Local Church Drops Support of Biblical Seminary

At their March 2007 meeting, the elders of Immanuel Leidy's Church of Souderton, PA voted to discontinue financial support of Biblical Theological Seminary.

Concerns were raised about the specific teaching of some faculty, while the overall direction of the seminary towards the "emerging church" seemed unlikely to train men in a way that would prepare them for ministry in a church such as Leidy’s Church (Consistory notes, March 2007, cached here).

This situation is filled with irony if one is aware of some historical background (see below). The elders were responding to a letter recommending such action in early January of this year, written by the author of this article. Biblical Seminary was given a chance to respond to this letter, which led to a meeting at Leidy’s on Feb 12, 2007, with Dave Dunbar, John Franke, the pastors and elders of Leidy’s, and myself (more about that meeting below). Naturally, PBTS thinks that Leidy’s has provided a good example for other churches and individuals to follow.

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Some Historical Background

The church in question is the home / sending church of yours truly; it is also the church from which John Franke emerged about ten years ago, after he did a sabbatical with Stan Grenz, after which he decided the church was too conservative for his taste. It is also a church that twenty years ago, would be considered off limits for church membership by Biblical Seminary faculty, the reason being that at that time, the church was still part of the United Church of Christ, one of the most liberal Protestant denominations in the US, and at that time, Biblical was quite forthrightly opposed to theological liberalism and to cooperation with ecumenical organizations:

Theological liberalism, in its various forms, is the major departure from historic Christianity of this century. No person favorably inclined toward theological liberalism shall be appointed or retained as a board member, an administrator, or a faculty member; nor shall any person so inclined be considered as a chapel speaker or lecturer in special programs.

When John Niederhaus began his pastorate at Leidy’s some twenty five years or so ago, folks at Biblical looked askance at him because of the UCC connection.

Yours truly was also raised in two gospel-free UCC churches in the Minneapolis area, and was surprised to find that there were gospel believing churches like Leidy’s in the UCC.

Anyway, Leidy’s eventually left the UCC because of its theological liberalism, and some time after that (1994), we joined Leidy’s. The church began contributing financially to Biblical Seminary thinking that the seminary was a potential source for future pastoral staff (Associate Pastor Steve Myers, for example, is a Biblical grad).

Now folks at Biblical are more likely to look askance at Leidy’s because Leidy’s is too conservative for them.

The Feb 12th Meeting

The first paragraph of the emerging preamble to Biblical Seminary’s doctrinal statement says,

While the paragraphs below express what we believe, doctrinal statements in and of themselves are not the best way to get to know a community. They tend to put people in boxes—oh, you’re that kind of person (or organization). Moreover, they can reinforce one of the weaknesses too often seen in the church today. As long as you believe the "right things" (according to "our" list), you’re okay (no matter how you live).

While I agree in general with this sentiment (one could mention that one of the main uses of doctrinal statements has been to serve as sheep’s clothing for wolves), I find it ironic that Biblical’s main strategy leading up to and at this meeting seemed to be to say "Look at this great doctrinal statement we have, which all the faculty sign every year, so we’re OK," or, to adapt the words of the preamble, "we believe the ‘right things’ (according to ‘your’ list), so we’re okay (no matter what we teach or write)."

A further irony is that about two hours into the meeting Dave Dunbar was asked if it was true that BTS was changing its doctrinal statement. Um . . . yes. Is it true that the new statement will not have a declaration of scriptural inerrancy? Apparently so, at least Dave did not affirm otherwise.

John Franke’s closing remarks evoked Martin Luther at the Diet of Worms (guess who therefore is the new Dr. Eck?), which is further evidence of how "deceiving and being deceived" are those who think that the emerging church is a new reformation (wait a minute: I thought Brian McLaren was the new Martin Luther).