SHAWNEE, Kan. (ABP) – Central Baptist Theological Seminary celebrated two days April 7-8 dedicating a new chapel and with an open house featuring tours of recently completed capital improvements.
The seminary broke ground for the Baugh-Marshall Chapel in 2009. Construction was made possible by a $2 million gift from the Eula Mae and John Baugh Foundation, a philanthropic organization started by Sysco Corporation founder John Baugh that supports a variety of moderate Baptist causes, including Associated Baptist Press. Baugh died in 2007. The fund is now administered by his daughter and two grandchildren.
The chapel is part of about $4 million of building projects completed through the seminary’s Cultivating Excellence capital campaign. More than 300 people from nearby churches and the community toured the chapel, Hatcher Heritage Hall and an upgraded library as part of the celebration.
Hatcher Heritage Hall, which connects the chapel to the renovated library, features two stained glass windows donated by artists Carol Ann Holcomb and Lois Redman, both members of First Baptist Church in Manhattan, Kan.
Linda Roos, head of the Pillsbury Foundation and a seminary trustee, provided an organ and piano for the chapel.
Founded in 1901 Central Seminary maintains historic ties with American Baptist Churches USA. It operates “in full support of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship,” and the Atlanta-based Fellowship includes Central among 15 theology schools it supports through partnerships.
Marshall, the first woman to be elected president of a Baptist seminary accredited by the Association of Theological Schools, taught at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., before joining the faculty at Central as a professor in 1997. She was elected president in 2004, inheriting a seminary in financial straits.
She led the seminary in a downsizing of faculty and staff, put an 82-year-old campus in Kansas City, Kan., up for sale and relocated to the suburbs. In addition to the Shawnee campus, the seminary has satellite campuses in Milwaukee, Wis., and Murfreesboro, Tenn. In 2007 the school launched an Urban Missional Institute to maintain its historic focus on training for urban ministries.
-30-
Bob Allen is senior writer for Associated Baptist Press.
Previous related stories:
Under Molly Marshall’s presidency, Central Seminary sees turnaround
Gift of $2 million to fund new chapel on Central Seminary campus