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Questions
regarding Creedalism Seminary administrators and trustees enforce this creedalism by using the 2000 BF&M and several other documents as an "instrument of doctrinal accountability." During interviews with the administration and trustees of the six SBC seminaries, it was clearly stated that no faculty member could call into question any portion of the 2000 BF&M for any reason at any time. Thus, the 2000 BF&M is elevated to "inerrant" status. William O. Crews, President of Golden Gate seminary, writing on behalf of the Seminary Presidents" Council said, "All six of the seminaries stand together in affirming that we will indeed make the Baptist Faith and Message an issue of non-negotiable accountability (italics added) for all who teach in our institutions." All teaching instructors will now have to teach that all other Baptist confessions or statements are no longer accurate with regard to current Southern Baptist thought. For example, they can no longer teach "Jesus is the criterion by which the Scripture is to be interpreted." In addition, they must teach that any church, association of churches, or Baptist state convention of churches not teaching the 2000 BF&M are not teaching or believing "official" Southern Baptist doctrine Chuck Kelley, President of New Orleans Seminary, addressed his faculty in mid-July, 2000. A member of the faculty asked President Kelley, "What if a student asks, "What do you believe, professor?"" Kelly told the faculty, "That is irrelevant. It doesn't matter what I believe; this is the SBC statement of faith." Outside of class, Kelly told the faculty that they must not demean, ridicule, or belittle the document in any way in public appearances or in writing. Kelly further stated, "The BF&M document simply states what the Bible teaches. Those who do not accept the revision are basing their belief on experience and not on the Bible." In other words, the Bible and the new 2000 BF&M are synonymous. This is creedalism. It elevates the new 2000 BF&M to equal status with God's Holy Written Word. It also makes the new 2000 BF&M infallible.
October 2000 |