BTSR

Bob, all the Alliance and CBF-supported seminaries that I'm familiar with encourage an ecumenical approach to theological education. Baptist distinctives are taught, but within the larger Christian context.

I think BTSR even has the word ecumenical in its mission statement.

Joshua

[ July 11, 2002, 10:29 AM: Message edited by: Rev. Joshua Villines ]

 

James,
Just to be honest, from your statement above, it sounds like you may be a bit too conservative for BTSR. You sound like many students I knew and know at our current six SB seminaries (Save for the aspect of women as pastor). If you feel you would not be comfortable at one of the SB seminaries, Beeson Divinity would be a good choice. Then again, as I said, if you choose BTSR, you can still get a quality education because that's up to the individual student. You just have to eat the meat and spit out the bones. Some semnaries serve more bones than others

 

JamesB,

Something else to consider... not sure if it was the article I posted or a different one... but there was one student who had applied for ministry positions at several SBC churches... the search committees would put his resume in File 13 when they saw that he studied at BTSR. I'm not sure what your ministry goals are... but you might want to consider a different school (SBC seminary, perhaps) if you think you might want to eventually serve at an SBC church.

May God bless you and your ministry...

 

Boris,

That's certainly the reality. "Moderate" churches generally won't look at anyone from an SBC school (post ~1993); and likewise fundamentalist churches won't look at someone from a CBF/Alliance one.

In truth, though, any church that would look down its nose at BTSR wouldn't hire a pastor who supported the ordination of women. I've found being a McAfee graduate to be fairly handy in that regard. Churches that don't want someone who's pro-woman just have to look at my Alma Mater to give me a pass.

James - As for how you'll fit in at BTSR, you do sound more conservative than the folks I've known who graduated from BTSR - but almost everyone shifts at least a little to the left in seminary. (I was something of an exception having moved farther to the right on issues of liturgy and worship.)

 

I haven't really seen that. Interesting take.

 

I haven't really seen that. Interesting take.</font>[/QUOTE]Well, that's obviously just my experience, and the seminaries I'm familiar with are all ones that most here would consider out in the liberal stratosphere.

Joshua

 

I haven't really seen that. Interesting take.</font>[/QUOTE]Its been my experience that almost everyone moves a little to the left in seminary on two issues:
1) formation of the bible-unless they are at a current SBC seminary, where I assume they are taught that Bible is inerrant (they better be, since the SBC ran out every professor who wouldn't say that)
2)The role of women in the church.

 

Boris, interesting article. More proof that I will not consider BTSR as a place to study for the Lord's service.