The SBTS website noted the successful surgery of Dr. Mohler. We pray the pathology report comes back with more good news. Pray for him, his family and Southern Seminary.
Baptist Press is reporting that Southern Seminary President Al Mohler has withdrawn his candidacy for president of the Southern Baptist Convention.
It has also been announced that Dr. Mohler will be having additional medical procedures related to a colonoscopy completed this week. Our prayers go out to Dr. Mohler and his family, as well as to Southern Seminary.
Read the story here.
Or, Why I Don’t Think Al Mohler Needs To Be President of the SBC.
By the way, I have no idea what Ben Cole thinks of an Al Mohler Presidency. I know only a little more about what my own brother Todd thinks about an Al Mohler Presidency. I have a pretty good idea about what I think of it. I am not on a crusade. But we do have this little blog and one of the purposes of this blog is to write about Southern Baptist news and events. You don’t have to agree with me. Go to Wordpress.com and get a blog for yourself and write about why you think Al Mohler descended from Mt. Sinai and is the most important figure in evangelical Christianity today. That’s what blogs are for.
But don’t be surprised, or offended, just because I give my reasons for thinking that Al Mohler is a great seminary President, that he’s done a wonderful job at Southern and that, aside from what I think are some, at best, quirky views on childlessness, an exit strategy from public schools and embryonic manipulation, that he does a fine job representing a good, conservative Christian perspective on Larry King, but that he would not make a good President for the SBC.
My first reason is that it is a clear conflict of interest. I realize that many will say that it has been done before and men acted without prejudice for their own interests. Fine. I might be inclined to agree. But the possibility that one might not give in to his own self-interest does not mean that the conflict of interest does not exist. It clearly does. It is the very definition of a conflict of interest. Al may be far above giving into acting on such a conflict of interest, but it is a conflict all the same. In addition, I think it is clear from at least one entity head who recently served as President of the SBC that such a conflict is almost certain to be acted upon. There are numerous examples of how Paige Patterson’s Presidency was just such a case. The very fact that SWBTS is involved in a law suit and the trustees, many of whom were recommended by the nominating committee that Patterson himself appointed, remain publicly oblivious to the fact speaks volumes to me. That trustees who elected him President of SWBTS are now administrators at SWBTS seems to me to prove the conflict was more than one of appearance. I suspect that Dr. Patterson has benefited both professionally and personally from his time as SBC President in many ways due to decisions he had some control over while serving as President.
No, the Kingdom of God has not been destroyed because of it. Souls are not eternally perishing because Paige Patterson served as President of the SBC. But it was a conflict of interest. Any entity head serving as President of the SBC is a conflict of interest. I often wonder how many of those who are so enamored with Paige Patterson would respond if Jerry Rankin were going to be nominated for SBC President. Are we really to believe that no one would suggest that it was a conflict of interest? By the way, I greatly appreciate Dr. Rankin and believe he would serve well as President of the SBC, but if he were ever nominated I would oppose his nomination for the same reason. I believe we should avoid even the appearance of a conflict.
A second reason I will not be supporting Dr. Mohler for SBC President is that I do not believe he has the disposition for that position. I’m not saying he would blow up the convention, but my impressions are that some of the qualities that have made him good at giving Southern a “makeover” would be detrimental in a more diverse organization such as the convention at large. Dr. Mohler seems to me to be a fairly focused individual. He’s not simply been focused on putting together a broad faculty at Southern, but a very specific sort of faculty. I’m not talking “broad” in the sense of broadness on the liberal/conservative spectrum. I’m talking broad in the sense of “representative of most Southern Baptists” broad. Not that there is anything wrong with the Southern faculty. I lean in a reformed direction myself and I don’t mind that Southern is heavily Calvinistic. Since we have six seminaries we can afford to have a Calvinistic seminary, a Fundamentalist seminary, a multi-campus seminary, etc. Choose which one fits your need. But if Dr. Mohler were to apply the administrative approach he has used for Southern on the SBC as a whole then we may well have a recipe for deeper conflicts ahead.
