Exciting Progress at Southeastern

by T. C. Pinckney                                                                                                                                   Vol. XI, No. 8, September 1998

Not only is Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary at Wake Forest, NC, the Southern Baptist seminary closest to Virginia, but approximately 40% of all Southern Baptist pastors in the state are SE graduates. These facts make developments at SE of great importance to us in Virginia. We can thank God for the wonderful turn around at the seminary and for the continuing marvelous progress.

At the August meeting of SE’s Long Range Planning Committee Dr. Paige Patterson, president of both the seminary and the Southern Baptist Convention, reported that the American Theological Society’s Theological Fact Book records SE as having the second largest number of students enrolled in the Master of Divinity program of any seminary in the United States. (The M.Div. is the degree received by most men who move on to pastor churches.)

Regarding upcoming fall enrollment, it was noted that 400 students have been approved for the seminary, 33% above the same time last year; and 150 approved for the college, an increase of 36%. Seventy-four additional housing units were completed in August and 250 more under construction.

Donations to SE are also up with some $3,300,000 having been raised this year compared to $2,500,000 last year. Of course more students require more classrooms and more faculty, so gifts are particularly needed for the Mackie building and the Great Commission Center. $1,700,000 has been raised; $1,400,000 remains to complete that funding goal.

Southeastern Seminary has a new Women’s Studies Program in place, and the Advanced Biblical Studies Track has been approved by the trustees and is coming on line.

The undergraduate College has been expanded from a two year to a four year program in which all students will pursue a double major in Biblical Studies and the History of Ideas.

One area of significant need is a much larger endowment. For comparison, Southern Seminary has $100 million endowment, Southwestern $75 million, and New Orleans Seminary $45 million, but Southeastern has only $14 million. Readers who wish to consider including Southeastern in their wills may contact George Harvey, Director of Development, P.O. Box 1889, Wake Forest, NC 27588; 919-556-3101 ext. 201.