Militant/Moderate/Modified Fundamentalism

You would probably fit more into the militant to moderate section, or so I would think

AVL1984

 

It is sad. I have heard a few similar sentiments, mostly from those who no longer care to find out what is actually going on on campus, and only rely on the complaints coming from primarily the KJVO circles. I have heard questions about the softening of fundamental doctrine at MBBC, when the KJVO issue has nothing to do with either fundamentalism or doctrine.

 

they woke up and realized that the Christian life is more than a bunch of "Thou shalt nots" </font>[/QUOTE]Wrong! They a scandal in the administration and brought in Don Jennings who carried it in the wrong direction.

 

It could have been a combination of those things, paidagogos, but it cannot be hinged on one man.

AVL1984

 

Look at what happened! When the scandal broke, it was like an earthquake hit. I was recruiting on campus immediately afterwards. I had several years of contacts that were coming back to me year after year. After the scandal, it was a ghost town. Seniors dropped out in their final year! I talked to the people while it was fresh in their minds. Enrollment plummeted. Then, they brought in Don Jennings and Buzz Baker. Good ole Buzz told us that PCC and BJU had their heyday and now it was time for TTU. Well, enrollment continued to plummet. Students were angry and bitter. I saw Don Jennings call down a student who got up and was walking out of chapel. He rebuked him openly. Also, a bunch of students sat behind me in chapel and gripped during the whole service. I overheard students gripping and complaining in the student center. I knew they had BIG problems and I was so disgusted with the spirit on campus.

Don wanted to be his own man and he had no roots at TTU. No one knew him. He began shuffling out the old and bringing in his own people. Don’s people had no association with TTU and they had a different outlook. For the most part, they were neo-evangelical or at best evangelical. They did not have Southern roots—they were northerners. In the course of these events, the enrollment declined from over five thousand to less than a thousand (I think it dropped to almost 500 once). Even though they tried to keep connection with the TTU alumni through Lee Roberson, most TTU pastors and evangelists began sending their young people elsewhere. They no longer had a connection with TTU through their teachers, etc. Even though they have brought back into power some of the older TTU people, the school was irrevocably bent in another direction. You have a kind of dialectic today—a mixture of the old and the new. No one really knows where TTU is. Even though they say they are bringing it back, the stricter Fundamentalists are avoiding TTU thus giving sway to the newer, less strict crowd. Many TTU alumni are sending their kids other places. Furthermore, the old TTU folks are graying out and a younger set is nudging it away from its roots. Wait and see--that's all we can do.

 

Easily said. Now prove it!

 

Look at what happened! When the scandal broke, it was like an earthquake hit. I was recruiting on campus immediately afterwards. I had several years of contacts that were coming back to me year after year. After the scandal, it was a ghost town. Seniors dropped out in their final year! I talked to the people while it was fresh in their minds. Enrollment plummeted. Then, they brought in Don Jennings and Buzz Baker. Good ole Buzz told us that PCC and BJU had their heyday and now it was time for TTU. Well, enrollment continued to plummet. Students were angry and bitter. I saw Don Jennings call down a student who got up and was walking out of chapel. He rebuked him openly. Also, a bunch of students sat behind me in chapel and gripped during the whole service. I overheard students gripping and complaining in the student center. I knew they had BIG problems and I was so disgusted with the spirit on campus.

Don wanted to be his own man and he had no roots at TTU. No one knew him. He began shuffling out the old and bringing in his own people. Don’s people had no association with TTU and they had a different outlook. For the most part, they were neo-evangelical or at best evangelical. They did not have Southern roots—they were northerners. In the course of these events, the enrollment declined from over five thousand to less than a thousand (I think it dropped to almost 500 once). Even though they tried to keep connection with the TTU alumni through Lee Roberson, most TTU pastors and evangelists began sending their young people elsewhere. They no longer had a connection with TTU through their teachers, etc. Even though they have brought back into power some of the older TTU people, the school was irrevocably bent in another direction. You have a kind of dialectic today—a mixture of the old and the new. No one really knows where TTU is. Even though they say they are bringing it back, the stricter Fundamentalists are avoiding TTU thus giving sway to the newer, less strict crowd. Many TTU alumni are sending their kids other places. Furthermore, the old TTU folks are graying out and a younger set is nudging it away from its roots. Wait and see--that's all we can do. </font>[/QUOTE]There were problems developing long before this. I knew many students from the 70's, and still have friends who work, live and attend church in the area. We live 90 miles n. of Chattanooga, and know a bit about TTU. You're trying to hinge it all on one item, and that was far from the only thing that helped TTU take a downturn.

AVL1984

 

No one ever said it was the only thing. Events don't just happen in a vacuum! Of course, there are other factors. Do you know what they are? You seem to alude to some esoteric knowledge, so let's out with it. What's the difference? I don't see anything worth arguing over.

 

You're right, friend. I have no argument/problem with you at all. I do know some of the underlying factors, but will not post same on these forums, nor will I talk about them privately as those involved have asked since the problems were resolved long ago to "let dead dogs lie". These things are under the blood and gone. Let's leave them that way.

AVL1984