RG46.0.1 School of Divinity. Office of the Dean. Bill J. Leonard Records RG46.0.1 Finding aid prepared by Processed by Cynthia Good and others Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives
PO Box 7777 Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 27109 336 758-5755
2012 This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2019-04-04T10:40-0400 Describing Archives: A Content Standard 2018, 2019 Revised by Stephanie Bennett, Anna Hathcock, Sayeda Islam, Finley Turner School of Divinity. Office of the Dean. Bill J. Leonard Records RG46.0.1 Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives 5.36 linear feet 8 document boxes, 1 oversize folder 1998-2010 The Wake Forest University School of Divinity admitted its first students in 1999. This collection documents the planning and development of the Wake Forest University School of Divinity and its development under its inaugural dean, Bill J. Leonard. Materials include correspondence, Implementation Committee materials, the first Board of Advisors and Board of Visitors, subject files, and audiovisual materials of speaking and School events. Wake Forest University School of Divinity. Processing note

Processed by Cynthia Good and others.

 Acquisition Information

A deposit from the Dean's Office, School of Divinity.

 Preferred citation

School of Divinity. Office of the Dean. Bill J. Leonard Records (RG46.0.1), Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collection and Archives, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.

 Copyright

Copyright for materials resides with Wake Forest University, unless otherwise designated. Users of this collection are responsible for using materials in conformance with U.S. Copyright laws.

 Collection overview

This collection documents the planning and development of the Wake Forest University School of Divinity and its first 10 years under the leadership of William (Bill) J. Leonard. It includes background documents related to the development of the Divinity School such as those related to the School's Implementation Committee, its first Board of Advisors, the first Board of Visitors, and the Dean Search Committee. Newspaper articles, press releases, and other media materials related to the early days of the Divinity School as well as special events materials are also included. There are also some course and curriculum files and an Association of Theological Schools self-study report.

 Historical note

Founded in 1999, the Wake Forest University School of Divinity is intentionally ecumenical and open to a variety of viewpoints. In 2011, the School offered one degree, the Master of Divinity, with dual degree offerings in law, bioethics, and counseling in conjunction with other schools of the University. It also offers a certificate in Spirituality and Health in association with the Wake Forest University School of Medicine. Graduates of the School of Divinity serve in many types of Christian ministry in addition to being pastors, in chaplaincy as well as social justice and advocacy ministries. The faculty and staff encourage a culture of learning that nurtures critical inquiry, theological reflection, and the integration of theory with hands-on impact in ministry.

The core of the Master of Divinity curriculum includes study of the Bible, pastoral care, systematic theology, church history, ethics, and spirituality. Through the Art of Ministry curriculum and multicultural immersion courses, students engage the world outside the academia as part of their theological reflection.

Bill J. Leonard is the founding dean of WFU's Divinity School. He holds a B.A. from Texas Wesleyan College, a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a PhD from Boston University. In 1996, he joined Wake Forest University with appointments at the School of Divinity and the Department of Religion. Leonard retired as the school's dean in 2010 but continued to teach full-time as a professor. In 2011, he was named the first James and Marilyn Dunn Chair of Baptist Studies at the School of Divinity. He continued to teach both at the school and the department of religion before retiring in 2018.

Source: http://divinity.wfu.edu/about, 2011 December 22.

 Arrangement

The files have been organized into three series: Series 1. School of Divinity Study Committee materials, Series 2. Sermons and event audiovisual materials; and Series 3. Subject files.

 Access Restrictions

Collection is open for researchers.

