An appreciation of the turnaround of Southern Seminary
Todd Pruitt writes about Southern Baptist Theological Seminary:
“Southern is the oldest and largest of the SBC seminaries. It was also the great bastion of theological liberalism within the denomination.”
“I was raised in a large Southern Baptist church in Houston, Texas. I was educated in Southern Baptist institutions. I was ordained in a Southern Baptist church. Coming of age in the 1980’s I remember well overhearing the discussions at home and church about the conservative resurgence within the SBC. It may surprise some of you to know how liberal the Southern Baptist seminaries had become and, as a consequence, its clergy and churches. But, by God’s grace, the Southern Baptists did not go the way of the PCUSA, Disciples of Christ, or United Methodists.
One of the key moments in this mega-shift away from liberalism was the reformation of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. Southern is the oldest and largest of the SBC seminaries. It was also the great bastion of theological liberalism within the denomination. But in 1993, after a change in the balance of power among the trustees, Southern Seminary hired a young theologian and journalist named Albert Mohler [pictured] as the new President of the seminary. At that point that point the battle was joined. Ultimately, Southern Seminary returned wholeheartedly to its founding confession and vision. But the fight was brutal and is, in my mind, one the great stories of the church in the 20th century.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of Dr. Mohler’s presidency of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. So I offer enthusiastic gratitude to the Lord for Albert Mohler and his unswerving loyalty to God’s Word, his tenacity in leadership, his willingness to be ridiculed for what is right, and his enthusiasm for the gospel of Jesus Christ.
I encourage you to read this account of the turnaround of Southern Seminary. It is truly a harrowing story.”
And Southern Seminary has released a 25 minute documentary on the history of SBTS with a focus on the turnaround of the last 20 years.
Well worth watching.
CMS Gift Catalogue
You’ve possibly already received a CMS gift catalogue (Gifts of Lasting Hope).
CMS has now released a 90 second promo video you could use in church – and the online version of the catalogue is here.
10 quotables from Kevin de Young’s ‘Crazy Busy’
“Much like ‘Dangerous Calling‘ in 2012, Kevin de Young’s new book ‘Crazy Busy‘ served me greatly.
I recommend it to busy people, and even people who may not think they’re that busy … As I read back over my notes and reflected on what God wanted to teach me from this book, I summarised it in 4 points:
- Beware of the dangers of busyness
- Make priorities (Jesus did)
- Rest well
- Pursue godly habits …”
– Steve Kryger finds the time to read Kevin de Young’s new book.
Priscilla & Aquila Centre conference registration open
‘Singleness, Marriage, Divorce, & Remarriage in Ministry’ is the topic of next year’s Priscilla & Aquila Centre conference at Moore College.
It’s on Monday 3rd February 2014. Registration opens today. Details from the College.
Falling on deaf ears? — Why so many churches hear so little of the Bible
“It is well and good for the preacher to base his sermon on the Bible, but he better get to something relevant pretty quickly, or we start mentally to check out.” That stunningly clear sentence reflects one of the most amazing, tragic, and lamentable characteristics of contemporary Christianity — an impatience with the Word of God.
– Albert Mohler on a malady which too easily affects churches on this side of the Pacific as well.
The Religion of the Self
At Jesmond Parish Church in the heart of Newcastle upon Tyne, the Rev. David Holloway explains why the church-sponsored brownie and guide units are refusing to make the new Girl Guide promise.
“There was a problem at the beginning of last month. On 1 September 2013 the Girl Guide promise, “the beating heart of guiding” according to the Chief Guide, was to change. The promise that was being discarded was as follows:
I promise that I will do my best
To love my God
To serve the Queen and my country
To help other people
And to keep the Brownie/Guide Law
Instead it was mandated from Girlguiding’s central authority that from the 1 September every girl and leader must say these words:
I promise that I will do my best
To be true to myself and develop my beliefs
To serve the Queen and my community
To help other people
And to keep the Brownie/Guide Law …”
Read it all at the JPC website.
Euthanasia bill to be debated in Tasmania on Tuesday
Bishop of Tasmania, John Harrower, has been working hard to prevent the introduction of Euthanasia in Tasmania. See his blog.
Euthanasia: My letter to Tas MHAs 9 Oct 2013 –
“Last Wednesday I wrote the following letter to all 25 Members of the House of Assembly of the Tasmanian Parliament briefly stating my reasons for asking them to oppose the euthanasia legislation to be voted on this coming Tuesday.
