(by Tim) My Dad used to say that Christian organizations are like people--they have their infancy, their youth, their middle age, and their dotage. And he recommended that organizations nearing old age learn to recognize the signs, and go out of business when that time arrives. Today, the most trustworthy sign of the arrival of a Christian organization's dotage is their rejection of Scripture's command that woman not exercise authority over man.
From its infancy in these United States, my father led InterVarsity Christian Fellowship on many levels, serving as editor of His, publisher of InterVarsity Press, director of the eastern region, and for about a quarter century, a member of InterVarsity's board of directors. Shortly before his death, Dad resigned from the board, and since then IV has gone deeper into its dotage.
Wheaton College--it's faculty, not its student body--is halfway down the path. Campus Crusade and Navigators are not nearly as far down the path as IVCF or Wheaton. The past few years, it's become evident Dallas Theological Seminary continues to commit herself to the path and is making fast progress. This report just in...
from Worth Drake:
I do not know if you are aware or not but Dallas recently had a woman (Dr. Sue Edwards) speak in chapel. In this message she revealed what she believed about women's roles in ministry. She said that a woman could do anything a man can do except be a senior pastor or elder and stated this was the position of Dallas as well. This greatly concerns me... (H)er message was recorded on April 18, 2007 and is titled, "The Benefits of Mixed Ministries."
Like DTS, Columbia International University and Seminary seems committed to the path.
There are encouraging and discouraging signs at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation (note that Carolyn Custis James has been invited to address CCEF's annual 2007 conference), Covenant College (search the page for "Covenant College"), and Covenant Seminary.
Those of us who love these institutions and their heritage should pray and work for their protection. As one example, here's a letter sent recently to my friend, Peter Lillback, who is president of Westminster-Philadelphia:
August 2, 2007
Rev. Dr. Peter Lillback, President
Westminster Theological Seminary (Philadelphia)Dear Peter,
This letter is in reference to this item which appeared in the June 6, 2007 edition of the byFaithOnline newsletter of the Presbyterian Church in America:
2007 Women in the Word Conference Westminster Theological Seminary
Women of Westminster Seminary will sponsor its second annual Women in the Word: A Workshop October 19-20, 2007, at the Glenside, Pennsylvania campus. This program is designed to help develop biblically skillful, theologically discerning women Bible teachers. Dr. Karen Jobes, a Westminster Ph.D. graduate, will be the plenary speaker. Registration for the event includes dinner and lunch. Enrollment is by application only (June 30 deadline) and is limited. Here's the brochure.
My wife is an alumnus of Westmont where Dr. Karen Jobes formerly taught. Further, Wheaton is our home town, so we know its ecclesiastical culture. More particularly, we know of churches in the Wheaton area that are reformed and yet continue to hold to biblical sexuality.
Instead of those churches, though, Karen Jobes and her husband go to the EPC church that left the OPC a few years ago to the end that they could violate Scripture, putting women in leadership over men. From their web page giving the congregation's history, Immanuel Presbyterian Church names this distinctive: "active encouragement of women in leadership".
Why then have the Women of Westminster invited Dr. Karen Jobes to exercise teaching authority within your community? Or maybe more to the point, why have you and the other members of Westminster's administration and faculty given this woman your imprimatur? But there's more...
Last year Carolyn Custis James was your speaker. The evidence of her (rejection of) Scripture's doctrine of sexuality is clear. For instance, Ms. James was invited to address Christians for Biblical Equality's annual conference a few years ago and CBE continues to offer her books in their online store. Yet CBE could not express themselves more clearly concerning their opposition to Scripture's doctrine of sexuality. This is their raison d'etre/
So again, what has been done about this by Westminster's administration and faculty? Is it that, while you and other leaders at Westminster are personally opposed, you think such matters ought not to be legislated?
* * *
I'm sure there's no need to remind you that it is the essence of your duty to exercise the authority resident in the office of the presidency for the good of the institution and the souls it serves. Do you realize what such a seemingly-insignificant thing as Carolyn Custis James and Karen Jobes speaking under your aegis communicates to the lovers of God's Word and truth, not to mention lovers of Calvin and Machen and our Lord Jesus Christ?
Having worked with you on a PCA General Assembly advisory committee which you chaired, I appeal to our past relationship in exhorting you to exercise your office of president of Westminster Theological Seminary that makes it clear to all watching that there are things that matter even more than institutional stability and relational tranquility.
God's truth has never ceased being attacked, and Ministers of the Word and Sacrament have never had their commission to guard the good deposit revoked. All that has changed is who among the prophets is having his tomb decorated and who is being killed.
May God give you faith for the work to which you have been called.
Warmly in Christ,
Timothy B. Bayly
As items of concern come to the attention of our readers, you may want to write similar letters to the presidents, faculty, and board members of these institutions, exhorting them to guard the good deposit that has been passed on to them.
But also, let's remember it's the Church of the Living God--not evangelical parachurch ministries or reformed publishers and seminaries--that is the pillar and foundation of the Truth.
