an estimated $40,000 in scholarships to the schools, and the schools selected the recipients.

Allow us to introduce you to this year’s CBFNC scholarship recipients.

Baptist House of Studies at Duke Divinity School www.divinity.duke.edu Location: Durham, NC Started: 1980 Student Body: 100 (42% female, 58% male) Degrees: Master of Divinity, Master of Theological Studies, Master in Christian Ministries, Master of Theology, Doctor of Theology, Doctor of Philosophy Interesting Fact: Eight full-time faculty members work with the Baptist House director to care for the formation of Baptist students.

Campbell University Divinity School www.campbell.edu/divinity Location: Buies Creek, NC Started: 1996 Student Body: 231 (43% female, 57% male) Degrees: Master of Divinity, Master of Divinity and Master of Business Administration, Master of Divinity and Master of Arts in Community Counseling, Master of Arts in Christian Education, Doctor of Ministry Note from Dean Michael Cogdill: Our mission statement “To be Christ-centered, Bible-based and Ministry-focused” is greatly enhanced by our partnership with CBFNC and, likewise, we further the cause to be Christ in a world without borders as we prepare men and women to serve wherever God calls them.

M. Christopher White School of Divinity at GardnerWebb University www.divinity.gardner-webb.edu

Location: Boiling Springs, NC Started: 1992 Student Body: 190 (24% female, 86% male) Degrees: Master of Divinity, Master of Divinity and Master of Business Administration, Master of Divinity and Master of Arts in English, Master of Divinity and Master of Arts in Religion, Doctor of Ministry Note from Dean Charles Bugg: We are thankful that CBFNC connects our school to Christian mission - local and beyond.

Recently, we were able to partner with CBF and Dr. Charles Holmes, CBF Disaster Response Coordinator, on a mission to Pearlington, MS, to help in the rebuilding efforts and in ministry to the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Wake Forest University Divinity School http://divinity.wfu.edu/ Location: Winston-Salem, NC Started: 1999 Student Body: 93 (48% female, 52% male) Degrees: Master of Divinity Note from Dean Bill Leonard: We are happy to have partnered with CBFNC in bringing Reverend Brian McLaren to Wake Forest in October. McLaren, a leader in the missional/ emerging church movement, addressed new paradigms for ministry at a day-long conference and chapel services. We hope to have other occasions to partner with CBFNC in facilitating Public Theology in the Triad.

Michael Jackson, Farmington, MO Vocational Goal: Pastoral Ministry Scott Ryan, Boiling Springs, NC Vocational Goal: Interdenominational Parachurch Ministry with Crossroads Worldwide and Ph.D. program to teach Joy Turner, Winston-Salem, NC Vocational Goal: Non-profit, Social Justice

Thomas Allen, Archdale, NC Vocational Goal: Pastoral Ministry Emmit Ayers, Lexington, NC Vocational Goal: Youth Ministry Jason Duke, Fuquay-Varina, NC Vocational Goal: Ph.D. program and teach abroad Brenda Flowers, Riegelwood, NC Vocational Goal: Minister of Music Lynn Lingafelt, Raleigh, NC Vocational Goal: Christian education with preschoolers and children

Hunter Duncan, Raleigh, NC Vocational Goal: Christian Education Roy Mortiz, Hendersonville, NC Vocational Goal: Serving the local church in perhaps chaplaincy Stella Perrin, Taylorsville, NC Vocational Goal: Christian Education and Children Rick Sewell, East Bend, NC Vocational Goal: Pastoral Studies

Alecia Fuller, Charlotte, NC Vocational Goal: Church Education, Social Justice, Non-profit Tripp Fuller, Buies Creek, NC Vocational Goal: Minister or Professor Kevin Sinclair, Richardson, TX Vocational Goal: Youth Ministry Christina Tatum, Davidson, NC Vocational Goal: Social Justice Ministry David With, Kinston, NC Vocational Goal: Christian Education

Data obtained from CBF fellowship! September/October, 2006, edition

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November 2006

THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION OUTSIDE OF NORTH CAROLINA This year, for the first time, CBFNC offered a total of $10,000 in scholarships to students from North Carolina who attend divinity schools outside of our state.

