Forcibly Removing All the Tulips at SWBTS

Since each Baptist church is autonomous, each church on its own could withdraw membership and funds. When the funds get low enough, maybe they will stop playing political games. That goes for both the SBC and SWBTS. The arrogance seems to be dripping from these clowns in leadership positions. It sounds like they need to be taken down a few notches as a reminder where they get their power and money.

 

Dr. Mohler did the same thing to non-Calvinists at SBS some years ago. Both men are exercising power they should not have and removing freedom of theological interpretation from the Seminary.

 

Wade in usual fashion has spoke on things he knows nothing about:

http://sbctoday.blogspot.com/search?q=wade+burleson


And by the way Tim is reformed

 

Mohler's actions were actually quite different (if the OP is correct about Patterson's). Mohler removed theological liberals who have no place in discussions about the Bible. Mohler returned Southern to its doctrinal commitments.

 

How many non-Calvinist professors are at Southern today?

 

Not even remotely correct. Completely fabricated. Much like JC is doing.

 

Is Southwestern dispensationalist too?

Cheers,

Jim

 

I've not kept up with my alma mater of late. The shift in regime has made it hard for us who are not hardcore conservatives.

I'd need more info and actual names of professors let go. That would be a true measure of who is "in" and who is "out."

oh, and so much for putting to death declining enrollment. Seems that Dr. Patterson hasn't been able to stem the tide of students willing to walk away or not attend SWBTS due to the robust theological education available at more student friendly institutions.

 

While I am not a Calvinist ( an ungodly term) to suggest that a lack of non-reformed professors proves an agenda to do away with any professor not reformed is fallacious at best. You need more sound and credible evidence before slandering.

 

I don't know but that is irrelevant. If there aren't any, the school will be better off, but I have no connection with SBTS or the SBC either.

However, the reasons for removal had to do with the founding principles of the school and the requirement that professors adhere to the Abstract of Principles.

You can hear something about it here.

 

I'm pretty sure there are some non-Calvinists on the Southern faculty.

 

Calvinism at SBTS

JustChristian, et al.

You wrote:

I am a graduate of Southern Seminary (December 2007, Master of Divinity in Christian Ministry in the school of Theology). Your first statement is absolutely untrue. Now, I don't know what Dr. Patterson would do, might do, etc. But, I know for a fact that Mohler's reformation of Southern Seminary was not a Calvinist revolution.

Mohler is a Calvinist and there are many Calvinists on the faculty. However, Calvinism has never been a litmus test for any professor to teach at Southern. In fact, in response to your second statement (your question), there are many non-Calvinists on the faculty today.

Here is an excellent illustration of the theological climate at Southern: For many years, Dr. Danny Akin was the Dean of the School of Theology. Dr. Akin became a mentor-type to me (until he moved on to become President of Southeastern Seminary). Dr. Akin and Dr. Mohler are, literally, best friends and have been so for many years. Dr. Akin is not anywhere close to being a Calvinist. On one occasion, he told me he believed in 2 or 3 points of Calvinism--depending on the day. Yet, he held the second-hightest position at the seminary, and that under Mohler who hired him.

So, your first statement is demonstrably wrong and ill-informed.

Another challenge to the "Label" of Calvinist is a historical one. Historically, in baptist life, only 5-Point Calvinists were referred to as "Calvinist." 4-Point Calvinists were considered Arminians.

Southern has its share of 5-Pointers and its share of 4-Pointers (and on down from there). So, using the historical definition of Calvinist, the Faculty, in my estimation, is about half Calvinist and half Arminian.

The suggestion that being a Calvinist is a requirement to teach at Southern is quite silly.

I hope this post will be seen as informative and not inflammatory.

Many Blessings,

The Archangel

 

They were actually considered Amyraldians.

 

I submit that the majority of Baptists from the 1940's onward considered themselves as a calvinist of sorts. The name calvinist, however, was not a prominent title until much later.

The huge difference between baptists and reformed churches was not the title calvinist, but in the order of the decrees and the meaning of "foreknowledge". Most baptists believed that God elected some to salvation based on His foreknowledge as opposed to His divine selection from all eternity.

We never called outselves arminian. We left that to the pentecostalists, et al.

I always believed that at Southern Seminary, it was a cleaning out of the few liberals who had made their way into the seminary. Liberals and neo-orthodox.

Cheers,

Jim

 

Adherence to the Abstract of Principles, which was written by cofounder of Southern Seminary James P. Boyce and is definitely Calvinistic, is still required of professors at Southern Seminary.

I have posted all or part of that Abstract on this Forum.

Edited

After reading Archangel's post the above may no longer be true but that was my understanding. Anyhow those who heard the discussion between Mohler and Patterson on the Doctrines of Grace would be surprised if the reported actions by Patterson were true. I believe Dr. Mohler to be an outsanding witness for Jesus Christ. I have seen him on TV. Where others waffled he stood firm.

 

He is disgraced and discredited. He is a reproach that handles all thing un-biblically. The Klouda dismissal was as much misrepresented as this is. What he does is works to stir up trouble because he disagrees with other things. And he spends much time as you do focusing on one man. That is in and of itself problematic and shows an agenda. But you continue on. Dr. Patterson has dealt with your kind since the beginning of the resurgence. He can handle you, Burleson and the like.

 

I thought you argued that Dr. Mohler did not remove non-Calvinist professors at the Seminary. I was responding to that. If this post isn't relevant your post wasn't relevant.