Third is his lack of a commitment to any sort of personal involvement in international missions. I don’t care that he’s not been a career missionary. I don’t believe that is or should be a requirement. But when 50% of all CP monies along with another $150 million dollars from our local churches goes toward international missions I would want to know that the man who can take the time out of his schedule to visit with Larry King on a regular basis and the man who can blog so prolifically has also made it a priority to set aside time every five years or so to go and see what international missions is all about first-hand. And if he desires to lead a convention which boasts the largest missions sending agency in the world I would want to see that he has a working knowledge of that agency down to the street level in Bujumbura or New Delhi or Nairobi or Bishkek. Somewhere. Anywhere.
[editorial footnote: for those who want proof I’ll expect that every time you’ve heard someone on NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN, FoxNews or your local paper make the statement, “A source reported on condition of anonymity…” that you completely disregard those statements believing that either a) the one making the report is simply making it up, or b) the anonymous source is simply a liar. Give this whatever credibility you wish. You can see what sort of credibility I give it. You don’t have to like it or agree with it and I could care less. Feel free to ignore this entire point if you wish because when you complain in comments I will ignore your point as well.]
There may well be other reasons, but those will have to wait for another time. I don’t dislike Dr. Mohler. Years ago, before the formation of the SBTC, the BGCT put together a study committee to examine its relationship to the SBC entities. I remember one of the members of that committee telling me that of all the seminary presidents only one was not an empty suit - Al Mohler (at that time most of the current presidents were not serving in their current capacities, so this is no reflection on them). I didn’t know any of those other men, so I will withhold any personal judgment in that regard. But it instilled in me a respect for Dr. Mohler that remains to this day. My views are not some personal vendetta and I’m not out to “get” him. I hope that Southern is blessed with Dr. Mohler’s leadership for many years to come. Whatever his faults may be it seems clear to me that he has done a fantastic job leading Southern. I just don’t think he’d be a good fit serving the SBC as her President.
“Our greatest challenge is to recover our passion for the gospel in evangelism and missions and to renew our determination to defend the gospel in an age of postmodern confusion. I would hope to articulate a vision that would unite Southern Baptists and energize us together.” (Dr. Al Mohler, BP article)
It is incomprehensible that after 14 years of calling Christians to exit public schools, suggesting fetal surgery to correct gay genes, and being culture warrior-in-chief that Al Mohler could not find the time to cross cultures and model to his students an international missions mindset. Ironically, though too busy to model international missions like other seminary presidents, he then indicates he will unite us around missions when announcing his platform.
UPDATE:
“8. If a biological basis is found, and if a prenatal test is then developed, and if a successful treatment to reverse the sexual orientation to heterosexual is ever developed, we would support its use as we should unapologetically support the use of any appropriate means to avoid sexual temptation and the inevitable effects of sin.” (Al Mohler, March 2, 2007)
Comment threads present opportunities to either stay the course or chase any number of tangential matters. Recently in the post, “The Difference a Perspective Makes,” Dr. York thought it important to ask if Dr. Page had been asked to sign, “Loving God and Neighbor Together: A Christian Response to ‘A Common Word Betweeen Us and You.” I queried Dr. Page. He did not recall being asked to sign the document. I also asked Dr. Page if he had at any time taken an international mission trip. He replied,
I have been on multiple mission trips and was on one this past year among a group in
Africa , which I shall not name, but which is totally Muslim. I cannot tell you how many international mission trips I have been on for I lost count many years ago. However, I have been on every continent and have ministered and dialogued with an amazing array of people.
Since the original post centered on the differing perspectives between Dr. Mohler and Dr. Edens when it comes to conversations with, in this case Muslims, it should be noted Dr. Edens affirmed the theological position Dr. Mohler gave in the BP article. the issue then turns on methodology. The post stands as an illustration perspective matters.
International Mission Trips by Dr. Page - “lost count many years ago … on every continent”
International Mission Trips as President of Southern Seminary (14 yrs.) by Dr. Mohler - 0
Perspective matters when it comes to methodology.
