National Baptist Convention of America International, Inc. (NBCA) named the Baptist Seminary of Kentucky (BSK) as their official seminary during the February meeting of their board in Tampa, Florida. BSK is the first seminary with whom NBCA has forged such a partnership.
The NBCA is a voluntary fellowship of churches approximating three and half million predominantly African-American Baptists.
As part of the partnership, BSK will begin offering an online option for pursuing both the Master of Divinity and graduate certificates in Fall 2020. The NBCA is forming scholarships for seminarians, and BSK is providing two seats on their Board of Trustees for NBCA leaders.
“Theological education in America has too often given priority to white, western expressions of Christianity, missing the rich contributions and leadership of black theologians, mission leaders, biblical scholars and ministers. BSK believes that the formation of ministers must highlight this vibrant tradition if we are to follow God’s call to racial reconciliation and repair,” explained Dr. David Cassady, president of BSK. “BSK is honored to be a partner with both the NBCA and Simmons College of Kentucky. Together, we offer all our students a robust and diverse setting for theological education.”
Dr. Samuel Tolbert, Jr., president of the NBCA describes the decision, “The National Baptist Convention of America International, Inc., (NBCA) places a strong value on theological education. Our new partnership with the Baptist Seminary of Kentucky (BSK) is a strategic relationship that directly reflects our intentionality and focus toward meeting our strategic goals, which include partnerships. Our churches are being encouraged to make BSK the primary Seminary for the training of pastors, chaplains, and church leadership both for now and into the future. BSK’s focus on black church studies and rural church development will make this partnership thrive and support our quest to produce educated christian workers.”
Dr. Lewis Brogdon, who teaches Preaching and Black Church Studies at BSK, underscores the importance of the decision, “I am excited about the partnership between BSK and NBCA. This partnership brings together an international denomination with passionate and committed church leaders with an institution uniquely positioned to equip them to meet the changing nature of ministry in the 21st century and its varied challenges. I want to thank Dr. Samuel Tolbert for his vision and support of this historic partnership.”
In January 2018, at the invitation of Dr. Kevin Cosby, BSK opened a site at Simmons College of Kentucky (HBCU) in Louisville, offering the M.Div. degree. The Kevin and Barnetta Cosby Seminary Scholarship for American Descendants of Slavery (ADOS) was established in 2019, providing 10 full scholarships to BSK for ADOS students.
