Doctrinal differences among Southern Baptist conservatives apparently have claimed another victim-Scott Camp, dean of students at Criswell College in Dallas.
Camp's contract as dean, which ran through Jan. 31, was not renewed, in part because Camp supports speaking in tongues.
Conservatives have long tolerated the presence of charismatics within the Southern Baptist Convention-largely because they tend to agree on inerrancy and other key beliefs-but doctrinal purists have argued more recently for stricter enforcement of the SBC's conservative theology.
The SBC's International Mission Board, which already prevented missionaries from teaching charismatic practices, recently tightened their policy to exclude missionary candidates who use a “private prayer language,” a form of tongues. That action and others prompted objections from some younger SBC leaders, who worry the 16 million-member denomination is drawing the circle of fellowship too small.
Criswell President Jerry Johnson called Camp “a great friend” and said the departure of his former Criswell classmate was not bitter but necessary. Both men acknowledged doctrinal differences played a role, according to the Dallas Morning News.
Criswell College, with 400 students, was founded by First Baptist Church of Dallas and is named for its legendary pastor, W. A. Criswell.
“Southern Baptist churches are not charismatic churches,” Johnson told the Morning News. While Criswell enrolls students from charismatic backgrounds, he said, the faculty and top staff are expected to reflect consensus Baptist beliefs.
Although Criswell College is not an SBC-owned school, its students often seek missionary appointment by the International Mission Board. It is important not to contradict the IMB's position on speaking in tongues, Johnson told the Morning News.
Camp's involvement in a local congregation also apparently factored into his departure.
Camp is pastor of a new and growing Southern Baptist congregation in Arlington called Fellowship of Joy Church, taking time away from his Criswell job. “A decision needed to be made, and the president and I had been in dialogue about my willingness to leave the church,” he told the Morning News.
But the church's theological leanings also were an issue, according to Johnson.
Camp hired Harvard educated Carl Raschke as theologian in residence at Fellowship of Joy, preaching monthly. Raschke, author of The Next Reformation, has called inerrancy “pseudoscientific” and a “weak” view of Scripture.
“Inerrancy is a big issue for this college and always has been,” Johnson said.
Raschke met with Criswell faculty and students in November to clarify his position on the Bible, which he said is “a stronger view of Scripture” than inerrancy, “not a weaker view.” He told the Morning News the students seemed to understand but not top administrators.
Associated Baptist Press