Dear Hardin-Simmons University Trustees,
The more I learn, the more disappointed I am in your decision to close Logsdon Seminary.
Rather than writing a detailed critique of the process utilized to reach the decision, the timing and content of the initial communications to share the decision with key stakeholders and the general public, or the ongoing communications and conversations that have transpired since the decision was made public, I’ll focus on why Logsdon mattered to me.
I am a lifelong follower of the Way of Jesus who was raised in a Christian home. My home church from birth until early adulthood was a Presbyterian congregation. My understanding of Christianity, however, was considerably enlarged thanks to my involvement in a Baptist congregation while I was in high school. Living in between these two worlds, I discerned a call to ministry.
I completed an undergraduate degree in ministry at Dallas Christian College. After considering all of my choices for a seminary education within a few hundred miles of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, I chose Truett Seminary at Baylor University. I was thoroughly impressed by the responses of Baylor University and Hardin-Simmons University to larger changes in Baptist life – responses that included the establishment of Truett Seminary and Logsdon Seminary. As a non-Baptist, I was delighted to be welcomed and to have my studies enriched by a diverse student body. My decision to begin my seminary education at Truett was logistical; Truett was half the commute of Logsdon (80 miles compared to 160 miles).
After completing one year of studies at Truett, I chose to transfer to Logsdon. My decision to finish my seminary degree at Logsdon was primarily due to my increased interest in ethics and the opportunities Logsdon afforded me to pursue such within the scope of the M.Div. program.
From my first day on campus, I found Logsdon to be exactly as I’d hoped. The Logsdon’ environment provided me safe spaces within and beyond the classrooom to learn core competencies of pastoral ministry. As importantly, my Logsdon education taught me the importance of continued learning beyond graduation, and provided me with the knowledge and skills needed to make the most of lifelong professional learning.
As I reflect on my experience at Logsdon, I am especially thankful for the investment the faculty made in my academic success.
I signed up for as many ethics courses taught by Dr. Bill Tillman as I could, but soon learned I would learn much more than ethics from him. Dr. Tillman helped me understand the importance of writing, taught me to be a better writer, and inspired me to share my writing with the world. Thanks to Dr. Tillman, my article “Dealing with conflict in my church: The process of conflict mediation,” was published in the Spring 2001 edition of the Window. From that publication as a student, I’ve gone on to do quite a bit of writing, including nearly 1,900 blog posts about matters of faith that matter at SoWhatFaith.com.
My Logsdon education prepared me for ministry in a changing world. Since graduation:
I identified additional learning to supplement my solid Logsdon foundation and to better equip me for specific ministry opportunities, including
- D. Min.
- MBA
- Advanced training in appreciative inquiry
- Adese Fellowship in social enterprise
I have served in 11 settings:
- 9 congregations affiliated with 4 denominations located in 2 states
- 1 mission center established by a congregation affiliated with another denomination
- 1 university without religious ties (as part of this work I taught more than 30 undergraduate courses in religion)
While none of these entities were affiliated with a Baptist denomination, all were involved in the work of making more real God’s kin-dom on earth as it already is in heaven. Additionally, each ministry has afforded me the opportunity to partner with individuals and congregations across the Christian theological spectrum, including many Baptists.
So What?
When it comes to the closure of Logsdon Seminary it seems appropriate to ask the question, “So What?”
As I begin to formulate my answer I’m reminded of the difference the institution made in my life and mindful of how my education impacted how I’ve engaged thousands upon thousands of individuals in the years since I graduated. And, I’m all too aware that future students will not have access to Logsdon Seminary.