The Leadership Development Ministry Council reviewed the applications and selected the following recipients: Baptist Studies Program at Candler School of Theology, Emory University http://candler.emory.edu Location: Atlanta, GA Started: 1991 Student Body: 70 (50% female, 50% male) Degrees: Master of Divinity, Master of Theological Studies, Master of Theology, Doctor of Theology in Pastoral Counseling Note from Director David Key: Two individuals connected with our school have served as officers for CBFNC: Scott Hudgins, former director of our program and the former recorder for CBFNC, and Gail Coulter, an alum and our first-ever recipient of a Baptist Studies Scholarship and present moderator-elect of CBFNC.

Allison Carter, Gastonia, NC Vocational Goal: Chaplaincy

Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond www.btsr.edu Location: Richmond, VA Started: 1991 Student Body: 333 (46% female, 54% male) Degrees: Master of Divinity, Doctor of Ministry, Master of Divinity and Master of Social Work, Master of Divinity and Master of Science in Patient Counseling Note from Nathan Taylor, Director of Annual Lindsay Comstock, Giving: BTSR is proud to have 17 outstanding Fayetteville, NC North Carolina students currently enrolled in our Vocational Goal: degree programs, in addition to numerous alumni Missions/Pastorate who came to BTSR from North Carolina and/or who are serving in North Carolina ministries today. As a result of “Building Our Future...Together,” the campaign for BTSR, a full renovation of the campus is underway and already provides new housing for current students.

George W. Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor University

www.baylor.edu/truett/ Location: Waco, TX Started: 1994 Student Body: 385 (32% female, 68% male) Degrees: Master of Divinity, Master of Divinity and Master of Social Work, Master of Divinity and Master of Music, Master of Theological Studies, Doctor of Ministry Note from Truett student, Adam Horton, Waynesville, NC: Truett has been an affirming place where I have been able to learn both from my professors and from my fellow seminarians, and it is a safe place where I have been allowed to ask and wrestle with difficult questions of theology and faith. I feel I am well prepared to serve in a ministry position.

Matt Addington, Cullowhee, NC Vocational Goal: Campus Ministry

Kristen Canady, Wrightsville Beach, NC Vocational Goal: Social Work Missionary

James and Carolyn McAfee School of Theology at Mercer University http://theology.mercer.edu Location: Atlanta, GA Started: 1996 Student Body: 211 (50% female, 50% male) Degrees: Master of Divinity, Master of Divinity and Master of Business Administration, Master of Divinity and Master of Science in Community Counseling, Doctor of Ministry Note from Dean Alan Culpepper: The McAfee School of Theology welcomes students from North Carolina, and seven McAfee graduates are now ministering in NC. Leigh Ann Halverson Winston-Salem, NC Vocational Goal: Children’s Ministry

Amanda Miller, Shelby, NC Vocational Goal: College Ministry

North Park Theological Seminary http://www.northpark.edu/sem/ Location: Chicago, IL Started: 1963 Student Body: 267 Degrees: Master of Divinity, Master of Divinity and Master of Business Administration, Master of Divinity and Master of Management in Nonprofit Administration, Master of Arts in Lori Carter, Christian Formation, Master of Arts in Theological Studies, Master of Arts in Christian Ministry, Winston-Salem, NC Vocational Goal: additional degrees offered Christian Ministry Interesting Fact: North Park Theological Seminary is the Evangelical Covenant Church Denomination’s sole graduate theological school.

