Baptist News Global
Sections
  • News
  • Analysis
  • Opinion
  • Curated
  • Storytelling
    • Faith & Justice >
      • Charleston: Metanoia with Bill Stanfield
      • Charlotte: QC Family Tree with Greg and Helms Jarrell
      • Little Rock: Judge Wendell Griffen
      • North Carolina: Conetoe
    • Welcoming the Stranger >
      • Lost Boys of Sudan: St. John’s Baptist Charlotte
      • Awakening to Immigrant Justice: Myers Park Baptist Church
      • Hospitality on the corner: Gaston Christian Center
    • Signature Ministries >
      • Jake Hall: Gospel Gothic, Music and Radio
    • Singing Our Faith >
      • Hymns for a Lifetime: Ken Wilson and Knollwood Baptist Church
      • Norfolk Street Choir
    • Resilient Rural America >
      • Alabama: Perry County
      • Texas: Hidalgo County
      • Arkansas Delta
      • Southeast Kentucky
  • More
    • Contact
    • About
    • Donate
    • Planned Giving
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Advertising
    • Ministry Jobs and More
    • Transitions
    • Subscribe
    • Submissions and Permissions
Donate Subscribe
Search Search this site

Outside review finds ‘ambiguous’ doctrine at Baptist university

NewsBob Allen  |  July 16, 2019

A third-party review of religious teaching at a Missouri Baptist university found that a lack of doctrinal clarity has led to “an erosion of trust” between the institution and its denominational sponsor.

The study found that Southwest Baptist University’s statement of faith “has not been implemented effectively across the fabric of the university” and recommends that institution clarify its faith statement “to be a clear and compelling theological framework.”

David Dockery

The Missouri Baptist Convention-affiliated school announced in December the formation of a peer assessment committee led by David Dockery, chancellor of Trinity International University and former president of Union University in Jackson, Tennessee, after firing a professor who accused colleagues of teaching false doctrine.

In November administrators fired Clint Bass, a tenured professor in the Courts Redford College of Theology and Ministry, for unprofessional conduct in sharing his concerns about “doctrinal instability” with leaders of the 1,700-church statewide affiliate of the Southern Baptist Convention.

The university’s board of trustees upheld the firing in January, agreeing that going to outside individuals without talking to colleagues or administrators violates ethical and professional canons of the teaching profession.

The peer review found that “due to the lack of a clearly implemented Statement of Faith, the doctrinal position of SBU has been perceived as ambiguous.”

“This lack of clarity has led to an erosion of trust between the University and Missouri Baptists. SBU and the Missouri Baptist Convention must work together to restore that trust,” the committee found, according to a university press release. The news release said the executive committee of the board of trustees will make an executive summary of the study public after it has been shared internally.

Bass, a graduate of Southwest Baptist University and an elder at Southern Hills Baptist Church in Bolivar, Missouri, said shortly after he joined the faculty in 2009, he began noticing viewpoints that he believed to be “irregular, deviant, aberrant or errant.”

In April, 14 other SBU alumni issued an open letter voicing concern about professors’ views on biblical inerrancy, men’s and women’s roles in the home and church, a literal hell and other matters of doctrine.

Eric Turner

An online petition earlier this year calling for Bass to be reinstated and supporting documents said religion professors at Southwest Baptist University “appear more aligned with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship” than with the views of Southern Baptists in Missouri.

The CBF is a moderate group claiming about 1,800 churches nationwide that started in the 1990s in a split from the Southern Baptist Convention over issues such as women’s ordination, inerrancy and academic freedom in theological education.

The news release said Southwest Baptist University and the leadership of the Missouri Baptist Convention “are actively working to strengthen their shared relationship.”

“We are currently working to clarify, boldly articulate and implement our Statement of Faith that will further align and strengthen our Baptist identity and Christian faith,” said Eric Turner, the former president of Black River Technical College in Pocahontas, Arkansas, elected last year as the 25th president of Southwest Baptist University.

“Since my arrival at SBU, I have recognized the need for SBU to strengthen our relationship with the Missouri Baptist Convention and its churches,” Turner said. “This assessment affirms that position. We must collectively work together to rebuild trust between SBU and Missouri Baptists.”

Note: This story was updated July 17 to correct an error in the next-to-final paragraph.

