Written by Malachi Brown
Harding School of Theology (HST), the last free-standing seminary in the Churches of Christ, is closing its doors in Memphis, Tennessee, and joining its mother school here in Searcy, Arkansas. As someone who has been to HST’s campus in Memphis for classes and research (though very limitedly thus far) and who was planning on moving to Memphis in May to attend there, I have a mixed swarm of emotions myself.
My first thought, I’m almost embarrassed to admit, was celebration at the stunning price decrease from $740 per credit hour to $100. I had always felt an inclination to graduate school or seminary but had figured I would have to take on immense debt to do this. Since ministry is not particularly known for being lucrative, I just assumed it would be quite a while until I was out of debt again. I wonder how many ministers would like to attend graduate school but could not afford it. Because of reduced prices, students can affordably receive a more comprehensive and updated education than they might receive at, say, a preaching school. I have offered thanksgiving that this bar to better-equipped ministers has been largely lifted.
My second emotion in reading the email was grief for the Memphis faculty and staff who would not transfer to Searcy in the move. HST is involved in myriad ministries across the city that simply cannot be continued with the same fervor because HST will not be there anymore. While Harding and many of its students have some resources to continue some of those ministries, many ministries that HST and its students offer cannot be sustained without living in the community. I am sad that I cannot fully participate in those ministries before the move to Searcy. I, however, am optimistic about similar opportunities that may open up along AR Highway 67 between here and Little Rock, and though the city may be an hour away, I have no doubts that the graduate school could provide plenty of ministry options for their students in a doable range of the Searcy campus. I’ve offered laments for the ministries that will be downsized or put on hold in Memphis.
My third emotion was sadness for the faculty and staff who would either have to be let go or choose to be uprooted. I could list most of them by name. Between a host of retirees in the College of Bible and Ministry within the last two years and some HST faculty who will decline to move, Harding is sure to hire more Bible professors to fill in the amassing gaps. I am both solemn and empathetic to the loss of jobs and excited about the University’s access to new professors and library materials that were not offered before, bearing in mind that we gain these at the loss of the churches in Memphis.
I saw on a Restoration Movement Facebook group some stances of those who are not in Harding circles. One opinion that stood out to me was a note of HST’s more robust theological discussion, and a conspiracy theory (given Harding’s reputation in some circles) that the president and the board issued the move to keep a closer eye on what they might deem as “heterodox thought” but might appear to others simply as more ecumenical. To that, I say, “You’ve never met Dr. Mike Williams.”
And with that, comes my fourth and perhaps final emotions: peace and trust. I think I have peace because I’m excited that “rural” Arkansas is worth equipping with the best tools we can offer to read and teach scripture and conduct theology. I am anticipating the day when the discussions and renovations of the heart that happen at HST can impact the rest of the University as well. While I will miss the tight-knit community that comes with such a small campus, faculty, staff and student body, I think this move can change the culture and direction of Harding in Searcy in ways that some of us have been praying for a very long time.
Before I close this article, I should admit my own limited experience at HST has consisted of a one-week-long class and a few visits within the last few weeks. My words in an opinion article cannot articulate the pain and frustration felt by many in Memphis. Despite this pain and loss, everyone I’ve interacted with at HST, including myself, is hoping and praying that God works through this change, and we beg God that the end justifies the pain it takes to bring us there.
