FALLS CHURCH — Baptists’ presence in this Northern Virginia suburb just got bigger.
The John Leland Center for Theological Studies has moved its main campus from Arlington to Falls Church, where it is leasing two floors in the Baptist World Alliance headquarters building — just across the street from Columbia Baptist Church, one of Virginia Baptists’ largest congregations.
The Baptist World Alliance building in Falls Church now also houses the John Leland Center for Theological Studies. (BWA Photo)
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For the past six years, Leland has leased administrative offices and classrooms in the Church at Clarendon, a Virginia Baptist congregation near the Clarendon metro station in Arlington. But this fall the Church at Clarendon will break ground on a massive undertaking that replaces its existing facility with an eight-story building. The church’s worship and educational space will be on the ground floor, while the upper floors will contain affordable housing for the community.
“Clarendon’s project is a great ministry but of course we had to move,” said Mark Olson, president of Leland. Some exploratory conversations with the Baptist World Alliance led to a leasing arrangement with them. The move will be completed July 27.
“We’re very happy with the new space at the BWA,” added Olson. “Because we have an international focus with our faculty and students, it’s a good fit for us.
“My desire is that while this is certainly helpful for Leland, I hope our move will raise the visibility of the BWA even more among Virginia Baptists.”
Leland’s administrative offices and part of its library are on the second floor of the BWA building. The remainder of the library is on the third floor. Classes will be held in a building across the street owned by Columbia Baptist Church.
Leland was founded in 1997 and its main campus was housed initially at Columbia Baptist. In 2002 it moved to the Church at Clarendon.
The seminary, which was accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in 2006, offers master of theological studies, master of divinity and master of arts in Christian leadership degrees at its main campus. It also offers a diploma in theology for students who do not have a bachelor’s degree and provides diploma classes at satellite locations in Richmond, Charlottesville, Roanoke, Mineral and Newport News.
It is governed by a self-perpetuating board of trustees, all of whom are Baptist. The Baptist General Association of Virginia allocates about $120,000 to the school each year.
Leland’s new postal mailing address is 405 N. Washington St., Suite 200, Falls Church, VA 22046. Its telephone numbers and email addresses have not changed.