Whence Goeth Our Baptist Colleges?

Bro. Tom,

The more I read your posts the more I learn to love the way you think.

I don't know if you have read my other thread about the SBC Bible Colleges or not but you might want to read it. Its thesis is a direct implication and connection for the questions you have posed.

I have a moderately Landbark friend who is also a MABTS alum. It makes him "fightin'" mad to let these schools go. He thinks they are "bouught and paid for..." with SBC dollars. That is so true.

However, the Scripturs say that "two cannot walk together unless they be agreed." Two observations that I would make that might keep the discussions moving along. These observations are not right or wrong; they just "are."

First,
where are some of the places that the CBF minded and moderate leaning profs and denomination workers went except to their SBC state colleges.

Secondly,
this view is from the colleges perspective. I know this from Belmont's case. Why should the SBC state convention schools be allowed to appoint 100 percent of the trustees to the board when the conventions only supply about 4-6 percent of the total budget? I know there is the historical question(s) as to whom started and financed the college all these years. And, who helped it get them through the storms along the way?

Like I said above, I am not trying to argue the "rightness" or "wrongness" of all of the issues. I am only trying to offer insights as to "what is!"

Rebuttals or rebukes or rewards?

sdg!

rd

 

Bible-boy,

Please say some more about and I quote:

"[T]he conservative leaders knew full well that they would likely lose the various Baptist colleges because the liberals were so well entrenched as trustees and Presidents of these institutions."

I am not sure that that was anything that was known by the "conservative resurgence" leaders as you say. Many movements in life, especially those of an adversarial nature, take on a life of their own after begun. And many many times the leaders or progenitors of a movement are taken in directions that they never would have gone if they had known the end results in the beginning.

On the other hand, I am somewhat open-minded and persuadable; if you have the arguments?!

So, persuade me!

sdg!

rd

 

To all who have an ear:

I have posted a hyper-link to a very good story about the SBC "Bible" Colleges at the "Big Six" seminaries. It is also in the Seminaries/Colleges posts section. It would be most germane to our discussions here.

Enjoy!

sdg!

rd

 

I find (as an outsider) it amazing that the SBC, its seminaries and colleges, have maintained a facade of unity for so long. There are two widely divergent mindsets (liberal and conservative) and since they have agreed to go separate directions, should amicably part ways.

The bulk of the SBC and its seminaries are conservative. I would not find it good, but would find it necessary to allow some state organizations (or splits from them, more likely) and some state colleges to go into the liberal camp.

Northern Baptists have done this three times since the rise of fundamentalism/conservative thinking. In our case, the liberals gained ultimate control of the national NBC (now American Baptists) and local state organizations and state colleges went into the conservative camp.

 

Dr. Bob (and all who have an ear),

I want to assure you that ALL of the "Big Six" of the SBC seminaries are conservative indeed.

I graduated from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1995. I was in the room when Roy Honeycut retired/resigned. I was there when R. Albert Mohler took the reigns. I want to most assuredly announce that Southern is consevative. Read Al Mohler's daily column and you will see!

One of my best friends teaches OT @ New Orleans Seminary. One of my best friends also teaches @ MoBap. We were all three @ MABTS at the same time in the 80s & 90s. I can assure you that we are all "conservative to the bone!"

As you can see I live in W TN. My daughter graduated recently from Union U. I did some of my MDiv work via a "Monday Program" from SBTS on Union's campus. I have been on & around UU for several years. I am as close to being an alum as one could be w/out actually being an alum. I have been in meetings with high administrative officials. Some of the profs there I had and was mentored by them when we were both @ Southern. I can also testify that it is conservative indeed.

Chuck Colson said in a graduation address that I personally heard; he thought that UU would become the Wheaton of the SB Convention. I think he is correct. It is just a great place to be for any young person who wants an outstanding Liberal Arts Education within a strong Christian World View!!!

I cannot pour enough accolades upon it in particular and our "big six" in general.

sdg!

rd

 

TomButler &,

All who have an ear to hear:

On other threads some of us have "danced all around" Mid Continent University as it is now called. It was and is still, from what some have told me "off Board," a fine Christian school. It has been able to make the changes from a Bible College to a Liberal Arts Christian University w/out the compromise some have had to do when this shift has occurred. I would not hesitate for one minute to send a child of mine there.

I also know first hand how good Union U. in Jackson, TN is. It has top rated and ranked scholars in Christian Studies and the other depts. as well. It has a commitment to Scripture and a Biblical world view that is unbelievable IMHO! They even have a new Master of Christian Ministries degree.

I was just yesterday in a history conference where the Prof of Church History gave a paper on JR Graves. My daughter graduated from there w/her teaching degree, I did most of my MDiv there on a "Monday Program" where SBTS flew the profs down from Louisville. It is just a good place to be.

I have said too much but appreciate the above comments and any further comebacks!

sdg!

rd