ARLINGTON, Va. — The John Leland Center for Theological Studies hopes to enhance the ability of its students to understand poverty issues in urban settings and to advocate on behalf of the poor through a new partnership announced this month.
The collaboration with City Gate, a community-building organization in Washington, is part of Leland’s ministry rotation requirements for master of divinity students. Two four-month rotations are necessary to earn the degree, each with a focus on mission/evangelism, justice/advocacy or chaplaincy. Students maintain a journal of their experiences and write a reflection paper at the end of each rotation.
Last year, City Gate volunteers distributed food at Richardson Dwellings, a public housing development in northeast Washington. (Photo/City Gate)
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“Our students desperately need experiences that City Gate can help offer,” said Tom Lynch, Leland’s director of ministry rotations. “This partnership provides a local urban context for our students to climb in the trenches and really build relationships with people who need advocates.”
City Gate was established in 2000 by Lynn Bergfalk, for 13 years senior minister of Calvary Baptist Church in Washington. Bergfalk, now City Gate’s executive director as well as pastor of Wisconsin Avenue Baptist Church in Washington, expanded community programs — primarily with children and youth — that had been conducted by Calvary Baptist. The organization has developed a multi-faceted program of education, life skills development and community building in locations across the capital.
“City Gate is encouraged by the relationship with the Leland Center,” said Paget Rhee, director of Urban Hands, one of City Gate’s programs. “Together we will allow students the opportunity to put their theological teaching to practical use as they encounter real world struggles in an urban environment, and in turn developing strategies to provide hope and to translate the love of God into those neighborhoods and hearts.”
City Gate is Leland’s second partnership for the justice/advocacy track of its ministry rotation. Earlier this year the seminary began collaborating with Prison Fellowship International , a criminal justice ministry based in Washington with more than 100 affiliated organizations around the world. It also works closely with International Justice Mission, an anti-human trafficking organization.
“My hope is that by the time students are finished with this course they will have a meaningful understanding of advocacy from a micro level — advocating for a friend or their future ministry staff — to the macro level — for an oppressed people group or for systemic change,” said Lynch.
The Leland Center is based in the Washington suburbs and offers classes at several locations in Virginia. The seminary partners with both the Baptist General Association of Virginia and the District of Columbia Baptist Convention.
Robert Dilday (rdilday@religiousherald.org) is managing editor of the Religious Herald.