Friends and Partners

Friends and Partners of the BHS include churches, individuals, and other organizations that believe in and advocate for the value of theological education. They support the BHS in a variety of ways, from serving as board members to referring prospective students to contributing financially.

Friends of the BHS

Students talkingFriends of the BHS are individuals like you who recognize and value the benefits of ecclesial and academic training for both personal and communal faith development.

As a Friend of the BHS, you can help support students as they discover a deeper and more expansive understanding of faith in the following ways:

  • Spread the word! Tell others about us, especially if you know someone who's considering pursuing theological education.
  • Stay up-to-date on BHS happenings. Follow us on social media and subscribe to our newsletter to meet our students and learn about upcoming events.
  • Attend or present at one of our monthly lunches. We host monthly lunches for students to meet ministers and other professionals from a variety of contexts from chaplains to spiritual directors to publishers to denominational representatives. We’d love to have you come speak about your organization or experience.
  • Become a student yourself! From two-day seminars to certificate courses to full degree programs, Perkins as a whole offers many opportunities to take a deeper dive into your faith.
  • Give financially to support the BHS mission. You can make a one-time donation or become a regular contributor. A gift of $50 could supply our student lounge with snacks for a month, $100 would cover the cost of one of our monthly lunches, $250 would allow a student to attend a local conference, or $500 would sponsor our beginning or end of year student dinner.
  • Encourage your church to become a partner. In addition to individual Friends, we also encourage congregations to become Partner Churches.
  • Pray for the BHS and its students.

Partner Churches

Rev. Victoria Robb Powers preaching in Perkins ChapelThe BHS is eager to partner with local churches to equip and empower the next generation of Baptist and Free Church leaders. Your local church can help advance the theological education and preparation for people who are called to ministry within the Baptist and Free Church denominations by becoming a BHS Partner Church.

Here are a few ways your church can become a Partner Church.

  • Add the BHS to your church’s prayer list. As we work to train faith leaders, we and they could use your prayers just as we will hold you and your congregation in ours.
  • Invite students or BHS staff to come speak. Whether it’s preaching a sermon, teaching a Sunday School lesson, presenting at a deacon’s meeting, or meeting with a small group, both students and staff would love the opportunity to share with your church.
  • Give financially. Just as individuals can support the BHS financially, so can churches. We welcome churches to show their support of theological education by becoming regular donors.

As a Partner, your church or organization will receive

  • Complimentary registration to BHS events
  • Postings for employment opportunities
  • Resources about the importance of theological education
  • Potential placement for student internships

Current BHS Church Partners

Royal Lane Baptist Church
 “Churches have a responsibility to support theological education. The future of the church depends on the future of its leaders. It is part of the witness of the church to invest in the lives of those who are pursuing theological education.”

Victoria Robb Powers, Senior Pastor at Royal Lane Baptist Church, Dallas

Woodland Baptist Church
 “Churches need to tend to the next generation of leaders, and your church’s next pastor might be at Perkins right now. Seminaries need the support of churches to help these students prepare for a life of loving and leading the church. Through partnership with schools like Perkins, churches can provide a context for theological reflection and practice.”

Garrett Vickrey, Senior Pastor at Woodland Baptist Church, San Antonio

Wilshire Baptist Church

For information on how to become a partner church, contact Rev. Annette Owen at bhsperkins@smu.edu or 214-768-6131.