About the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology
The Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology is unique among seminaries in the United States or Canada because no other institution of theological education brings together a faculty and students of differing denominations, races, or cultures in quite the same way. Originally founded by the American Baptist Churches, USA, we are also associated with the Richmond Theological Consortium, a cooperative union of our school and the Presbyterian School of Christian Education and Union Theological Seminary.
We are located in the historic and scenic city of Richmond, Virginia which is a beautiful, historic city located approximately two hours south of Washington, D.C. Offering traditional, full-time graduate programs in theological studies, as well as a variety of non-traditional programs and continuing education programs, our mission is to help students develop knowledge, skills, and attitudes for enriching their lives and the life of the communities in which they will serve. The School of Theology offers programs leading to Master of Divinity, Master of Divinity and Master of Science in Criminal Justice and the Doctor of Ministry.
The School: The Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology is a graduate program of Virginia Union University. Founded in 1865, VUU is a historically black, independent Baptist institution with an enrollment of approximately 1600 students and located in a residential section of Richmond, Virginia.
The Students: The 350 School of Theology students represent several states, come from a variety of personal and professional backgrounds, and come to the School with individual ideas, but a common quest—to answer their call to Christian ministry.
History
The School of Theology traces its roots back to the Richmond Theological Institute founded in 1865. Its mission was to provide a Christian environment for persons recently freed from slavery to prepare to become leaders in their communities of faith. Out of that institution grew Virginia Union University. Students interested in pursuing an education in Christian ministry attended VUU undergraduate school until 1941.
At that time, Dr. John Malcus Ellison, the University's first African-American president and an ordained clergyman, led the movement to establish a Graduate School of Religion at the University. The School carried that name until 1969 when it became the School of Theology and moved from the main campus to the site of the Presbyterian School of Christian Education and Union Theological Seminary. These three institutions formed the Richmond Theological Center. In 1991, the Baptist Theological Seminary joined the Center, which has been renamed the Richmond Theological Consortium. The Consortium provides a unique opportunity for interracial and interdenominational dialogue, while preserving the heritage and insights that come from the African-American church experience. We moved back to the main campus in 1984 and adopted our new name, the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology, in 1997, when historic Kinsley Hall was completely renovated and reopened to house the School.
Dr. Samuel DeWitt Proctor
Dr. Samuel DeWitt Proctor devoted his life to serving humanity and opening doors. Until his death in 1997, he worked actively as a living model to create a fair and humane society.
Until that time, Dr. Proctor served as professor at the Divinity School, Duke University, and adjunct professor of practical theology and ethics, Virginia Union University. He was professor emeritus, Rutgers University, and pastor emeritus of the Abyssinian Baptist Church of New York City. He began his career as pastor of the Pond Street Baptist Church, Providence, Rhode Island; served as teacher, dean, and president of Virginia Union University; as president of North Carolina A&T State University (1960-64); in administrative positions with the Peace Corps (in Nigeria and Washington), the National Council of Churches, the Office of Economic Opportunity, the Institute for Services to Education, and the University of Wisconsin at Madison (1964-69), and as visiting professor of the Divinity School, Vanderbilt University, (1990-91). In 1990, he was the Lyman Beecher Lecturer at the Divinity School, Yale University; and from 1991-93, professor at the United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio.
Dr. Proctor was a native of Norfolk, Virginia, and an alumnus of Virginia Union University (1942), Crozer Theological Seminary, and Boston University, where he earned his Doctor of Theology degree in 1950. He served on the governing boards of The College Fund/UNCF, Colgate-Rochester-Crozer Theological Seminary, the Union Theological Seminary of New York, the National Urban League and the overseers' Visiting Committee for the Divinity School, Harvard University.
Dr. Proctor was awarded the Outstanding Alumnus Award, Boston University; the Distinguished Service Award, State University of New York at Plattsburgh; the Rutgers Medal of Distinguished Service; and honorary doctorates by more than 40 colleges and universities. Study and lecture tours carried him to India and the Far East; Israel and the Middle East; Russia and Eastern Europe; East, West, and North Africa; New Zealand and the South Pacific; Canada and the Caribbean Islands.
Dr. Proctor authored The Young Negro in America, Sermons for the Black Pulpit, Preaching About Crises in the Community, My Moral Odyssey, How Shall They Hear?, and The Substance of Things Hoped For.
He was a member of Sigma Pi Phi; the Supreme Council, Prince Hall Masons, Southern Jurisdiction; a life member of the NAACP; Kappa Alpha Psi; and Kappa Delta Pi, Laureate Chapter.
He was married to Bessie Tate Proctor (VUU '53) and father of Herbert, Timothy, Samuel, and Steven.
Dr. Samuel DeWitt Proctor was devoted to humanitarian issues and events. He received countless invitations from high schools and colleges to speak and to inspire. Yet, no matter how loud or long duty called elsewhere, Dr. Proctor's ear was especially tuned to Virginia Union. He was called to teach and asked to head the divinity school. He served as university president (1955-60).
The Virginia Union University community was blessed in 1997 to hear Dr. Proctor give the Founders Day address. He was embraced, as always, by an enthusiastic standing-room-only crowd. At Founders Day 1998, with his spirit here among us, we honored this special man once more as we celebrated The Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology, Virginia Union University.