Fellowship Partner Schools Outside of NC not represented by Scholarship Recipients Baptist Seminary of Kentucky Lexington, KY - www.bsky.org

Baptist Studies Program at Brite Divinity School, Texas Christian University Fort Worth, TX - www.brite.tcu.edu

Baptist University of the Americas San Antonio, TX - www.bua.edu

Central Baptist Theological Seminary Kansas City, KS - www.cbts.edu

International Baptist Theological Seminary Prague, Czech Republic - www.ibts.cz

Logsdon School of Theology at Hardin-Simmons University Abilene, TX - www.logsdonseminary.org

Data obtained from CBF fellowship! September/October, 2006, edition

November 2006

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THE CHURCH THAT GOT RIPPED OFF

- RICK JORDAN, CHURCH RESOURCES COORDINATOR

My text for this month’s article is the story of Rip Van Winkle. The story begins 20 years before the Revolutionary War. Rip takes his gun and his dog into the woods for some squirrel hunting. He meets a mysterious character with a mysterious drink, which Rip enjoys until he passes out. On waking, he finds that his gun has rusted, his dog has wandered off and the landscape has changed. But he was in for an even bigger surprise: “As he approached the village he met a number of people, but none whom he knew, which somewhat surprised him, for he had thought himself acquainted with every one in the country round.” When he left the village, all the women and children loved him and no dog would think to even growl at him. But now, “a troop of strange children ran at his heels, hooting after him, and pointing at his gray beard. The dogs, too, not one of which he recognized for an old acquaintance, barked at him as he passed.

The very village was altered…There were rows of houses which he had never seen before, and those which had been his familiar haunts had disappeared. Strange names were over the doors—strange faces at the windows—everything was strange. His mind now misgave him; he began to doubt whether both he and the world around him were not bewitched. Surely this was his native village, which he had left but the day before.” Eventually he finds that his best friends have died of illness or in some battle (a war?) or been elected (elected?) to some office in a place called Congress. “Rip’s heart died away at hearing of these sad changes in his home and friends, and finding himself thus alone in the world. Every answer puzzled him too, by treating of such enormous lapses of time, and of matters which he could not understand: war—congress…he had no courage to ask after any more friends, but cried out in despair, ‘Does nobody here know Rip Van Winkle?’”

I had lunch with a new pastor in our state. I had helped him by sending out his resume, and though he was at that time living in Europe, a church from North Carolina found his resume and testimony and skills to be perfect for their church. He’s been in our state for less than a month. He wanted to meet the CBFNC leaders and learn how his church could be better connected with us. Over lunch, he praised his predecessor, who had been in that pastorate for over 30 years. During those years, he kept his Baptist flock informed about changes that were happening in their convention. As more and more changes happened, the church took more and more definite moves to define themselves as “traditional” Baptists. They were advised of a potential take-over, were informed as it happened and challenged to consider what affiliations were appropriate for them in these new days.

After lunch, I overheard the phone conversation of one of our office staff. (This is easy for me to do, because I spend most of my time in the office wandering around trying to figure out what’s happening.) She said, ”Yes, we can do that. And what is your church? Okay, and what are the names you want removed from our mailing list?” Oh, I hate to hear those words. But we hear them too often. “So, what was that call about?” I asked. “That was ______ Baptist Church. They want to be removed from our mailing list and gave me a list of persons from the church who are to be removed from our mailing list as well.” Of course, we removed them immediately, so they won’t be getting this newsletter, so I figure I can say whatever I want to about them and they’ll never know, right?

So, here’s how I felt when she told me the name of the church: Stunned.

When I came to work for CBFNC, this was the first church that invited me to preach for a Sunday morning service, as they were in an interim period.

The previous pastor had been there for decades and had been a quiet supporter of the moderate movement, evidenced by this being one of the top five churches in financial support to CBFNC. But something has changed.

A new pastor came. I called him when he arrived and invited him to breakfast and then later to lunch, but we never got together. He turned down four invitations, blaming last minute scheduling conflicts. Now, that church gives nothing to CBF or CBFNC. And they’ll be getting one less piece of mail.

What happened? Maybe it was the Rip Van Winkle effect. In the first church, a multi-decades-serving pastor kept the people informed. When he retired, the search committee had definite ideas about who they were and who they needed to be looking for. (They even called a woman minister to be their interim pastor.) In the second church’s interim, every Sunday’s pulpit was filled by a different voice with perspectives all over the map. They selected someone as pastor who was completely out of the loop, ignorant of changes in the denomination over the last 30 years. Or maybe he played ignorance. Either way, the search committee was asleep. I worry that when that church’s lay leaders wake up, they’ll discover that the landscape has changed and that the familiar institutions are now filled with strangers. They will awake to find that their village has chosen, not freedom – as in Rip’s situation – but authoritarian kings.

