Seminary Rescinds Firings, Asks Resignations

NEWS

CHRISTIANITY TODAY

Southern Baptist Theological Seminary trustees sought to close debate on one of the most embarrassing squabbles in the annals of U. S. theological education when, climaxing a dramatic March 30–31 meeting, they rescinded dismissals of 12 professors. The professors were asked, instead, to resign.

In a resolution, the trustees admitted procedural “mistakes” in dismissals last June which followed a long-standing feud between nearly half the 27 School of Theology professors and Dr. Duke K. McCall, scholarly seminary president.

The Louisville institution, mother seminary of the second largest U. S. denomination, is observing the 100th anniversary of its founding this year.

Dissident professors have consistently charged McCall with maladministration. McCall, in turn, claims that the major issues have revolved on whether the faculty is largely independent, both academically and administratively.

One of the dismissed professors who is now pastor of the First Baptist Church of North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, Dr. Heber F. Peacock, has been acting as spokesman for the dissident group. All now have churches or are teaching or studying elsewhere.

Seminary trustees called their latest meeting after a special committee of Southern Baptist Convention presidents laid groundwork for what had been billed as a possible “reconciliation.” The dismissed professors replied that their interest was the welfare of the seminary. They made clear that they did not seek reconciliation.

The March 30–31 proceedings, which began with a 6 p. m. supper and did not adjourn until 4:30 a. m., were influenced by a warning last December from the American Association of Theological Schools, which threatened to withdraw accreditation. Present were the entire seminary staff, trustees, members of the special presidents committee, as well as the dismissed professors.

Here is the text of the resolution:

“Whereas, the action of the Board of Trustees of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary on June 12, 1958, when thirteen faculty members were dismissed, has been criticized by the AATS Accrediting Commission; whereas, the Board of Trustees has made a restudy of its action and its procedures; whereas, the Board of Trustees desires to repair damage done to the former faculty members and to the seminary, and to any other persons involved; whereas, there was neither precedent nor procedure by which the Board of Trustees might have been better guided; therefore, be it resolved by the Board of Trustees of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, meeting in extraordinary session in Louisville, Kentucky, on March 31, 1959:

“1. That we express appreciation to the committee of Convention presidents for its prayer, efforts, and leadership for the extraordinary session.

“2. That we express appreciation to the former faculty members for their willingness to be present for the extraordinary session, and for their desire to be helpful.

“3. That we express appreciation to the faculty for its presence in the extraordinary session, and for its fine statement and spirit.

“4. That we assure the former faculty members that there is no bitterness in our hearts toward any one or all of them; we love each of them.

“5. That we admit errors in the dismissal procedure followed, and express our regrets for such errors.

“6. That we rescind the June 12, 1958 action in which the former faculty members were dismissed; and, that we respectfully request the resignation of each as of this date.

“7. That the faculty and the president are at liberty to consider by current faculty acquisition procedures any person deemed appropriate for faculty membership.

“8. That we encourage the trustee subcommittee on faculty acquisition … to continue its work, looking to adoption in May of improved faculty acquisition and tenure procedures.”

The resolution notwithstanding, issues were not resolved. Many felt that the disputants merely “agreed to disagree.”

The dispute at the Louisville seminary dates back to May 4, 1943, when its board of trustees adopted a committee report which began, “The president of the seminary shall be recognized as the executive head of the institution.…”

In reviewing the controversy for the board last year, McCall noted that although the 1943 report removed the seminary from faculty control, the change never was “fully accepted” by the faculty. He said the rejection caused tension during the administration of his predecessor as well as his own, adding, “The ability of the wisest board of trustees, made up of those not engaged in theological education, to determine the [seminary life] is questioned by some.”

After smouldering inconspicuously for nearly 15 years, the dispute was given formal expression in March of 1958 when a School of Theology faculty report noted “low morale” among professors and asserted that “it is virtually impossible for seminary teachers to provide their families with adequate housing, educational opportunities and an acceptable standard of living without the assistance of outside remunerative activity.”

McCall confirmed “regretfully” the existence of the situation, but insisted that “the occasion for such a situation is temporary disappointment, frustration, and depression.” He asked the board to state “clearly and unequivocally precisely what is the trustee position on the problems and questions raised by the faculty.”

The board gave McCall a vote of confidence. “We do not believe it necessary to alter the structure of the seminary or any instructions given to the seminary administration,” a board statement said.

Last April 28, 13 School of Theology professors presented to a special trustees committee a “supplementary report” which the seminary administration subsequently labelled “libelous.” The report questioned McCall’s honor, charged him with “deceit,” and asserted that he “attempted to rule the faculty by coercion and threat.”

Direct negotiations between McCall and the dissidents failed.

