As a Leland student, I would like to thank you for raising good questions about how Virginia Baptist's are to support theological education [“Theological opportunity?” Herald, Dec. 14]. I may disagree with your idea that BTSR and Leland duplicate the effort to educate Christian leaders (Leland and BTSR have very different efforts), yet I am in total agreement that we should address how we support these schools.
What if Virginia Baptists treated educational partners the same way we treat church plants? When a new institution is planted we would strongly support them. We might help nurture and grow this organization until a time would come that they would mature and grow out of their infancy. Often times this means paying a large portion of the bills. However, a mature church does not need the constant financial help of its parent church or association. In the same way, should not seminaries one day be able to stand on their own?
This coming from a Leland student may sound like a younger brother whining about how his parents should give him more money since the older brother has a job. Believe me that this is not my intention. One day soon the same case should be made toward Leland. There should be a day when Leland should be able to stand on its own. At that time a new opportunity will emerge for Virginia Baptists and we will have the honor of partnering with a new group of people. It can be hard for a parent to cut back its help for a child, yet a child will never learn to walk if it is always carried.
The question should not be whether there is a need for two seminaries. That question has been answered already. We have two because there are opportunities for diverse and unique theological education within our state. Both student bodies are growing and both schools are generating more support everyday.
The question that should be asked is how we choose to relate to both schools. I hope there is always a solid relationship between BTSR, Leland and Virginia Baptists. We just need to be reminded relationships should not be defined by how much money we give.
Brandon Ives, Richmond