Either of these church’s stories could one day be your church’s story.

Stay awake.

Children’s Choir Festival Saturday, January 27, 2007 Temple Baptist Church, Durham For Children in GRADES 4-6 Tom Shelton, Director Music Specialist, Forsyth County Schools Cost: $10 per singer, $125 max. per choir Food - $4 per singer and chaperone Deadline - December 4, 2006 Visit www.cbfnc.org/youth.html for registration and repertoire

Youth Choir Festival February 16 - 17, 2007 First Baptist Church Greensboro Daniel Bara, Director East Carolina University Director of Choral Activities Cost: $10 per singer, $125 max. per choir Food - $5 per singer and chaperone Deadline - January 15, 2007 Visit www.cbfnc.org/youth.html for registration and repertoire

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November 2006

What a Difference Twenty Years Make!

In August 1984, I entered the Master of Divinity program at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. I was 21 years old and fresh out of college.

Randall Lolley and Morris Ashcraft were president and dean, respectively. The enrollment of the seminary was over one thousand students. The first semester, I took Old Testament Survey, New Testament Survey, Church History, Greek and an elective I can’t remember!

The choice of seminary was pretty easy in those days. Southern Baptists owned, operated and heavily financed six seminaries. Most North Carolinians went to Southeastern, Southern or Southwestern.

Occasionally, someone would adventure to one of the other three SBC seminaries, or to a non-Baptist school like Yale or Princeton, but the vast majority of seminary-bound students from North Carolina attended the same small group of schools. At Southeastern, we had a significant block of Methodist students, who took the same courses as everyone else, plus a few extra ones dealing with Methodist history and polity. They knew a good educational bargain when they saw it – they could attend Southeastern more cheaply than Duke!

Speaking of costs, a seminary education at the SBC schools was “dirt cheap” in those days. Tuition was basically free. We paid a matriculation fee that was less than the cost of tuition at most state universities. Of course, everyone had living expenses, and books were another cost, but overall, it was pretty inexpensive compared to most educational programs. In addition, residents of NC and Virginia were eligible for generous grants from the Keesee Foundation, which reduced costs considerably. I received Keesee funds, worked in a church part of the time, and was paid to serve as a resident advisor my senior year. I married shortly after seminary graduation and began full-time pastoral ministry, but I sometimes joke with my wife that I had more money in seminary than at any time since!

The situation facing seminarians today is far different. The six seminaries were the first target of the fundamentalist takeover of the SBC, resulting in a drastic change in faculty and curriculum by the early 1990s. Because of this transformation, new theological schools began to emerge. Today, there are fourteen theological schools which partner with CBF and seek to uphold historic Baptist principles, but they exist in a far different “ecosystem.” CBF neither owns nor operates any of these schools, though it does provide funding, primarily for scholarships, sometimes for other needs.

Some are free standing seminaries (e.g. Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond). Some are divinity schools within

Antiphony - (an - tif’ o - ne) - conversations about things that matter a conference for university students Theme: Call and Response December 29, 2006 - January 2, 2007 Hyatt Regency Hotel Atlanta, GA visit www.antiphonyonline.com

- LARRY HOVIS, COORDINATOR universities (e.g. Campbell, Gardner-Webb and Wake Forest). Some are “Baptist Houses” connected to divinity schools affiliated with other denominations (e.g. Duke and Candler). Most are much smaller than the six SBC seminaries, which brings both advantages and disadvantages. Their course offerings and degree programs are sometimes more limited, but there is a deeper sense of collegiality and closer relationships between faculty and students. The new schools have a more intentional focus on spiritual formation and mission immersion. Overall, I believe the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. I sometimes yearn to return to seminary to experience this new approach.

The biggest challenge facing theological education today is financial. Educational costs have risen faster than the rate of inflation in every institution and field of study over the past two decades.

Plus, there is no Cooperative Program to fund these new schools. As a result, students preparing for ministry now pay huge sums of money to receive a theological education, even adjusted for inflation.

