Response From the Chairman of the Board

At their June 8–9 retreat, the Board of Trustees discussed alumni concerns, after which alumnus Fred Zaspel received the following response from the chairman of the board to the Public Request of Biblical Theological Seminary:

As you know, the seminary has a written statement that is signed yearly by all members of the faculty and board. President Dunbar is currently describing the position and direction of the seminary in the Missional Journal. … We do not feel that further response is necessary or warranted.

Yes, alumni are aware that BTS has a (good) doctrinal statement. We are also aware that this statement is going to be changed. We are also aware that the doctrinal statement does not directly address a number of the issues in the public request. We are also aware that the seminary’s desire to serve the emerging church, and its past and present associations with Emergent Village (things about which the Missional Journal has said very little) raise questions such as were asked in our public request.

Brethren, if you were asked questions such as were asked in the public request, would you not be eager to affirm your orthodoxy in all these matters, would you not be concerned to clear up any misunderstanding (if such were the case) that led so many alumni to so many concerns? What would keep you from doing so?

Go to page 2 for a response from Dave Dunbar, page 3 for a response from John Armstrong, page 4 for a response from another board member.