Previous story:

Professor’s firing leads to outside review of teaching at Baptist university

 

Tags:Missouri Baptist ConventionSouthwest Baptist UniversityClint BassEric Turner
More by
Bob Allen
  • Get BNG headlines in your inbox

  • Featured

    • Welcome to Gilead

      Opinion

    • Supreme Court once again hands conservative evangelicals a win for free expression over state establishment of religion

      News

    • For now, David Platt has won the battle against internal critics at McLean Bible Church

      News

    • ‘Our Father’: A quiverfull of racism and anti-reproductive rights

      Opinion


    Curated

    • 8 Christian Conservatives Who Promoted False Claims Of Rigged, Stolen Election

      8 Christian Conservatives Who Promoted False Claims Of Rigged, Stolen Election

      June 29, 2022
    • ‘Biblical’ insect swarms spur Oregon push to fight pests

      ‘Biblical’ insect swarms spur Oregon push to fight pests

      June 29, 2022
    • Mine can be built on Apache sacred site, Oak Flat, federal appeals court rules

      Mine can be built on Apache sacred site, Oak Flat, federal appeals court rules

      June 29, 2022
    • Evangelist Nick Hall: Christians have become ‘loud about everything but Jesus’

      Evangelist Nick Hall: Christians have become ‘loud about everything but Jesus’

      June 28, 2022
    Read Next:

    Daniel Vestal writes of the changing chapters of life and faith

    NewsJeff Brumley

    More Articles

    • All
    • News
    • Opinion
    • Curated
    • Transitions for the week of 7-1-22

      NewsBarbara Francis

    • Churches must learn to adapt to ‘permanent transition,’ Leonard stresses

      NewsMarv Knox

    • While the SBC shuns women as preachers, CBF celebrates a new generation of women as preachers

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • ‘Our Father’: A quiverfull of racism and anti-reproductive rights

      OpinionErica Whitaker

    • For now, David Platt has won the battle against internal critics at McLean Bible Church

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • The consent of mothers

      OpinionJulia Goldie Day

    • Jesus calls women to ministry by name and asks them to rise up, Stewart says in fiery BWIM sermon

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Welcome to Gilead

      OpinionSusan M. Shaw, Senior Columnist

    • Dear closeted queer one, Pride is for you

      OpinionAmber Cantorna

    • Daniel Vestal writes of the changing chapters of life and faith

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Christianity: Where the end justifies the means

      OpinionPhillip Thomas

    • Ministry jobs and more

      NewsBarbara Francis

    • Supreme Court once again hands conservative evangelicals a win for free expression over state establishment of religion

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Catholic bishops drop opposition to lesbian becoming a foster parent

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Why men should be concerned about the abortion ruling

      OpinionDarrell Hamilton II

    • Christian nationalism links gun rights and ‘Christian nation’ ideals in dangerous mix, Tyler and Hollman say

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Why I’m a pro-choice pastor: I’ve listened to the stories of too many women

      OpinionBob Browning

    • Who’ll bring the sackcloth and ashes to CBF General Assembly this week?

      OpinionMolly Brummett Wudel

    • Finding inspiration from Fannie Lou Hamer when freedom is under assault

      OpinionMary Alice Birdwhistell

    • Was that a blatantly racist tweet from a Texas senator or not?

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Here’s what pastors said this Sunday in churches not celebrating the Supreme Court’s abortion decision

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • The French Dreyfus Affair and Trump’s Big Lie

      OpinionDavid Gushee, Senior Columnist

    • Women of childbearing age are least likely to see strict abortion laws as best deterrent against abortion

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Independence Day: Not to celebrate but to reflect

      OpinionKathy Manis Findley

    • U.S. State Department calls out Russia, China, Afghanistan, Myanmar for extreme religious freedom abuses

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Transitions for the week of 7-1-22

      NewsBarbara Francis

    • Churches must learn to adapt to ‘permanent transition,’ Leonard stresses

      NewsMarv Knox

    • While the SBC shuns women as preachers, CBF celebrates a new generation of women as preachers

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • For now, David Platt has won the battle against internal critics at McLean Bible Church

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Jesus calls women to ministry by name and asks them to rise up, Stewart says in fiery BWIM sermon

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Daniel Vestal writes of the changing chapters of life and faith

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Ministry jobs and more

      NewsBarbara Francis

    • Supreme Court once again hands conservative evangelicals a win for free expression over state establishment of religion

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Catholic bishops drop opposition to lesbian becoming a foster parent

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Christian nationalism links gun rights and ‘Christian nation’ ideals in dangerous mix, Tyler and Hollman say

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Was that a blatantly racist tweet from a Texas senator or not?

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Here’s what pastors said this Sunday in churches not celebrating the Supreme Court’s abortion decision

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Women of childbearing age are least likely to see strict abortion laws as best deterrent against abortion

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • U.S. State Department calls out Russia, China, Afghanistan, Myanmar for extreme religious freedom abuses

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Pranoto, Shaw, Smith and Younger join BNG board of directors

      NewsBNG staff

    • Uyghur American elected chairman of U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • When a Mexican cartel kidnapped a Baptist pastor, they got more than they bargained for

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • The Black community needs allies who listen and act, scholar says

      NewsPat Cole

    • Georgia Baptists hit snag on sale of 16-year-old headquarters property in suburban Atlanta

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • At Faith and Freedom conference, evangelical Christian voters once again abandon their concern for marital fidelity