“The second thing I feel strongly about is that personally as a Southern Baptist Church member for the last 35 years, I have been deeply hurt and offended by agency heads of the Southern Baptist Convention who have intruded themselves into the process of the selection of our convention presidents. I will not do that. Just as there are responsibilities and privileges that go with working on a gubernatorial staff, [so] there are also responsibilities and privileges that go with being the head of a Southern Baptist agency or institution. There are some things that a pastor of a church may be free to do and to say publicly but an agency head, in my opinion, loses that privilege when he accepts the privilege and the responsibly of being the head of an institution which belongs to all Southern Baptists.”
Taken from Richard Land’s 1988 job interview with the Board of Trustees of the Christian Life Commission (ERLC) Quoted from Volume 4 of James Helfley’s “Truth in Crisis” (pg. 179-180). Subtitled is “The Controversy in the Southern Baptist Convention”
Surely there would be a couple of easy deductions from Dr. Land’s position pertinent for today’s entity heads. Interjecting “white papers” through “Lieutenants” into entity affairs may give “plausible deniability,” but it strikes a blow to one’s ethical framework according to Dr. Land’s assertions.
And, lost in a recent comment thread is the question of ethics for an entity head serving in a capacity (SBC President) that would afford him a position of influence over those who would then be elected to serve as his Board. The commenter serves in an environment where that would not be possible as it is surely a conflict of interest. Here, it seems Dr. Land suggests that once a person assumes the position as entity head he/she forfeits certain privileges. Running for President of the SBC would then seem to constitute both a conflict of interest and assuming a privilege given up once serving an institution that belongs to all Baptists.
Would have been good to find this quote before other entity heads donned the title, “President of the SBC.” Maybe it will help us keep from repeating past mistakes.
Of concerns voiced by R. Albert Mohler Jr. of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, for example, Edens said in a statement to Baptist Press that “I personally agree with him in the areas of theology and assessment of Islamic teaching about God or our Lord Jesus Christ. However, we disagree in methodology. From my experience of over 20 years living as a missionary among Muslims, I am committed to a Christian dialogue and conversation with Muslims. So, in continuity with my witness there, I signed the document.”
BP ran two articles on January 11. One noting why Dr. Mohler did not sign, “Loving God and Neighbor Together: A Christian Response to A Common Word Between Us and You.” The other article offered Dr. Edens, NOBTS Professor and whose words this post begins, an occasion to respond to Dr. Mohler’s contentions the move was, “not the way to get into the conversation.” These debates are tricky for once you mention a means to engage others who do not share your convictions the watchdogs come out signaling the “giving up of ground.” Conversations however are just that, conversations.
Dr. Scot McKnight suggests many Christians do not know how to have a conversation. In a blog post dated January 8, 2007, Scot offers,
… “conversation” has a noble history and because not all Christians know how to “converse.” They know how to argue and denounce and affirm and confess and assert, but the art of conversation is not its most notable feature. To foster conversation, …
He then makes a number of helpful suggestions. Before anyone considers McKnight to be soft and non-committal, read his blog thoroughly.
Dr. Edens suggested his experience serving twenty years in a Muslim context informed his decision to sign the document as a way to foster helpful conversation. Dr. Mohler served in which Muslim context? Dr. Mohler has gone on how many international mission trips?
One more amazing note. Many of us who share the heritage of the SBC did not own slaves nor would ever want to. (No this is not intended to resurrect the recent flap between Wade and Peter over Dwight)Yet, years after the Emancipation Proclamation and nearly 30 years after the Civil Rights Movement, the SBC passed a resolution apologizing for our complicity in treating African-Americans as less than human beings created in the image of God. Many of us continue to applaud that decision and are willing to admit we still have rooom to improve in our mostly white, southern denomination. So when Dr. Mohler sees no need for Christians to apologize for the Crusades fearing a Muslim Europe and possibly North America, he seems to tragically miss the point. No one suggested those signing the document wanted to bow to Mohhammed’s Allah. But, the apology seems right when we consider in the name of Christianity people were killed becuase a group of people shared a different faith. That is, we should apologize unless we think we have the right to kill those who fail to submit to the Lordship of Christ today.
