President Molly T. Marshall is delighted to announce that Central Baptist Theological Seminary has received the largest gift in institutional history. The gift, in excess of 2.2 million dollars, comes from the remaining members of the Des Peres Baptist Church in St Louis, Missouri. As the Des Peres Baptist Church determined that it could no longer sustain its congregational ministry in its particular location, the leadership of the congregation decided to leave a legacy in theological education.
This exceedingly generous transformational gift will endow the Des Peres Chair in Congregational Health (a new faculty position), create a Des Peres Church Resource Center in Central’s new library/learning resource center – part of Central’s “Cultivating Excellence” Capital Campaign, and fund an initiative in ministerial preparation for the St. Louis area.
At the heart of Central’s ministry is service to congregational life. The challenge faced by the Des Peres church is not uncommon. As Dr. Mauriece Smith, a trustee of the church, observed, “Closing a church leaves the feeling (for some of us anyway) that we have failed in the legacy entrusted to us. But creating a means to train candidates for the pastorate somehow lessens the feelings of failure and provides a hope and promise for the future.” Indeed, Central is committed to finding ways to help churches nurture congregational health in honor of the ministry of Des Peres Baptist Church. Our missional purpose is to prepare effective congregational leaders to lead churches faithfully.
Central Baptist Theological Seminary, founded in 1901, is affiliated with the American Baptist Churches, USA, and in full support of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. For more information about degree programs offered to ministerial candidates and lay leaders, please contact Steve Guinn, Director of Admissions, sguinn@cbts.edu, 913.667.5707.
This exceedingly generous transformational gift will endow the Des Peres Chair in Congregational Health (a new faculty position), create a Des Peres Church Resource Center in Central’s new library/learning resource center – part of Central’s “Cultivating Excellence” Capital Campaign, and fund an initiative in ministerial preparation for the St. Louis area.
At the heart of Central’s ministry is service to congregational life. The challenge faced by the Des Peres church is not uncommon. As Dr. Mauriece Smith, a trustee of the church, observed, “Closing a church leaves the feeling (for some of us anyway) that we have failed in the legacy entrusted to us. But creating a means to train candidates for the pastorate somehow lessens the feelings of failure and provides a hope and promise for the future.” Indeed, Central is committed to finding ways to help churches nurture congregational health in honor of the ministry of Des Peres Baptist Church. Our missional purpose is to prepare effective congregational leaders to lead churches faithfully.
Central Baptist Theological Seminary, founded in 1901, is affiliated with the American Baptist Churches, USA, and in full support of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. For more information about degree programs offered to ministerial candidates and lay leaders, please contact Steve Guinn, Director of Admissions, sguinn@cbts.edu, 913.667.5707.