 School of Divinity Study Committee materials 1988-1993 Divinity School Study Committee materials 6 1 1988-1989 Budget estimates 6 2 1988-1989 Correspondence 6 3 1988-1989 Drafts of Divinity School Study Committee final report 6 4 1988-1989 Establishment of the Divinity School proposal 1 1 1991-1993 Faculty and Student Forum letters 6 5 1988-1989 Feasibility Report on establishing a Divinity School 6 6 1988-1989 Divinity School Study Committee Meeting Minutes 6 7 1988-1989 Divinity School Newspaper Articles 6 8 1988-1989 Purpose of a Divinity School article 6 9 1988-1989 Overview of Space Needs for new Divinity School 6 10 1988-1989 Student Enrollment Trends at Theological Schools 6 11 1988-1989 Divinity School Study Survey 6 12 1988-1989 Sermons and event audiovisual materials Art for Video (1 CD-R) 7 12 Briars in the Cottonpatch: The Story of Koinonia Farm (VHS videocassette) 7 2003 Bridges to Community, Inc. (1 VHS videocassette) 7 1996 Chacour, Elias, audio recordings 7 2005 January "Denominational Relations" news conference, Dallas, Texas (1 VHS videocassette) 7 1992 October 8 Divinity School video clips: Convocation, 8/31/2004, WFMY; Charles Kimball, 11/11/2004, WXII; Student Service Trips, 1/13/2005, WFMY; Leonard interview, 4/1/2005, WGHP (1VHS videocassette) 7 2004-2005 Dunn, James M., at American Baptist Biennial (1 VHS videocassettes) 7 1991 June Fiddes, Paul, Ash Wednesday worship service (1 audiocassette) 7 2006 MSNBC Hardball with Bill Moyers, WNET (1VHS videocassette) 7 2005 June 10 New Baptist Covenant worship service recordings (7 compact discs) 7 2009 April North Carolina People with William Friday, Episode #3116 with Bill J. Leonard, UNC-TV (1 VHS videocassette) 7 2001 October 21 Proceedings: The Science and Spirituality of Healing, featuring: Jonas, Wayne B.; Schlitz, Marlyn; Krucoff, Mitchell W. Edited by Chez, Ronald A. Home Moravian Church, Old Salem, N.C. 7 2000 October 26-29 Religion and Ethics NewsWeekly Show 410 (VHS videocassette) 7 2000 November 3 "Separation of Church and State Lecture Series," Bill J. Leonard (4 audiocassettes) 7 2001 January Wingate Hall proposed changes blueprints 1 circa 1997-1999 Subject files AMERC 1 6 2000 AMERC 1 7 2001 AMERC 1 8 2002 AMERC expenses 1 9 2003 AMERC expenses 1 10 2004 AMERC expenses 1 11 2005 AMERC 1 12 2006 AMERC 1 13 2007 Articles and miscellaneous 1 15 1989-1995 Articles about the Divinity School 1 14 1990-2002 ATS Conference, with transcript of presentation by Leonard and Clyde Crews 2 1 2000 June Background documents 2 2-4 1996 Baptist Peace Fellowship 2 5 2000 July Best Practices Conference 2 6 1989 October 9-10 Blending Innovation and Tradition Conference 2 7 2001 September Board of Advisors: Correspondence 2 9 1991-1993 Board of Advisors: Development 2 8 1989-1991 Board of Advisors: Meeting 2 11 1991 September 6-7 Board of Advisors: Meeting 2 12 1992 September Board of Advisors: Rosters 2 10 1990-1992 Board of Visitors Meeting 2 13 1998 October Board of Visitors meeting materials 1 5 Spring 1999 Board of Visitors meeting 2 14 1999 Board of Visitors Initial Panel 2 15 1992 Brochures 2 16 Brochures, mailout 6 17 1998 Carter, Jimmy, correspondence 2 17 1997-2000 Community Prayer Breakfast 2 18 2005 October 18 Accreditation recommendations 2 19 1999 Accreditation materials 3 10-11 2005-2006 "Dunn Deals" article 2 20 2015 Photographs 2 21 circa 1999 Coordinating Committee 1 16 1995-2001 Coordinating Committee materials 3 8 1995 Proposal and related materials 3 9 1976-1989 Courses 1 17 2001-2002 Cuba Travel Course 3 1 2000 Cuba Travel Course 3 2 2001 Cuba Travel Course (3.5" computer disk) 3 3-4 2002 Cuba Travel Course (compact disc) 3 5 2004 Divinity newsletter 3 6 1997-1999 Divinity newsletter 6 18 2001-2006 "Scholarship in the Pursuit of Christian Ministry," Religions Life Forum report 3 7 2008 Faculty positions and job descriptions 6 19 1999-2002 First Year Colloquium syllabi 6 20 2000-2003 Financial materials 1 3 1993-1999 Founder's Day Convocation 6 21 2002, 2007 Fundraising: Church donors 4 2 1995 Fundraising: Comprehensive Constituent Development Fundraising Plan 4 4 1998-2000 Fundraising: donor Eric Rust 1 2 1989-1992 Fundraising: Donors 4 3 1991 Fundraising: Feasibility Study 4 5 1988 Fundraising: General 4 1 1994-1998 Fundraising: Needs, Priorities, and Summary 4 6 1989-2000 Harrelson, Walter, biographical information 4 7 1994-1995 Harrelson, Walter, correspondence 4 8 1994-1995 Harrelson, Walter, Divinity School materials 4 9 1994-1996 Harrelson, Walter, service of remembrance 1 4 2012 Hatch, Nathan O., correspondence 4 10 2005, 2007 Hearn, Thomas, speeches 4 11 undated ICJS Consultation on Seminary Education 4 12 2001 May Implementation Committee 4 13 1989-1999 Inaugural Convocation 6 16 1999 Leonard, Bill J., publications 4 14 undated Lilly Grant Materials 4 15 2002 Mainstream Baptist Consultations 4 16 1997-2000 Accreditation report 4 17 2005 National Association of Baptist Professors of Religion 5 1 1996-2000 New Baptist Covenant 5 2 2007-2009 New Baptist Covenant conference, President Jimmy Carter (1 DVD) 5 3 2009 April North American Reunion event 5 4 2000 April Pew Forum 5 5 2001 October Proposal 5 6 1989 Resolution 5 7 1989-1993 School of Divinity Bulletin 5 8 2009-2010 School of Divinity Student Handbook 5 9 2004-2005 Second International Conference on Baptist Studies 5 10 2000 July Third International Conference on Baptist Studies 5 11 2003 July University Board of Trustees materials 5 12 1977-1989 University events, surveys, and memos 5 13 1996-2002 University Office of Development materials 5 14 1989-1995 University Year of Ethics and Honor 5 15 2000-2001 Meeting agendas 5 16 2000-2002 WFUDS Self-Study for ATS 6 13 2004 November Whitsett Baptist Heritage Society 6 14 1996 Year-end reports 6 15 1989-1991 Cooper Family Faculty Fund 8 1 2002 Peacework Development Fund 8 2 undated Charles H. Revson Foundation 8 3 1997 Wesley Theological Seminary research project 8 4 2010 Luce Foundation publicity and correspondence 8 5 2007 Luce planning grant 8 6-7 1999-2000 Wabash Foundation grant materials 8 8 2001-2003 Wabash Foundation conference 8 9 2002 June 12-17 Wabash Foundation conference materials 8 10 2003 Lilly Endowment Project on Vocation: Institutional environment 8 11 2002 Library resources list 8 12 1995 Library serials list from EBSCO 8 13 2002