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Annual report on Baptist women in ministry finds some gains but serious losses due to COVID

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Church-state separationists join Justice Sotomayor in blasting the Supreme Court’s ruling in a Maine school voucher case

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Conservative clergywoman claims United Methodist system unjust

      NewsCynthia Astle

    • In Africa, inflation and a food crisis threaten not just the economy but people’s lives

      NewsAnthony Akaeze

    • American support for abortion rights at highest level since 1995, Gallup says

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • ‘Our Father’: A quiverfull of racism and anti-reproductive rights

      OpinionErica Whitaker

    • The consent of mothers

      OpinionJulia Goldie Day

    • Welcome to Gilead

      OpinionSusan M. Shaw, Senior Columnist

    • Dear closeted queer one, Pride is for you

      OpinionAmber Cantorna

    • Christianity: Where the end justifies the means

      OpinionPhillip Thomas

    • Why men should be concerned about the abortion ruling

      OpinionDarrell Hamilton II

    • Why I’m a pro-choice pastor: I’ve listened to the stories of too many women

      OpinionBob Browning

    • Who’ll bring the sackcloth and ashes to CBF General Assembly this week?

      OpinionMolly Brummett Wudel

    • Finding inspiration from Fannie Lou Hamer when freedom is under assault

      OpinionMary Alice Birdwhistell

    • The French Dreyfus Affair and Trump’s Big Lie

      OpinionDavid Gushee, Senior Columnist

    • Independence Day: Not to celebrate but to reflect

      OpinionKathy Manis Findley

    • Progress on sexual abuse in the SBC? Not so fast

      OpinionDavid Clohessy and Christa Brown

    • Reflections on my mother’s funeral: The heart has reasons

      OpinionDavid Ramsey

    • When ‘orthodoxy’ won’t hold: The SBC and the rest of us

      OpinionBill Leonard, Senior Columnist

    • Seven suggestions for preventing conflict before it happens

      OpinionBill Wilson

    • The gospel according to mammals

      OpinionTyler Tankersley

    • How God used Jay Bakker to teach me about race and loving all people

      OpinionMaina Mwaura

    • When a teenager gets kicked to the curb by Christian parents

      OpinionDan McGee and Linda Francis Cross

    • Unzipped: How (not) to commute

      OpinionEric Minton

    • When it comes to leading corporate prayer, are we really all in this together?

      OpinionMark Wingfield

    • Is America racist at heart?

      OpinionEugene G. Akins III

    • Note to self: Get rid of resting jerkface

      OpinionErich Bridges

    • Don’t keep sweet: Why white Christians need to celebrate Juneteenth

      OpinionErica Whitaker

    • Letter to the Editor: The importance of establishing best practices for pastoral searches

      OpinionLetters to the Editor

    • Hymn Stories: ‘Will You Come and Follow Me’

      OpinionBeverly A. Howard

    • 8 Christian Conservatives Who Promoted False Claims Of Rigged, Stolen Election

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • ‘Biblical’ insect swarms spur Oregon push to fight pests

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Mine can be built on Apache sacred site, Oak Flat, federal appeals court rules

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Evangelist Nick Hall: Christians have become ‘loud about everything but Jesus’

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Boston city council member walks back tweet about ‘letting the Zionists shake you down’

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Religious schools may face another hurdle to state tuition

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Counting the Cost of Paying Ransoms for Missionaries

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • At LA’s DisclosureFest, a milieu of New Age mysticism, capitalism and conspiracy talk

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Worshippers at Baptist church in Nigeria abducted

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Biden administration proposes protections for transgender students and against sexual violence in schools

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Columbia Theological Seminary students object to firing of Black administrator

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Pope orders online release of WWII-era Pius XII Jewish files

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Demolishing schools after a mass shooting reflects humans’ deep-rooted desire for purification rituals

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Has American conservatism abandoned the Christian right?

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • In Colorado, a GOP rarity: An abortion rights candidate

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • A church was ordered to rescind its gay deacon. Now it weighs its next step.

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Can the Church Still Enact Justice When a Pastor Sues His Accusers?

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Republican Lauren Boebert jokes about AR-15s and Jesus — and yes, she’s a ‘real’ Christian

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • This World Refugee Day, rising white nationalism meets the largest refugee population in history — which is no coincidence

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • How evangelical Christians are sizing up the 2024 GOP race for president

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Abortion bill, confederate holiday removal signed by Edwards

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Buddhist leader in Bhutan fully ordains 144 women, resuming ancient tradition

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Banning Nancy Pelosi from Communion May Have Backfired

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • How Franklin Graham pushed a domestic abuse victim to return to her husband

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Poor People’s Campaign holds major DC rally to combat poverty

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    Conversations that Matter.

    © 2022 Baptist News Global. All rights reserved.

    Want to share a story? We hope you will! Read our republishing, terms of use and privacy policies here.

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • RSS