On June 12, the board of trustees voted 32 to 9 to dismiss the 13 faculty members. A special reinstatement committee was named and authorized to reinstate “any one or more of these 13 men upon the basis of full confidence of the committee that the reinstated member can cooperate with the administration and work harmoniously within the framework of the charter and by-laws of the seminary and serve in good conscience as part of the faculty.” Salaries of the dismissed professors were extended.

The reinstatement committee invited the 13 professors to a meeting July 9 in hopes of effecting a reconciliation. Only one came, Dr. J. J. Owens, who was reinstated retroactively to June 12.

During the same committee meeting, Dr. Charles Taylor, executive director of the American Association of Theological Schools, appeared. He had but one request: that financial provisions for the dismissed professors be extended. Accordingly, the seminary continued to pay the dismissed professors and is still making up any differences in earnings.

Five months later, the Louisville seminary was visited by an investigating committee of the AATS, the recognized accrediting authority among U. S. seminaries. At its annual meeting in December the AATS put the seminary on virtual probation for a year, warning that another inspection would be made within twelve months. The implicit threat was that accreditation might be withdrawn. McCall was asked to resign his AATS vice presidency and his membership on the Commission on Accrediting.

The AATS never has specified how the seminary is to “repair the damage.”

Protestant Panorama

• Design of the Air Force Academy Chapel is being simplified to cut construction costs. The Air Force rejected all contractors’ bids, observing that they were “far in excess of official estimates of construction costs,” originally about three million dollars.

• One of every four younger clergy of the Anglican Church of Canada was discouraged from entering the ministry by one or both parents, according to a survey run by the denomination’s recruitment commission.

• HLKT, first Christian relay station in the southern part of the Republic of Korea, went on the air in Taegu shortly before Easter. The new 250-watt transmitter will be operated by HLKY, Christian broadcasting station in Seoul, in cooperation with Taegu’s Keimyong Christian College.

• A ceremony was scheduled for April 15 in Beirut to initiate the merging of Protestant mission work in Syria and Lebanon. Control and ownership of American missionary facilities, development of which was fostered by Presbyterians and Congregationalists, will pass to the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon, the indigenous Protestant church.

• Preferred Risk Mutual Insurance Company of Des Moines, Iowa, last month became the first company in the United States to write fire insurance exclusively for non-drinkers.

• Midwest Bible and Missionary Institute is changing its name to the Midwest Bible College.

• Among first refugees to arrive last month under a new U. S. law which admits displaced Dutch citizens from Indonesia were a young couple sponsored by the Christian Social Relations Department of the Episcopal Church’s Diocese of Colorado.

• The Graduate School of Theology at Oberlin College is beginning an internship and field work program in cooperation with the Cleveland Inner-City Protestant Parish. The program is designed to train ministers for service in urban areas characterized by large proportions of low-income people, racial and minority groups, and overcrowded substandard housing.

• President Eisenhower was on hand to see his wife receive an honorary doctor of laws degrees from Roman Catholic St. Joseph College at Emmitsburg, Maryland, last month.

• The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, in a resolution passed last month, expressed disapproval of congregation-sponsored social dancing.

• The Pennsylvania Baptist Convention is purchasing a 205-acre private resort near Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, for some $250,000. The property will be used for a year-round camp and conference grounds.

• Beginning in June, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association will produce a monthly publication for distribution among those particularly interested in world evangelism. Editor is Dr. Sherwood E. Wirt, who resigned as minister of Hillside Presbyterian Church, Oakland, California, to take the post.

• More than 60 U. S. television stations have shown “Martin Luther,” according to Robert E. A. Lee, executive secretary of Lutheran Church Productions, distributors of the film. Another 60 stations, Lee said, will televise the movie within a year.

• Eight stations of the United Christian Missionary Society (Disciples of Christ) in the Belgian Congo will soon be linked by a radio network if the government approves the plan.

• Three major Protestant denominations now have their largest congregations in Dallas. Highland Park Presbyterian Church is the largest in membership in the Presbyterian Church in the U. S. First Baptist Church of Dallas is the largest in the Southern Baptist Convention. Highland Park Methodist Church holds a similar distinction.

• The Bible Institute of Los Angeles broke ground last month for a $125,000 student commons building on its La Mirada, California, campus site.

Mass Evangelism

Bad And Mad

Billy Graham’s Australian timetable called for the start of a month-long crusade in Sydney, the continent’s largest city, this week.

Graham was to fly into Sydney after concluding short series of meetings in principal cities of New Zealand. On the eve of the New Zealand campaign, he reported that his vision was “the best it has been in nine months.” Doctors had ordered him to get as much rest as possible to relieve a rare affliction which caused blurring in his left eye. The evangelist relaxed at a seaside resort following his climactic Melbourne meeting which drew a crowd estimated as high as 150,000 for a new record in Christian evangelistic efforts.

