Christian by tradition, Baptist in heritage, and ecumenical in outlook, we are Baptists committed to justice, reconciliation, and compassion.
The Baptist Commons forms students, engages alumni, and cultivates relationships with supporters to deepen the distinct Baptist heritage of our ecumenical learning community, recognizing the School of Divinity’s role as a vital institution in fostering excellence in leadership among diverse communities of Baptists committed to justice, reconciliation, and compassion.
The Baptist Commons Provides:
We assist Baptist students with network development and placement post-graduation, helping students to find meaningful and realistic and strategic placements of employment while supporting their long-term ministry goals. We help the school to build its network for purposes of student and donor recruitment. We maintain a healthy alumni network for Baptist graduates. We host the annual Cooperative Baptist Fellowship reception event and will develop comparable gatherings at other annual denominational meetings and gatherings. We help Baptists network the diverse Baptist community.
We meet regularly with Baptist students, alumni, and supporters for fellowship and hosted conversations with invited guests on issues particular to Baptist life. We will develop service opportunities, pilgrimages, immersion events, and class trips. We will build community with congregations, renewing relationships between churches and theological schools by building trust and awareness of what we do to educate and form students.
We provide opportunities for mentoring, internships and relationships, including membership, with Baptist congregations and nonprofit organizations. We assist the Office of the Art of Ministry in internships and the Office of Career Services and Leadership Development in vocational programming for Baptist students. We connect students with congregational and denominational resources for Baptist practices, worship elements and traditions, and understanding and applying for ordination.
We coordinate periodic events or classes each year within the scope of Baptist Studies (soon to be developed). We will develop a Baptist Studies Certificate conferred on graduates that have completed elective coursework in Baptist Studies in coordination with the Dunn Professor of Baptist Studies. To sustain professional formation, we will develop seminars, institutes, conferences, and classes as continuing education opportunities for all. We may also develop a Thriving Congregations program (grant approval pending). We provide spiritual growth and formation opportunities and experiences.
We cultivate communities of practice and leadership training among peers in ministry and nonprofit work and connect them with mentors and other practitioners in their field for practical and spiritual support. We utilize Baptist clergy and laity as resources to address questions and concerns related to Baptist identity and practice.
Under the direction of the Office for Advancement, we assist in the recruitment and cultivation of donors within our Baptist network that are interested in the distinctives of the School of Divinity. We will work towards additional scholarships for Baptist students. The goal of The Baptist Commons Initiative is to raise start-up funds and money to permanently endow the program. If you would like to contribute, contact Sheila Virgil, Assistant Dean of Development, at virgils@wfu.edu or 336.758.5872. To support Wake Divinity, give to our annual fund.