Please pray that our politicians will oppose this deadly legislation.”
Also:
Depression, disability & ‘safe’ euthanasia.
A Response to Giddings & McKim’s euthanasia proposal.
Euthanasia: Pastoral Letter 3 Oct.13.
Related:
On the elimination of the suffering – Dr Megan Best.
Euthanasia lives again.
A Life Already Started Conference
“With one in three women under 40 in Australia having had an abortion, it’s a rare church that has not been touched by this issue.
For this reason, Fervr invites you to the A Life Already Started Conference.
Connect with other rectors, youth ministers, women’s workers and chaplains. Hear about the options available for women faced with an unwanted pregnancy. Get equipped to lovingly respond to and support these young women.
Valuable speakers include author Dr Megan Best, representatives from Diamond Pregnancy Support and Women’s Forum Australia, and also two women who will share their personal stories of God’s healing after abortion.”
The conference is on Saturday 2nd November at MBM, Rooty Hill – Registration: $40, includes morning tea, lunch and a free copy of Dr Best’s new book.
The Smith Lecture, 2013
The Smith Lecture (named in honour of Bruce Smith, pictured) will be held in 2013 on Thursday 24th October at the Art Gallery of NSW.
This year Prof Patrick Parkinson, will speak on “Child Sexual Abuse and the Churches: A story of moral failure?” Details here. Photo courtesy Ramon Williams.
The Importance of the Printing Press for the Protestant Reformation, Pt 1
“This article is the first of two that will consider the importance of Johann Gutenberg’s movable type printing technology for the Protestant Reformation and how the new technology was employed effectively by Martin Luther in Germany. Part one will deal with the technology, and part two will consider how it was used by Luther in Germany.”
– with Reformation Sunday coming up, this article is a fascinating insight into an often-overlooked aspect of the Reformation.
How Pornography works
“We are fast becoming the pornographic society. Over the course of the last decade, explicitly sexual images have crept into advertising, marketing, and virtually every niche of American life. This ambient pornography is now almost everywhere, from the local shopping mall to prime-time television.
By some estimations, the production and sale of explicit pornography now represents the seventh-largest industry in America. …”
– Albert Mohler looks at understanding how pornography works in the male brain – and how that knowledge can be used in the battle against sin.
Related: The Porn-free family – Tim Challies.
Australian Church Record — October 2013
The latest issue of The Australian Church Record is now out.
“Every now and again ancient institutions can be forgiven for indulging in a little public self-reflection.
On January 1st, 1914, the first issue of ‘The Church Record: A Church Paper for the Commonwealth, Catholic, Apostolic, Protestant, and Reformed’ appeared, sixteen months after a Sydney group first met to float a company to run a federal paper.
As the centenary of this issue draws nigh, it seems fitting to reflect a little on the Australian Church Record as it is poised on the edge of its next one hundred years.”
– as well, there are articles on the General Synod, GAFCON, Archbishop Welby, and there’s a tribute to Bishop Dudley Foord. Downloadable from their website.
And in a reprint of an article from 1972, Bishop Donald Robinson looks at the names behind The Record in the early days.
Effective Gospel Ministry
In the next instalment of Preaching Matters from St. Helen’s Bishopsgate, William Taylor looks at Acts chapter 20.
Take the time to watch it here. (12 minutes.)
Garage Hymnal to release new album
“Garage Hymnal are back with a new album for 2013 titled Lowly. It is a collection of songs centred around Christ’s birth, the hope that comes through Jesus becoming human and the salvation that it brings. … The album will be officially launched on 1st Nov 2013 at St Stephens Church Hall, Newtown, NSW. Tickets are very limited, on sale now…”
The Method is the Message
“It was in the early 1970’s and I wore my clerical collar as I approached her front door. The next-door neighbour had asked me to visit. I did not know the widow but the neighbour told me “She is dying and wanting to talk about it, but is afraid to ask for help”.
When she opened the door she panicked. It was not the World War I panic of seeing the minister with the telegram. But it was still panic. Before I spoke she launched into an apology, talking over her shoulder as she scurried back into the house, leaving me on the doorstep. …”
– Phillip Jensen writes about the legacy of the Wells organization’s Every Member Canvass.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…