The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum Seminary

That's what I thought. I guess I was hoping that I was misunderstanding. It's interesting that even in the Southern Baptist denomination how varying the doctrinal postions can be. Ex. SWBTS in Fort Worth & SBTS in Louisville, Kentucky

To confirm what you said about them believing in unlimited atonement, Paige Patterson is one of their adminsters. He is clearly Arminian.

Tom

...Taken from another post
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Anyone have any inside information on Luther Rice's Affiliations or what they believe. I think it's Southern Baptist and it looks like their current president graduated from Southwestern Baptist Seminary which I think is Arminian. Probably answered my own question eh? But ya never know. Thanks

It is kind of a mixture, at least it was way back when. Some of their professors are Calvinists and other Arminian. While it is not an official SBC seminary many of their graduates go forward to serve in their churches. Either way Calvinism was not "stressed" in their theology courses.... Thus, Arminian would probably be the best description, with Calvinist views held by some of the professors...., but not richly taught....

Ok, got a couple more to ask about...Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis and Moody Bible Institute. I found both of these listed under the Educational Resources section of The Highway. For some reason I thought Moody would be Arminian. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/shrug.gif" alt="" />

Moody is Arminian, but does have some Calvinists at it (Coakley, etc.)

CTS is the "official" seminary of the PCA..... While they are a good seminary (I have several friends that graduated from there) and have a good faculty (such as Bryan Chapell) they have some emphases in areas with which I disagree.... (reconstructionism, etc.).

Every seminary has its different emphasis. Each do not teach with the same methods as well (lecturing techniques differ from campus to campus and professor to professor). Anyone desiring to go to seminary should first select the brand of their choice (Reformed or Arminian--the choice is obvious IMO) and then visit the campus while classes are in session and visit class everyday of the "week" you are there. This will give one an opportunity to listen to the instructors and interact with different students, etc. and prayerfully make an informed choice.

Ok...here's another question...

I'm almost positive that I must choose between a Southern Baptist seminary or Presbyterian. I know the ABC (American Baptist Churches), which I am currently a member of, can't be an option because they are known to ordain women for the pastorate and the denomination, I believe, is becoming more liberal. So as not to start a schism...new word I just learned (thanks Highway) I'll just say that I'm probably leaning more towards the SBC. Now I've heard some mention on this board and in other places how the SBC has somewhat forsaken her reformed roots; is this true of the majority or a few? My reason for asking is that I've found an SBC seminary other than Southern in Louisville, KY that is closest to our current home, which is Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City. Anyone familiar with this one? Some other options are Southeastern Baptist Seminary and New Orleans Baptist Seminary...both SBC.

It's just not so easy to tell by visiting their websites so I thought I'd try to get some insight from someone in the SBC...is there anybody out there?

Thanks again,

Well, Southern and Midwestern are the most Calvinistic of the SBC seminaries. I would recommend either of them. Paige Patterson, president of Southwestern in Fort Worth, has spoken against Calvinism, so I would not go there. New Orleans, to my knowledge, does not have many Calvinists on faculty, and Golden Gate does not either (except for James White, who is an adjunct). I don't know as much about Southeastern in Wake Forest, NC. Danny Akin just left Southern to become President over there, but I don't think Akin is as Calvinistic as Mohler, and Patterson just left that seminary, so I don't know how Reformed it is.

Southern has some extension centers.

Hope this helps.

How about Westminster in Phille? Orthodox Presbyterian.
Also there are Reformed Seminaries - I think at least two, one in Mississippi, and one in St. Louis. There may also be another one in Florida. However I may be mistaken -all you have to do is a search on the web. I think the PCA recognizes these, since they are an amalgamation of Reformed Presbyterians and conservative Southern Presbyterians in 1973.

Dallas Theological Seminary's professors are mostly Amaraldians. Some of the students are probably 100% TULIP though. One of their professors in the 70s, S. Louis Johnson was fully TULIP. He is now deceased. Ryrie in his Basic Bible Doctrines espouses unconditional election.

Amaraldian...that's a new one for me. What does it mean?

The theology of Moyse Amyraut, (1596-1664) who taught such doctrines as Universal Grace and Hypothetical Universalism. Remove the "L" from TULIP and it leaves you in Amyraldianism.

Or, as R. C. Sprouul says, a "Christmas Calvinist"

As I've mentioned before, I have determined that due to the apparent liberalism of the ABC, I probably will not consider an ABC seminary. I just finished reading the Policy Statements and Resolutions section of their website www.abc-usa.org and I am heart broken over their policy to continue dialogues within the denomination regarding 'human sexuality' which includes homosexuality. What dialogue is necessary? What I don't understand is that under the homosexuality section the policy states that homosexuality is "incompatible with Christian teaching." <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/scratchchin.gif" alt="" /> Also, and I've known this for a while, there seems to be no problem with ordaining women as Pastors.

So here's my question: Would it be unwise and presumptuous to assume that one could attend a biblically sound seminary and then go back to serve in an American Baptist Church, or is the goal to change one church in the denomination futile?

This will depend on your calling. Several things will change for you while you are in a Reformed seminary. IMO go to a "good" seminary, continue to pray for your denomination, see what doors open, and then make your decision .... (there is no way I can describe the struggle you will have in all of this, but it will mature you ..., which we all need).

Amen!