Southern Seminary Will Not Exhibit, Hold Meetings at CBF

                                                                                                                             Vol. VII, No. 3, April 1994

Southern Baptist Theological Seminary will not sponsor exhibits nor hold alumni gatherings in connection with. any event or organization which competes with the Southern Baptist Convention or the Cooperative Program, according to seminary president R. Albert Mohler, Jr. In a 1 February meeting members of the seminary's trustee executive committee unanimously concurred with Mohler's decision.

The policy states, “The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary takes seriously its responsibility to maintain trust and allegiance with the Southern Baptist Convention and to reach out to the diverse constituency of the Southern Baptist Convention. As a statement of affirmation and trust with the Southern Baptist Convention, Southern Seminary will not exhibit nor hold meetings in connection with the assembly of any group in competition with the Southern Baptist Convention or the Cooperative Program."

The need for such a policy is due to the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship's increasing attempts to divert funds from the Cooperative Program, Mohler explained. "It is untenable to think Southern Seminary would sponsor a meeting or exhibit in connection with a movement that stands in direct and unembarrassed competition with the Southern Baptist Convention and its Cooperative Program," he said. "We stand with Southern Baptists and with faithful Southern Baptist churches in conviction, cooperation, and vision. The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship has made clear its intention to compete with the Cooperative Program for the support of Southern Baptist churches. Southern Seminary has no place in such an assembly.

Mohler emphasized the seminary's policy is not a rejection of any of its alumni, including those connected with the CBF. "We will reach out to all our alumni and all SBC churches; but we will also encourage them to support the Cooperative Program."