Sherman on Seminaries

                                                                                                                        Vol. IX, No. 9, October 1996

           Dr. Cecil Sherman, recently retired national coordinator of the CBF, in the September 1985 issue of The Baylor Line, wrote: “The theory of inerrancy is put before the students at Southwestern [Baptist Theological Seminary, Ft. Worth] these days, but most of the faculty do not have a convictional commitment to the doctrine. In fact, few Bible scholars do. There are too many problems with the theory for a serious scholar to embrace it. But the ‘New Baptist’ wants a faculty that can teach inerrancy with conviction.”

[Editorial Comment: Note first the context: this was written in 1985 when the liberals still believed they might rewin control of the SBC and two years before conservatives achieved their first slim majorities on the boards of our SBC agencies. Second, note the substance: Sherman says that most Southwestern faculty at that time did not believe the Bible is without error, a validation of why the conservative resurgence was necessary. Finally, note the truth of his final statement: Conservative Bible-believing Southern Baptists certainly do want professors at our seminaries who believe whole-heartedly in the full authority, the complete accuracy of the Bible. We surely do NOT want faculty who tear down the faith of ministerial students. TCP]