Mantle Passed

by Samuel K. Letson, Jr.                                                                                                                        Vol. VI, No. 9, December 1993

Pastor, Emmanuel Baptist Church, Manassas

Peacefully and intentionally, elected moderate leaders of the Alumni Association of Southeastern Seminary, Virginia Chapter, passed the mantle of leadership to a new, generation of officers who support the vision of Southeastern President Paige Patterson, his administration, and faculty. Elected Alumni President was Jeff Gibby, Associate Pastor, Covington Baptist Church, Covington, Virginia. Richard D. Baker, Minister of Outreach at First Baptist, Norfolk was chosen Vice President.

Speaking for the Alumni Relations Committee of the Virginia Southeastern Alumni Association, Becky Glass made the motion that the committee be disbanded. The motion passed. Glass said that the committee had been composed of individuals who represented diverse theological positions. In their meeting committee members discussed the question: What kind of relationship to Southeastern do Virginia Baptist alumni wish to maintain? It was determined that on-going fellowship with professors and colleagues is important. However, such fellowship needs the support of an on-going relationship with the present seminary staff. It is this relationship that some Virginia alumni find presently problematic. Therefore, the committee decided that it was important to present a slate of officers who would be inclined both to enjoy the fellowship and foster the relationship. "We believe very strongly that it is important that the seminary have a supportive Alumni Association. Some alumni cannot now offer this support," said Glass.

Dr. George Braswell, Professor of Mission at Southeastern, brought greetings from the seminary. His enthusiasm for teaching was especially evident when discussing his elective class on world religions. Braswell has had some association with all five presidents of Southeastern. His view of the seminary thus spans it entire history. He stated that he has never agreed totally with an administration for whom he worked, but that he has always tried to be a team-player. He is encouraged by the spirit of the faculty and students and by the significant increase in enrollment. He said the seminary needs to declare additional faculty positions open, but such a step requires additional financial support. He urged alumni to increase support for the seminary.

In regard to the matter of removing Southeastern from accreditation probation, Braswell said he obviously could not speak with certainty, but his opinion is that the seminary has adequately dealt with all the concerns of the Southern Association of Christian Schools.

During question time, one person stated, "Some of us regret that we ever set foot on the campus of Southeastern Seminary. Some are considering affiliating with BTSR. Yet you are asking for our support." Braswell responded that he understood where the speaker was coming from. "I go way back with the seminary. I'm excited. I disagreed sometimes with Lolley. I disagree on some matters with Patterson." "Yes," said the speaker,"but there is a difference in disagreeing and being included, and in disagreeing and being excluded. That is what they have done to us."

Braswell was also asked if the present administration, when adding new faculty, included present members of the faculty in the process. He stated that when a new professor in ethics was recently added, the current faculty was fully involved. He further said President Paige Patterson is personally committed to this kind of process in hiring faculty.

This historic meeting took place in the Pine Street Baptist church, in a building erected in 1882. The church sign facing Pine Street in this urban, inner-city neighborhood had inscribed upon it, "In Memory of our Boys Who Answered their Country's Call - Great World War - April 6, 1917 - Nov. 11,1918." It is refreshing to report that the Southeastern alumni meeting, though tempered somewhat by a tone of sadness in the voices of some, was predominately characterized more by the spirit of "church" than that of "war" and that is important, for in the long run Christian statesmanship is a victory not only for Southeastern but for the larger work of Christ's world mission.