The new Kentucky Seminary

Jimmy, here's a press release that I believe answers all three questions:

Baptist Seminary of Kentucky

It looks like they'll be meeting at Calvary Baptist Church in Lexington, Kentucky; and it looks like they will be independent of a larger university.

That last part is a shame. The university-affiliated schools got off to a much better start and had a much larger resource pool.

Joshua

 

The beginning signs are not good for this seminary. Its poor theolgical and scholarly issues aside, it is on shaky ground to begin with. One reason is one that Joshua has pointed out. The school would be much better off if it tied itself to G'town or Campbellsville. Second, its location will be a potential drawback. It will have to compete with SBTS to a smaller extent, LTS, LPTS, and Asbury for its student body. The location might be a strategic one if it is able to successfully draw students from many other states. But this is a potential problem that leaders of this effort have told me they are concerned about. They simply are unsure how well they will be able to draw students from neighboring states and competing with local seminaries. Third, they have been spurned by some name players in the mod/lib end of Baptist life. If they are able to woo some of these folks back later on (if there is a later on), then they might be able to recover.
Again, I would not recommend this seminary for someone of the mod/lib persuasion. Things seem too tenuous right now.

 

Tom, go figure, we're in agreement here .

They did manage to land Glenn Hinson (presumably because he's making enough in retirement that he doesn't need a salary). Nevertheless, when McAfee started it had several "name" faculty, a library, a building, and the resources of a larger university. They were able to create a program that ATS accredited in record time.

As I understand it, the reason they've pushed to create this school (despite the existence of 11 CBF partner schools) is that too many students are leaving Kentucky to go to seminary - and never coming back. In my opinion, they could fix this problem by working with the existeng schools on placement rather than trying to reinvent the wheel.

Joshua

[ April 04, 2002, 11:57 AM: Message edited by: Rev. Joshua Villines ]

 

Yeah, I've noticed we've agreed on some things lately. You must be getting smarter, or I'm getting..... just kidding.

The studies showing students leaving KY are not convincing, but are a small factor. As one person on the project told me, there is fear that the idea of going toe-to-toe with SBTS could shipwreck the thing and egos needed to be checked aside.
I believe you are right about Hinson. He can roll the dice. Dwight Moody and some others were not willing to do so. Their cautionary unwillingness is telling. I still have thoughts that I think would've improved its chances.

 

I'll admit I'm not that informed on this, but it seems stupid not to affiliate with another university. I don't fault Kentucky for wanting their own moderate or liberal school, but to make this work I think they have to become part of an established university.

 

Greg Earwood is the president of the school.