A week ago today I shared the news that my seminary was closing. When I wrote that blog post the news had been official for less than 24 hours. I was stunned. I relied heavily on the official statement provided by the University. In short, Hardin-Simmons University (est. 1891) determined that it was necessary to close Logsdon Seminary was based on its recent financial performance relative to other schools and programs in the University.
Since writing that post, I’ve learned that the decision is far more complicated than the original narrative suggests. While Hardin-Simmons University has experienced financial struggles that are commonplace for smaller private universities, Logsdon has a significant endowment. The reason Logsdon Seminary was created may be the primary reason it is now ending: a commitment to a more moderate theological perspective.
Faculty Reaction
While at Logsdon, I studied missions under Robert Sellers. After teaching at Logsdon for nearly 20 years, Sellers retired and is now Professor of Theology Emeritus and Connally Chair of Missions Emeritus.
In an opinion piece for Baptist Global News (February 13, 2020) titled “Losing Logsdon Seminary: Broken Commitments and Wounded Spirits,” Sellers writes
Justifying the closing of the seminary and silencing its profound theological witness – while simultaneously suggesting that continued chapel services, weekly Bible studies and expanded ministry events can replace the depth of the seminary’s instruction and training for Christian ministry – is a fallacious argument.
He also directly names the underlying theological conflict and the agents responsible for advancing it:
Like 21st-century Pharisees, these fearful fundamentalists have gathered their robes of holiness about them and conspired to attack this seminary. Most recently, the senior pastors of three prominent West Texas Baptist churches, along with the executive director of Texas Baptists and HSU’s president, determined to persuade enough trustees that Logsdon was infected and had to be terminated.
Student Reaction
Jonathan Davis is a 2019 Doctor of Ministry graduate of Logsdon Seminary who currently serves as pastor of Beale Memorial Baptist Church (Tappahannock, VA). Additionally, he is the founder of the Small-Town Churches Network, which works to help rural churches thrive in the midst of 21st-century change.
In his opinion piece for Baptist Global News (February 11, 2020), Davis directly confronts the lack of transparency in the processes and meetings that culminated with the decision to close Logsdon Seminary. He invites Hardin-Simmons University to take steps to make more information available to all stakeholders and to the general public. More specifically, he asks seven questions that have not yet been answered, including
What plans and efforts were undertaken to make Logsdon financially viable before closure was decided?
Was there pressure from so-called stakeholders or key pastors in the region to close the school for theological reasons?
Does a seminary need to be “profitable” (however that term is defined in higher education) in order to prove its worth, or is there a higher value to training the next generation of ministers?
Does a seminary need to be “profitable” (however that term is defined in higher education) in order to prove its worth, or is there a higher value to training the next generation of ministers?
Overall Reaction
The final (to date) part of the series was published yesterday (February 14, 2020). Written by Baptist Global News Assistant Editor Jeff Brumley and titled “Grieving Logsdon Supporters Fear Female Prof a Victim of Conservatives Behind Seminary’s Closure” the article focuses on the sudden move to dismiss Susan Pigott.
Since Pigott holds the rank of Professor and has been a part of HSU since 1993. Her role as Professor of Old Testament has been in the Logsdon School of Theology rather than Logsdon Seminary. Since the University is committed to the continuance of the School of Theology this article makes a strong case that her dismissal is really about the conservative takeover, which is resulting in the removal of women from the faculty.
Even More Reactions
While the Baptist Global News series provides significant insight from a single source, other resources are helpful for those seeking to gain a better understanding of what has happened and why.
I recommend
- Ethics Daily – four articles (to date) on Logsdon Seminary closure
- Facebook group “Save Logsdon Seminary” (currently includes 500 members)
- “Alumni, Texas Baptists React to Logsdon Seminary Closing” by Ken Camp (Baptist Standard, February 10, 2020) [4 additional recent articles can be found searching “Logsdon”]
- “Baptists: Closing Logsdon Seminary: A ‘Financial’ Decision, Or Not?” by Bill Jones (BillJones.com, February 15, 2020)
So What?
I am a graduate of Logsdon Seminary (M. Div., 2001) who came from a Mainline Protestant background. Since graduating from Logsdon Seminary, I have served nine congregations affiliated with four different Mainline Protestant denominations and an ecumenical mission center that was originally founded by a congregation affiliated with fifth Mainline Protestant denomination since graduation. I’ve also completed additional degrees (D. Min. and MBA), consulted with a wide range of congregations and spiritual entrepreneurs, and taught undergraduate religion courses.
While I have never been deeply involved in Baptist life, I’m grateful for the quality education I received at Truett Seminary, Baylor University and at Logsdon Seminary, Hardin-Simmons University. I’m also disappointed that Logsdon seminary is closing, and even more disappointed by the forces that led to its closure and the manner in which the University communicated its decision (since the initial e-mail, I’ve received two more e-mails that did not address any of the hard questions or provide significant new information about how the decision was made).
For Baptists and for other students who were planning to attend Logsdon Seminary or who in the future may seek a seminary education in response to a call to ministry, I encourage you to broaden your search within and beyond institutions with Baptist affiliation.
Request
If you’ve been impacted by the closure of Logsdon Seminary and/or have links to resources that tell parts of the story not mentioned above, please comment on this post.