Personally, it seems unthinkable that post-Resurrection of Jesus we would employ language ignorming the humanity of others by suggesting despite the sin and atrocitites of the day we are glad.
Suggestion - Rather than run for President of the SBC, let’s move at the next Annual Meeting in Indy that the Board of Trustees of The Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville, KY present Dr. Mohler with a sabbatical of not lesss than one year to travel internationally. Consign him to serve alongside our SBC missionaires in foreign coutnries learning the art of conversation with people who may be indignant toward our faith in Jesus, indifferent to our God in their various pantheon of gods, and return prepared to engage others in conversation for the cause of Christ before denouncing a document he did not sign because he was not asked. Maybe we know why he was not asked.
So moved.
The Tennessean printed an AP piece by Rosie French. It seems some observers of things SBC muse about the implications of the Jeffress nomination of Al Mohler,
“It (Mohler’s possible nomination) may mean some people are worried about a perceived softening that may have been represented about the current president … worried that conservatives may be letting their guard down.
“My suspicion is there are people who have forged battles the last 20 years who believe it’s important to keep the battle alive, keep their guard up. There’s one wing of that conservative movement that’s been characterized as combative.”
Fear does energize we who come under the banner, “Southern Baptist.” If our culture warriors convince us of fear we will jettison critical thinking and give way to the underlying agdenda … mabye “exiting public schools.” We reprint the article in its entirety for your benefit and musing in the comment thread.
Thursday, 01/10/08
Southern Baptists ponder conservative
Ky. seminary head may be nominated to lead the church
A controversial Kentucky Southern Baptist seminary president who has advocated a Christian “exit strategy” from public schools is in the running for Southern Baptist Convention president.
The Rev. R. Albert Mohler Jr., one of the country’s pre-eminent conservative Christian leaders, also has speculated about potential medical treatment to switch an unborn baby’s sexual orientation from gay to heterosexual.
Robert Jeffress, pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas, an nounced last week that he plans to nominate Mohler at the denomination’s annual meet ing in Indianapolis in June.
Current SBC President Frank Page of First Baptist Church in Taylors, S.C., concludes his second term in June and is ineligible for re-election.
Mohler’s possible nomination reflects a desire by some Baptists to return to the leadership associated with a 1980s conservative takeover of convention leadership from moderates, scholars say.
Page came from outside the conservative leadership that tightly controlled the denomination for more than a decade. He promised to stand up for the denomination’s conservative beliefs but also seek a broadening of voices and opinions in the convention.
Nancy Ammerman, a professor of sociology of religion at Boston University School of Theology who’s written extensively about Southern Baptists, said Mohler would probably be seen as a more “hard-line candidate.”
“It (Mohler’s possible nomination) may mean some people are worried about a perceived softening that may have been represented about the current president … worried that conservatives may be letting their guard down.
“My suspicion is there are people who have forged battles the last 20 years who believe it’s important to keep the battle alive, keep their guard up. There’s one wing of that conservative movement that’s been characterized as combative.”
Mohler says he’s open
Mohler said Wednesday that he may be identified with the conservative resurgence with in the SBC in the 1980s, but that he’s open to hearing views different from his own.
“I want to bring more people into the conversation,” he said. “I certainly want to involve more people … representing many different places and ages and churches.
“I represent a known quantity to the SBC. They know who I am and what I believe.”
President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., Mohler hosts a daily, nationwide program on the Salem Radio Network. He also writes a blog commenting on moral, cultural and theological issues.
If elected convention president, Mohler, 47, said he would focus on reaching out to young Southern Baptists and improving missions and evangelism.
Mohler wrote last year on his Web site that scientific research could prove a biological basis for homosexuality and explored the idea that if sexual orientation could be detected before birth, whether parents should consider potential techniques that would reverse homosexuality in the womb.
Mohler said Wednesday that he was speaking hypothetically about the issue.
Al Mohler will be nominated for President of the Southern Baptist Convention in Indianapolis this summer. He will be nominated by Robert Jeffress, pastor at FBC, Dallas.
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