SHAWNEE, Kan. (ABP) — Central Baptist Theological Seminary has received a more than $2.2 million gift — the largest in the institution’s history — from the former members of a St. Louis-area church.
Trustees of the recently disbanded Des Peres Baptist Church have distributed funds from the sale of the congregation’s property in St. Louis’s posh western suburbs, seminary officials announced July 31.
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The former Des Peres Baptist Church property near St. Louis. The proceeds of its sale have been donated to Central Baptist Theological Seminary.
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Founded in 1955 as a mission of Third Baptist Church in St. Louis, the Des Peres congregation reached its peak of almost 250 members in 1981. Declining membership led to the church closing its doors the last Sunday of December, 2006. Des Peres was affiliated with the American Baptist Churches USA.
Significant legacy
“The congregation determined that the proceeds from their building and property should help sustain our work in theological education and provide for creative, accessible delivery,” Central Seminary president Molly Marshall said in an e-mail to students, faculty and supporters. “Although they could not continue as a church, they wisely chose to sow seeds for the future. It is a significant legacy.”
“Closing a church leaves the feeling, for some of us anyway, that we have failed in the legacy entrusted to us,” said church trustee Mauriece Smith in a seminary press release. “But creating a means to train candidates for the pastorate somehow lessens the feelings of failure and provides a hope and promise for the future.”
The funds will endow the Des Peres Chair in Congregational Health, a new faculty position on the seminary’s main campus outside of Kansas City, Kan. It will also create the Des Peres Church Resource Center in Central’s new library.
Ministerial preparation
In addition, the terms of the gift stipulate that part of it fund a St. Louis-area initiative in ministerial preparation. Seminary officials have not yet determined exactly what form that initiative would take. Administrators are considering several possibilities, including expanding Central into the St. Louis area with a satellite campus or streaming video, or funding scholarships for St. Louis students to attend classes on the Kansas campus.
Des Peres members chose to focus on congregational health as a means to help other churches deal with problems before they face the possibility of closing their doors, Robin Sandbothe, Central’s director of seminary relations, noted by phone.
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“Central is committed to finding ways to help churches nurture congregational health in honor of the ministry of Des Peres Baptist Church,” Marshall said.
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