(Tim) Back on August 24, 2007, I posted a copy of a letter I'd sent my friend, Peter Lillback, who currently serves as president of Machen's Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. The letter was to object to the seminary allowing women with feminist commitments teaching authority on campus. The letter was sent on August 2, 2007, and I received Peter's reply today, January 5, 2008. The letter is dated January 3, 2008.
In the past, some have objected to the reproduction on this blog of what they label "private correspondence." Both in my own letter and Peter's response, there were private things said which I have not reproduced here. Readers will understand my saying that this response doesn't bode well for Westminster's future
Original Letter to Westminster Seminary President Peter Lillback:
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
Peter Lillback's Response:
January 3, 2008
Tim Bayly (sic)
2426 S. Rocky Cliff Court
Bloomington, IN 47401Dear Tim,
I want to thank you for your email several weeks ago. As you know better than I, the views of the role of women in all spheres of our churches life are keenly debated. While our confession does not fully address this question, we have deep historical exegetical positions to guide us. We continue at Westminster to seek to engage these competing views from a foundation of biblical authority. One way we preserve the biblical parameters of this debate is that we are committed to the ordination of men to the preaching ministry of the teaching elder, as well as the ordination of men to the ruling eldership.
In our view, that position allows freedom for women to teach in the seminary's classrooms. In that context we have been open to the academic teaching of women scholars even as we have maintained the biblical duty of men to lead in ordained offices.
In that spirit, thanks for expressing your concerns.
Sincerely In His Service,
(Signed)
Peter A. Lillback
