Change in Leadership at Central Seminary

Dr. Molly Marshall

My association with Central Seminary began while I was Coordinator of Tennessee Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. The seminary offered an “alumni by choice” certificate to invite those who had attended other seminaries to show their support and I readily signed on. Due to our previous contacts through campus ministry activities, I was pleased when Molly Marshall became the president. She was a popular speaker both in Baptist Collegiate Ministry events in Tennessee and on campuses where I served.

My more official relationship with seminary began in 2005 when I became the volunteer site coordinator for Central’s teaching church site at First Baptist Church in Murfreesboro. (By the way, I now teach a Bible study class each week in the room we used for a seminary classroom.) As I have continued to relate to CBTS in various ways, I have observed and benefitted from the effective leadership of Dr. Marshall as she navigated the seminary through the perilous waters of theological education in the 21^st century.

During her tenure, President Marshall has not only expanded her skills in fund-raising, innovation, and networking but she has assembled a team of gifted people as administrators and faculty and let them create new ways to do theological education. The journey has not been easy but today Central is one of the fastest growing seminaries in the nation, primarily due to its willingness to engage underserved geographic, racial, and ethnic groups. Central’s enrollment has grown from 100 in 2004 to about 430 last year, according to ATS figures.

Dr. Pam Durso

The time has come for Molly to step down from the presidency of the seminary. The Board of Trustees recently announced that Dr. Pam Durso will be the next president. Dr. Durso is an excellent choice. A Baptist historian, she has been in the forefront of supporting the work of women ministers both personally and institutionally. She has grown the Baptist Women in Ministry organization into a place of influence, engaging both women and men to support the organization. Her wisdom and interpersonal skills have benefited a number of other organizations as well.

Although one might identify similarities in these gifted leaders, they are very different people. I have been privileged to work with both of them in various ways. I respect and value both of them, but they have different gifts and skills.

Molly has spoken out for the inclusion of all people in Baptist life and beyond while nurturing a significant theological institution. Pam also has a strong reputation for advocacy and now takes the reins of that same institution. While Molly effectively led the seminary out of financial exigency and worked with her colleagues to expand the seminary’s reach, Pam must not only continue to lead in that search for financial and personnel resources but focus those resources for sustainability in a continually evolving climate. To be perfectly clear, the position of being the President of a free-standing seminary was not an easy assignment in 2004, and it is not much better now! We are in a different time and place but with continuing challenges.

Continued prayers and support are needed for Central Seminary in these days. We offer grateful prayers for Dr. Marshall and her legacy while prayerfully supporting Dr. Pam Durso as she assumes a new role. To God be the glory!

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