Immediate press releases are not immediate for third shifters. They are eventual press releases. 🙂
But alas, the much-anticipated conference is scheduled and awaiting your registration. Here’s the details:
Building Bridges:
Southern Baptists and Calvinism
November 26-28, 2007
Ridgecrest Conference Center, NC
$75 (w/o meals) $104 (w/ meals)
Sponsored by SEBTS and Founders Ministries
Topics Being Discussed:
In addition to scheduled worship times, subjects to be addressed during the conference are:
* The Historical Record
* Calvinism: A Cause for Rejoicing, A Cause for Concern
* The Atonement: Its Design, Nature, and Extent
* Theological Stereotypes: Let’s Be Fair and Honest with Each Other
* Election and Calling: A Biblical/Theological Study
* Working Together to Make Christ Known
Here is the massive line-up of speakers:
• David Dockery, president, Union University, Jackson, Tenn.
• James Merritt, pastor, Cross Pointe, The Church at Gwinnett Center, Duluth, Ga.
• Malcolm Yarnell, assistant dean of theological studies/associate professor of systematic theology, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas
• David Nelson, senior vice president of academic administration, dean of faculty, professor of theology, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, N.C.
• Charles Lawless, dean, Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism and Church Growth, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Ky.
• Nathan Finn, instructor of church history, Southeastern Seminary
• Ken Keathley, senior associate dean, professor of theology, Southeastern Seminary
• Greg Welty, assistant professor of philosophy, Southwestern Seminary
• J.D. Greear, pastor, Summit Church, Durham, N.C.
• Sam Waldron, academic dean and professor of theology, Midwest Center for Theological Studies, Owensboro, Ky.
• Voddie Baucham, church planter and pastor of preaching at Grace Family Baptist Church, Spring, Texas
• Jeff Noblit, senior pastor, First Baptist Church, Muscle Shoals, Ala.
• Tom Nettles, professor of historical theology, Southern Seminary
• Thom Rainer, president and CEO, LifeWay Christian Resources
• Brad Waggoner, vice president of research and ministry development, LifeWay
• Ed Stetzer, director, LifeWay Research and resident missiologist, LifeWay
• R. Albert Mohler, Jr., president, Southern Seminary
• Danny Akin, president, Southeastern Seminary
• Tom Ascol, senior pastor, Grace Baptist Church, Cape Coral, Fla., and executive director, Founders Ministries
From Tom Ascol:
“We intend to follow the example of those who have gone before us by rediscovering the spiritual vitality that comes from humble, honest theological dialogue,” said Tom Ascol, pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Cape Coral, Fla., and executive director of Founders Ministries. “We have a significant lineup of excellent theologians who represent what Scripture means when it says iron sharpens iron. This conference is an opportunity for Southern Baptists to experience the kind of theological sharpening that takes place when brothers and sisters come together to learn from one another and to challenge each other to follow our Savior more faithfully.”
From Danny Akin:
“The Word of God calls us to love the Lord with all of our heart,” said Danny Akin, president of Southeastern Seminary. “It also calls us to love Him with all of our mind. Thinking biblically and theologically, therefore, is essential to a balanced and healthy Christian life.
“Calvinism has generated a lot of interest in recent years in Southern Baptist life,” Akin noted. “Unfortunately we have often talked at and not with one another. Unhealthy rhetoric and misrepresentations from all directions have led to confusion and even ill will among brothers and sisters in Christ. We hope this conference will demonstrate how important theological issues can be discussed with grace, integrity and love.”
From Brad Waggoner (LifeWay):
“The goal of LifeWay Research is to provide relevant information to people and churches for the purpose of reaching people for Christ,” Waggoner said. “Calvinism is obviously something that a lot of people have discussed over the past couple of years. Anytime Christians can come together – especially those within the same ‘family’ – and seek deeper biblical understanding, the entire Body of Christ benefits. LifeWay Research’s desire is to stimulate and inform those types of discussion.”
>> For more information or to make reservations, contact LifeWay Ridgecrest at 800-588-7222 or online at www.lifeway.com/buildingbridges.
I’m a little disapointed that the conference is being held during SBTS finals.
Dave,
Yeah, that’s huge. Perhaps that was intentional . . . you know, to keep those young, restless, and Reformed guys away. 😉
But seriously, it would be great if there is something that can be worked out with the school if enough students express interest. Drs. Mohler, Lawless, and Nettles are speaking, so there is good representation.
I’d love to go and I’m sure many other students would be interested as well. Maybe, we could have a big field trip y’know rent buses and stuff. I’ll start trying to raise the money.
Well, if we are going to try to do this, then we need to talk it up and get a rough idea of how many from Louisville can go. Maybe we can coordinate this at Said at Southern.
This conference is somewhat historic and has the potential of being the beginning of better things to come. Those who have followed the Calvinism controversy or have followed my research know that it is long overdue to put away the rhetoric, caricatures, misrepresentations, and straw men. I think you see in the line-up that they have been intentional and quite selective in who they will have to represent the “non-Calvinist” or Arminian point of view.