Seminary graduates often leave school, not only with a Master of Divinity degree, but also with a debt load of tens of thousands of dollars. And unlike their colleagues from law, business or medical school, they will not be receiving salaries that will enable them to retire that debt very quickly.

So, where does that leave the state of theological education today?

First, I believe that students are receiving excellent theological education and ministry preparation in our CBF partner schools. In many ways, it may even be superior to the education I received a generation ago. Second, as a CBF movement, we need to shore up our financial support for these schools and their students. In addition to the budgetary contributions of churches, CBFNC and CBF National, individuals who are able should consider making major gifts to theological education and consider this cause in their estate planning. Third, when churches call graduates of these schools to serve as their pastors and staff ministers, they must consider the educational debt load under which these servants of God are living, and be as generous as possible. Even what might appear to be a high salary (relatively speaking, by ministerial standards), may barely be a living wage after educational debt payments are made.

According to the New Testament, “pastors and teachers…[who] equip the saints for the work of ministry” (Ephesians 4:11-12) are “gifts” from Christ to his church. By giving them a sound theological education which takes only a few years, we receive the gift of their ministry for the rest of their years. May we be faithful and generous stewards of our ministers and the schools that prepare them to minister among us.

Youth Winter Ski Retreat January 19 - 21, 2007 At Pipestem in West Virginia Cost includes one day ski lift ticket and rentals, two nights’ lodging, two meals, a t-shirt, conference fee, and worship.

Other skiing options and an added day option is available.

For details and registration information, contact CTI at (800) 285-7273. Call to sign up your church today!

CBF NORTH CAROLINA 8025 NORTH POINT BLVD., SUITE 205 WINSTON-SALEM, NC 27106

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

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CBF North Carolina November 2006 Phone: (888) 822-1944 • (336) 759-3456 Fax: (336) 759-3459 cbfnc@cbfnc.org • www.cbfnc.org Coordinating Council

Don Horton, Zebulon Carolyn Dickens, Raleigh Moderator Recorder Gail Coulter, Hendersonville Roger Gilbert, Mount Airy Moderator-Elect Past-Moderator Boyce Wilson, Winston-Salem Treasurer Glenda Currin, Wilmington David Hood, Hickory Steve Little, Marion Katie Ethridge, Beaufort Kathryn Hamrick, Shelby Greg Rogers, Greenville Larry Harper, Raleigh Roy Smith, Raleigh

Faith Development Ministry Council Randy Barrington, Winnabow Jennifer Baxley, Henderson Elizabeth Edwards, Nashville Bruce Hartgrove, High Point Cindy Joy, Oxford

Karen Metcalf, Raleigh Kristen Muse, Raleigh Jeff Pethel, Rolesville Blythe Taylor, Charlotte Tim Wilson, Hickory

Leadership Development Ministry Council Kitty Amos, Winston-Salem Rhonda Gailes, Blowing Rock Kheresa Harmon, Erwin Burke Holland, Belhaven Ken Massey, Greensboro

Pam Riley, Durham Wayne Wike, Matthews Larry Williams, Louisburg Steve Zimmerman, Mebane

Missions Development Ministry Council Cecelia Beck, Forest City Kendell Cameron, Whiteville Jim Everette, Wilmington David Hailey, Raleigh Carolyn Hopkins, Cary

Christopher Ingram, Smithfield Bill Jones, Newland Shirley Kool, Sylva Judy LeCroy, Lexington Jack Watson, Apex

CBF Council Members From NC Crystal Leathers, Hickory Mickie Norman, Leland Guy Sayles, Asheville

Sheri Adams, Boiling Springs Jack Glasgow, Zebulon Scott Hagaman, Marion Bill Ireland, Winston-Salem

Staff

NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID WINSTON-SALEM, NC PERMIT NO. 162

Larry Hovis ...................... Coordinator Rick Jordan ...................... Church Resources Coordinator Linda Jones ...................... Missions Coordinator Nancy Parks .................... Office Manager Natalie Aho ...................... Communications Assistant Gail McAlister ................. Financial Assistant Beth McGinley ................ Office Assistant All email addresses: firstinitiallastname@cbfnc.org