“After Melbourne,” many were asking, “what was the prospect for Sydney?”

Melbourne is a relatively conservative city, while Sydney’s population of nearly 2,500,000 is called “bad and mad.” Sydney has seen its share of a church building boom, but the average congregation attracts little more than 50 worshippers per service. Known as Australia’s most cosmopolitan city, Sydney generally represents indifference to religion. Materialism seems to prevail.

Graham’s meetings were scheduled to begin Sunday afternoon, April 12, in the Sydney Showground, which was being modified to accommodate 80,000. Chairman of the Sydney crusade executive committee, Bishop R. C. Kerle, said that the governor of New South Wales, Lieutenant General Sir Eric Woodward, has granted his patronage to the crusade and expressed willingness to chair the opening meeting.

The actual start of the crusade was preceded by weeks of prayer and training among volunteers. More than 10,000 people were crowding into Sydney’s largest buildings six days a week for counsellor training. Thousands of cottage prayer meetings were also held daily.

In New Zealand, likewise, Graham found that great preparations had been made, even though an extended campaign had not been planned. “It is a raid,” wrote Professor E. M. Blaiklock, CHRISTIANITY TODAY correspondent in Auckland, “an all-out brief attack on evil things for which the church has made magnificent preparations.” Rugby football grounds were booked for the Graham rallies.

“New Zealand has never known the genuine breath of religious revival,” Blaiklock said. “The witness of evangelical Christianity is strong, the church is not without life and vigor, and in common with the rest of the Anglo-Saxon world in this decade, there has been a stirring of activity. But over the century or more of history, no one voice has moved the country, no sudden fervor ever came.

“Hence it was with astonishment that experienced observers watched Graham. The sanity and relevance of his preaching won the interest of a folk so averse to emotional demonstration that they are content to clap, rather than cheer, even at the sight of royalty.”

Communism Vs. Buddhism

No Surprise

A former missionary to Tibet says he was not surprised at an anti-Communist revolt in the capital city of Lhasa.

Marion Duncan, who served at the Tibetan-West China border for 13 years with the Disciples of Christ, declared that Communists could have expected trouble from devoted Buddhists in the sparsely-populated, mountain country.

“It was a natural gesture of mountain people,” he said.

He speculated that the insurrection had its roots with wealthy nobles who oppose distribution of their lands under the Communist system. Peasants would have fought on orders from their lords, he observed.

Duncan said Communists have had great difficulty in setting up communes in Tibet. A contributing factor, he noted, was the small population scattered over a wide area.

Tibet has little more than token Christian witness, he added, and there is little hope that the revolt will result in any missionary opportunity.

Duncan now works as a consultant with the U. S. government.

World Religious Populations

The world’s major religions gained numerical strength last year largely in proportion to increases in population, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica Book of the Year for 1959, out this month.

The Britannica’s figures show no unusual spurts in numbers of adherents. All the statistics are estimates gathered from authoritative surveys.

Last year, the Britannica yearbook listed 835,564,542 Christians in the world, including Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, and Protestant. This year, the figure was 848,659,038.

Here is the Britannica breakdown: Roman Catholic, 509,505,000; Eastern Orthodox, 129,192,755; Protestant, 209,961,283; Jewish, 12,035,774; Moslem, 424,813,000; Zoroastrian, 140,000; Shinto, 30,000,000; Taoist, 50,053,200; Confucian, 300,290,500; Buddhist, 150,310,000; Hindu, 325,929,809; Primitive, 121,150,000.

Weather Phenomenon

History Repeating

It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun’s light failed …—Luke 23:44–45

Metropolitan Washington experienced a Good Friday this year which alluded meteorologically to the day Christ died.

Rain-laden skies suddenly grew wholly dark over the U. S. capital and surrounding suburbs at 3 p. m., the time generally associated with the Bible’s “ninth hour” and the suffering Christ’s last words. Matthew, Mark, and Luke record three hours of darkness immediately preceding the climactic cries of Jesus.

Worshippers emerging from traditional 12–3 p.m. services found a nightlike atmosphere. Most who stayed home or worked took up vigils at windows. Telephone lines were flooded with calls, many of them directed to the Weather Bureau.

The intense, midafternoon darkness, which lasted for several minutes, was reported to have stretched over an area 50 miles wide. Skies gradually took on an eerie, pale yellow glow, then turned into the ordinary gray of rain clouds. A heavy thunderstorm followed.

Four flights at Washington National Airport were delayed in the squall.

The Weather Bureau explained that the darkness was the result of an unusually heavy cloud build-up accompanying a cold front. The ceiling was zero, a spokesman said, and the cloud layer was estimated to have extended to an altitude of 30,000 feet.

