SBCOutpost

If you are reading this, you are probably aware that I posted an anonymous open letter from an SBC seminary professor to the trustees of Southwestern and Southern seminaries on Wednesday.  Since I had to be out of town at a retreat which lasted from Monday morning until Thursday mid-afternoon, and then I had to travel home, I asked for no comments here or on SBC Outpost, where it was re-posted.  So, I left town to go to where I essentially had no computer access, assuming that would be the case, as well as having assured my anonymous professor friend there would be no comments allowed.

Imagine my shock when I found out that Outpost decided to take comments, in spite of my clear request not to do so.  Interestingly, though, my anonymous professor friend took it better than I did–except for one part–and, in regard to this, I completely agree.

When he noticed the comments, he actually took the criticism, including about anonymity–as well as the later obligatory “drive-by” from well-known Conservative Resurgence mouthpiece, Hershael York–quite well, except from those people related to Outpost.  Why?  Because I had let these people know that I had been contacted by a professor who insisted on anonymity, who has some very important information to offer.  They knew my conditions in re-posting it to Outpost from my blog and seemed positive about doing so, and I gave assurance to my anonymous friend accordingly.  As a result, we expected their support, even if their opinions about anonymity are different than mine–and, by the way, unlike the CR, those having a hand in SBC Outpost are allowed to disagree with each other–and we do fairly frequently!

Bottom line: Outpost guys, I still love you and respect you.  But, in my humble opinion, you blew it this time.

Relatedly, how can I blame my professor friend for feeling betrayed?  After all, unless you have been a professor–I have–who lives in great fear of losing your job–your only income to support your family–if you express even the smallest disgreement with, or concern with, the direction of the school where you teach, how can you understand where he is coming from on this?  And, this single experience may well mean that many more professors or administrators who have serious reservations about much of what has happened at that school, or decisions currently being made, will be even more afraid to speak out in any way.

Boys and girls, what that also means is that many people inside and outside the SBC will continue with the mistaken impression that Paige Patterson and his blog mouthpiece, Malcolm Yarnell, speak for the whole faculty/staff at SWBTS and that Al Mohler and his mouthpiece, Hershael York, represent a monolithic faculty/staff viewpoint at SBTS.  I can assure you that nothing could be further from the truth in both cases, but this incident is going to make it a lot harder for anybody else to find that out.

As for me, Hershael and the others can feel free to say whatever they wish.  “If I perish, I perish.”  When I was thinking about starting a blog after the SBC meeting in San Antonio, I sought the wisdom of some already hosting blogs and got some helpful advice.  The best among those thoughts was “Make sure that your ego is not in it, so that, in that respect, you have nothing to gain or lose.”  Well spoken.

As a result, it’s irrelevant to me what is said about me.  It is, however, highly relevant that you understand that the points made in my friend’s open letter are true and that those in and around the inner circle at both SWBTS and SBTS know they are true, unless, of course, they are in utter and complete denial.  Even more relevant, most of these insiders are going to try to deflect legitimate criticisms or questions by focusing on my friend’s anonymity, or what has taken place behind the scenes here since yesterday.

In conclusion, if you hear nothing else, please hear loud and clear my sincerest apology to my professor friend for what happened.  He deserved better and, when the dust settled, even though I didn’t do it, I am still responsible for letting him down.

Repentant of my failure to protect a friend, Boyd

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