John Leland Center for Theological Studies
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2013}}
__NOTOC__
{{Infobox university
| image_name = John Leland Center logo.png
| established = 1998
| type = Private
| name = John Leland Center for Theological Studies
| president = Kenneth R. Pruitt
| city = Arlington County
| state = Virginia
| country = United States
| coor = {{coord|38.8856|-77.1668|display=title}}
| affiliation = Baptist
| website = http://www.leland.edu
}}
The John Leland Center for Theological Studies, known as Leland Seminary, is an American nondenominational theological institute in the Baptist tradition based in Arlington County, Virginia, with several satellite locations elsewhere in Virginia. Leland is partnered with the Baptist General Association of Virginia{{cite web|url= https://bgav.org/bgav/ministry-partners/ |title=Mission & Ministry Partners |publisher=Baptist General Association of Virginia |access-date=2019-02-25 }} and the District of Columbia Baptist Convention,{{cite web|url= https://www.dcbaptist.org/history|title=Partnerships|publisher=District of Columbia Baptist Convention|access-date=2010-06-06}} though the center has ties with a range of denominations and churches.{{cite book|last=Witham|first=Larry A.|title=Who Shall Lead Them?: The Future of Ministry in America|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2005|page=97|isbn=978-0-19-516697-2|url=https://books.google.com/books?isbn=978-0-19-516697-2|access-date=2009-10-02}} Leland is a member of the Washington Theological Consortium.{{cite web|url=http://www.washtheocon.org/members.html|title=Member Institutions|publisher=Washington Theological Consortium|access-date=2009-10-02}}
The center's namesake, John Leland, was an 18th- and 19th-century Baptist minister in the United States who was a proponent of the separation of church and state and an opponent of theological seminaries.{{cite journal|author=Butterfield, L.H.|title=Elder John Leland, Jeffersonian Itinerant|volume=62|journal=Proceedings of the American Antiquarian Society|location=Worcester, MA|pages=154–252|year=1952|publisher=American Antiquarian Society|url=http://www.americanantiquarian.org/proceedings/44807239.pdf |issn=0044-751X}}{{rp|235}}
History
At a 1997 Baptist World Alliance meeting, several Baptist leaders discussed developing the Washington Metropolitan Area's first Baptist seminary.{{cite book|author-link=William H. Brackney|last=Brackney|first=William H.|title=Congregation and Campus: Baptists in Higher Education|year=2008|pages=310–11|publisher=Mercer University Press|isbn=978-0-88146-130-5|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wq8w4rJ4Am8C|access-date=2009-10-02}}{{cite news|url=http://washingtontimes.com/national/20020830-22093993.htm |title=Baptist seminary moves into new home|last=Witham|first=Larry|date=August 30, 2002|work=Washington Times|publisher=via Internet Archive|access-date=2009-10-02 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20030407185236/http://washingtontimes.com/national/20020830-22093993.htm |archive-date = April 7, 2003}} These individuals resolved to create the center which began offering classes the next year.
Randel Everett, the center's first president, stepped down in late 2006.{{cite news|url=http://www.abpnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1395&Itemid=119|title=Randel Everett to resign from Leland Center in Va.|last=Marus|first=Robert|date=August 1, 2006|publisher=Associated Baptist Press|access-date=2009-10-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719013852/http://www.abpnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1395&Itemid=119|archive-date=July 19, 2011|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}} Mark J. Olson became Leland's second president in 2007.{{cite news|url=http://www.religiousherald.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1558&Itemid=112|title=North Carolina pastor named president of Leland Center|last=Dilday|first=Robert|date=June 14, 2007|work=Religious Herald|access-date=2009-10-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721220555/http://www.religiousherald.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1558&Itemid=112|archive-date=July 21, 2011|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}} In 2019, William H. Smith became Leland's president.{{cite news | url=https://baptistnews.com/article/transitions-for-the-week-of-2-1-19/ | title=Transitions for the week of 2-1-19. | author=Francis, Barbara | newspaper= Baptist News Global | date= January 31, 2019}}
Academics
The seminary is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS).{{cite web|url=http://www.ats.edu/member-schools/john-leland-center-theological-studies|title=Member Schools: John Leland Center for Theological Studies|publisher=Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada|access-date=2017-04-30}}{{cite news|url=http://www.abpnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1288&Itemid=119|title=Leland Center receives accreditation; faculty lauded for 'notable scholarship'|last=Elliott|first=Hannah|date=June 29, 2006|publisher=Associated Baptist Press|access-date=2009-10-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719013834/http://www.abpnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1288&Itemid=119|archive-date=July 19, 2011|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}} The seminary offers the following ATS-approved degrees: Master of Divinity, Master of Christian Leadership, and Master of Theological Studies.{{cite news|url=http://www.religiousherald.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3256&Itemid=53|title=John Leland center to offer leadership degree|last=White|first=Jim|date=March 17, 2009|work=Religious Herald|access-date=2009-10-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721220507/http://www.religiousherald.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3256&Itemid=53|archive-date=July 21, 2011|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}} The seminary also offers several graduate certificates.{{cite web| url = http://www.leland.edu/john-leland-center-6/| title=Graduate Programs Overview | publisher=John Leland Center for Theological Studies | access-date=2019-05-15}}{{cite web|url= http://www.leland.edu/history/ |title=History | publisher=John Leland Center for Theological Studies|access-date=2019-02-25}}
Leland's School of Ministry offers the center's undergraduate-level courses, including a diploma in theology program.{{cite web|url= http://www.leland.edu/john-leland-center-5/ |title=About Leland School of Ministry|publisher=John Leland Center for Theological Studies|access-date=2019-02-25}} Students seeking a bachelor's degree may be able to transfer credit from the School of Ministry into two Bluefield College Bachelor of Arts degree programs.{{cite web|url=http://www.leland.edu/john-leland-center-30/|title=Educational Partnerships|publisher=John Leland Center for Theological Studies|access-date=2019-05-15}}{{cite news|url=https://baptistnews.com/article/bluefieldcollegelelandcentertopartnerontheologicaltraining/| title=Bluefield College, Leland Center to partner on theological training | author=White, Jim| newspaper=Baptist News Global| date=November 28, 2010 | access-date=2019-05-15}}
References
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External links
- {{official|http://www.leland.edu/}}
{{Washington Theological Consortium}}
{{Colleges and universities in Virginia}}
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Category:Education in Arlington County, Virginia
Category:Baptist seminaries and theological colleges in the United States
Category:Seminaries and theological colleges in Virginia
Category:Educational institutions established in 1998
Category:Buildings and structures in Arlington County, Virginia