The spokesman described the phenomenon as very unusual for the eastern part of the United States. He added that such blacking-out does occur, however, in advance of tornadoes and is seen more frequently in plains states.

Religious Assemblages

The Issue: Red China

U. S. attitudes toward Red China claimed the floor of debate last month at the annual meeting of the National Council of United Presbyterian Men.

Dr. Will W. Orr, president of Westminster College, called on 3,000 delegates to repudiate a recommendation by the Fifth World Order Study Conference in Cleveland last fall. A message from the conference urged steps toward recognition of Red China and its admission to the United Nations.

Taking issue with the message, Orr said he found himself “sick at heart at some of the statements made by prominent churchmen regarding what should be our country’s relationship to Communism.”

Dr. Eugene Carson Blake, stated clerk of the United Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A., stood to the defense of the controversial Cleveland recommendations. Blake asserted the “present political stalemate in Asia is, month by month, making democracy weaker—not stronger—in East and Southeast Asia.”

He charged that “one of the results of the present policy is that during the last six months, repressions and persecutions of the Christian churches in China have increased in scope and severity.”

Representing 400,000 members, the council is the laymen’s organization of the United Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A.

Missionary Enterprise

The World Scene

The most encouraging aspect of today’s world-wide missionary scene is a surge of activity among lay Christians, according to Dr. Clyde W. Taylor, executive secretary of the Evangelical Foreign Missions Association, who returned March 27 from an 80-day, 35,000-mile global tour which took him to 18 countries.

Taylor said lay participation in church work is the outstanding feature of missionary work in many areas. He added that layman zeal often matches or surpasses that of the clergy.

Taylor urged more attention toward evangelizing youth around the world.

He called present ministries among youth “inadequate,” adding that young people are “most receptive to the Gospel.”

He said latest on-the-spot surveys indicate that the number of Christians in the Far East has increased by nearly 100 per cent during the past five years.

These studies show, according to Taylor, that there are now 5,200,000 Christians in Formosa, Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, and the Philippines, compared to 2,600,000 five years ago.

The missions expert noted that Japan is lagging behind other Far Eastern countries in numbers of converts. He blamed this largely on cultural patterns which limit church activities of laymen. Another contributing factor, he said, was the Japanese custom to regard marriage as a secular matter. Such attitudes inevitably lead to a large number of marriages between pagans and Christians, he said.

World Of Islam

A Holy War?

Sheikh Mahmud Shaltut, a top Moslem leader, is calling upon the world of Islam to declare a jihad, or holy war, against communism.

The rector of Cairo’s 1,000-year-old Al Azhar University, Islam’s chief theological seminary with an enrollment of more than 2,000 students, has previously said that “Arab soil will not bear Communist feet.”

Sheikh Shaltut’s appeal climaxed a war of words between stations in Cairo and Baghdad which developed after Communists in Mosul, Iraq, were reported to have burned Korans and murdered a number of learned Moslems.

Moslem sources in Cairo said that a call for a holy war—only one has been declared since the days of the Crusades in the Middle Ages—would ordinarily come from the Caliph of Islam. But they said since the caliphate was abolished by Ataturk of Turkey, the declaration of a jihad now rests with the governing body of Al Azhar.

Baghdad Radio denied that incidents in Mosul were organized by the government and asserted that “the freedom of religious beliefs in Iraq is safe.”

The Baghdad station charged United Arab Republic President Gamel Abdel Nasser’s regime with “committing the ugliest crimes in the name of religion, at the same time hypocritically pretending to show concern for religion in Iraq.” Religious leaders in Iraq, the station added, have often denounced “the attitude of the Egyptian rulers.”

Wives’ ‘Decalogue’

Mrs. John Osborn, whose husband is pastor of the world’s largest Seventh-day Adventist congregation (Sligo Seventh-day Adventist Church in Takoma Park, Maryland) has a list of “Ten Commandments” for clergymen’s wives.

Addressing wives of delegates to a church meeting in Atlantic City last month, Mrs. Osborn gave this list:

1. Thou shalt love all your members at all times and under all circumstances.

2. Thou shalt learn to live as the most observed woman in the church.

3. Thou shalt always remember your family obligations first of all.

4. Thou shalt learn to develop a remedy for loneliness for the many nights your husband is away from home.

5. Thou shalt learn to live on a limited income and a strict budget.

6. Thou shalt learn how to meet discouragement.

7. Thou shalt learn how to be adaptable and willing to learn.

8. Thou shalt develop your natural talents and abilities.

9. Thou shalt have a definite interest in the daily work and program of your preacher husband.

10. Thou shalt often renew your personal consecration to the task of the church.

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