An Interpretive History of Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmon
Ron Crawford
Once upon a dream . . . a new seminary was born out of hope.
When the Conservative Resurgence tightened its grip on Southern Baptist institutions, a group of progressive Baptist leaders dared to imagine something different. Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond opened its doors as a haven for the disillusioned and a launching pad for a new generation of ministers.
For three decades, BTSR delivered on that promise, transforming more than a thousand students and sending graduates into congregations around the world. Then, in 2019, it closed its doors for good.
A Fragile Dream is the story of how it all happened. Drawing on thirty years of trustee minutes, financial records, and original interviews with key figures, Ron Crawford—who served BTSR as trustee and president—offers a candid, unflinching account of an institution that was, at its best, extraordinary, and at its end, unable to adapt to the shifting world around it.
This is not a story with villains. It is something more sobering: a story of gifted, passionate people who loved their institution deeply, made the best decisions they could, and watched a fragile dream come undone.
Ron Crawfordserved as a pastor for twenty-seven years in Virginia, North Carolina, and Florida before his decade-long service as president of Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond; he retired in 2017. He now lives with his wife, Melanie, in Powhatan County, Virginia. He is the author of Mini to Mega Tsunami: A Healthier Perspective on Grief and Finding Love Later in Life: Brunch at the Crooked Oak Cafe.
Once upon a dream . . . a new seminary was born out of hope.
When the Conservative Resurgence tightened its grip on Southern Baptist institutions, a group of progressive Baptist leaders dared to imagine something different. Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond opened its doors as a haven for the disillusioned and a launching pad for a new generation of ministers.
For three decades, BTSR delivered on that promise, transforming more than a thousand students and sending graduates into congregations around the world. Then, in 2019, it closed its doors for good.
A Fragile Dream is the story of how it all happened. Drawing on thirty years of trustee minutes, financial records, and original interviews with key figures, Ron Crawford—who served BTSR as trustee and president—offers a candid, unflinching account of an institution that was, at its best, extraordinary, and at its end, unable to adapt to the shifting world around it.
This is not a story with villains. It is something more sobering: a story of gifted, passionate people who loved their institution deeply, made the best decisions they could, and watched a fragile dream come undone.
Ron Crawfordserved as a pastor for twenty-seven years in Virginia, North Carolina, and Florida before his decade-long service as president of Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond; he retired in 2017. He now lives with his wife, Melanie, in Powhatan County, Virginia. He is the author of Mini to Mega Tsunami: A Healthier Perspective on Grief and Finding Love Later in Life: Brunch at the Crooked Oak Cafe.
Login and Registration Form