RALEIGH, N.C. (ABP) — Tony Cartledge, editor of North Carolina's Biblical Recorder, has announced plans to become an associate professor of Old Testament at Campbell University Divinity School in Buies Creek, NC. The Recorder is the newspaper of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina.
Cartledge, 55, will remain as editor through July 31 and begin his duties at Campbell Aug. 15.
In a Recorder, editorial announcing his decision, Cartledge said his focus at the newspaper was to provide the “accurate and balanced news North Carolina Baptists deserve.” He also labored to “render constructive influence through honest and hopeful columns, encouraging Baptist state convention supporters to celebrate their diversity…,” he said.
“Sadly, the editorial efforts have borne less fruit than I had hoped,” the editorial continued. “While our churches and people continue to cooperate and work together in many wonderful ways, a discordant undercurrent hinders our work, our growth, and our spirit. I stand by the conviction that unity in diversity is better than uniformity in doctrine, but that has become a minority view, and some have considered my efforts divisive. Perhaps the next editor can speak words of healing that will be more effective than mine.”
Cartledge said Jan. 12 the convention drift to a more conservative stance did play a part in his decision to leave, although it was not the deciding factor.
As proof of the drift, he mentioned proposed convention bylaw changes that would have given convention-related institutions more influence over the appointment of trustees and directors. The amendments, though supported by convention officials, were rejected in the convention's 2006 annual meeting.
“That is at odds with my personal and persistent support of a Baptist heritage that I believe promotes unity in diversity rather over uniformity in doctrine, and it leaves me increasingly out of step with the majority view,” he said.
Before joining the Recorder, Cartledge served 26 years as a pastor in Georgia and North Carolina, including Woodhaven Baptist Church in Cary, N.C., and Highland Baptist Church in Hogansville, Ga.
He also taught Old Testament adjunctively at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Appalachian State University and the Theological Seminary of Armenia.
Cartledge graduated from the University of Georgia in 1973. He later earned a master of divinity degree from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. In 1989, he earned the doctor of philosophy in Old Testament from Duke University.
Michael Cogdill, dean of the university, said he is “very excited” to have Cartledge join the faculty.
“Dr. Cartledge brings to our school great scholarship in Old Testament as well as a wealth of knowledge and experience in professional ministry to share with students,” Cogdill said in a press statement. “The gifts Dr. Cartledge brings to our faculty will continue to make Campbell Divinity School an exciting place for theological education.”
The author of five books, Cartledge said in a recent blog post that the people he most admires include several teachers who significantly impacted his educational career. He added that teaching had often appealed to him too, especially since completing course work in Hebrew Bible and ancient Near Eastern studies.
“I'm old enough to officially retire from the Recorder, but I should have at least another dozen years of gainful employment ahead — enough, I think, to write at least one new chapter,” he said.
Cartledge and his wife, Jan, have two sons, Russ and Samuel. A daughter, Bethany, died in 1994 at the age of 7.
-30-