Affiliation Baptist Founded 1998 Academic staff 8 | Established 1998 President Mark J. Olson Phone +1 703-812-4757 Number of students 53 | |
Address 1306 N Highland St, Arlington, VA 22201, USA Similar Baptist Theological Seminary, Sullins College, University of Manage, University of Northern Virginia, Appalachian College of Pharmacy Profiles | ||
The John Leland Center for Theological Studies is a Christian institution of higher education, comprising a seminary and a school of ministry. The center's main campus is in Arlington, Virginia, with several satellite locations elsewhere in Virginia. Leland is partnered with the Baptist General Association of Virginia and the District of Columbia Baptist Convention, though the center has ties with a range of denominations and churches. Leland is a member of the Washington Theological Consortium.
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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.
History
At a 1997 Baptist World Alliance meeting, several Baptist leaders discussed developing the Washington Metropolitan Area's first Baptist seminary. 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. Mark J. Olson became Leland's second president in 2007.
Academics
Leland Seminary offers the center's graduate courses. The seminary is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS). The seminary offers the following ATS-approved degrees: Master of Divinity, Master of Christian Leadership, and Master of Theological Studies. The seminary also offers a Graduate Certificate in Theological Studies and a Graduate Certificate in Leadership Studies.
Leland School of Ministry, based at the center's Hampton Roads, Virginia satellite, offers the center's undergraduate courses and non-traditional programs, including a diploma in theology program. The school partners with Averett University and Hampton University to allow students seeking a bachelor's degree to transfer Leland course credits into those universities' degree programs.