A report out of Union Theological Seminary in New York City indicates that the school awarded degrees this spring to 104 students — the largest graduating class for the school since 1992.  A news release from the school included this section:

The diversity of this graduating class highlights all the options seminarians have at Union. Slightly more than a third of the students are going into some type of church-related work, ranging from pastoral services to chaplaincies, and another 28 percent are headed into the workforce with most opting to do work that is related to social justice or lay ministry. Thirty percent of those who graduated are going on to work on higher degrees, the majority pursing doctoral degrees, and most of these have been accepted by their first choice.

Pay particular attention to the statement that “slightly more than a third” of the graduates are headed for ministry in the local church.

If that is ever true of Southern Seminary — that only a third of our graduates head directly into local church ministry — then Southern Baptists should shut us down and start all over again.  I am not sure that this is of concern to the leadership of Union Theological Seminary, but it is central to our mission and assignment.

Union Theological Seminary in New York City prides itself as the symbol of liberal Protestantism in America.  We inhabit different theological worlds, and this alone makes a great difference.  But it is not inconceivable that a seminary that prides itself on being conservative could lose its love for the local church. 

We serve the churches of the Southern Baptist Convention, and do so gladly.  If we ever lose our love for the local church, we betray the very reason this school’s existence.

Here is good news – hundreds of students who graduated from Southern Seminary this year are now in service in the local church or on the mission field — or are headed there.  Our hopes and prayers go with them.

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Photo credit: Union Theological Seminary in New York City