Southern Seminary's Missional Drift

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When Christian institutions experience missional drift like Southern Seminary did in the latter half of the 20th century, their leaders are faced with difficult dilemmas. So what is a godly leader to do? Now your story at Southern is very unique in that there's very little precedent for liberal institutions returning to Confessionalism. And so it really was a way of neutralizing over time a denominational elite that was more liberal. The elite got out voted. In almost every situation an elite can get out voted if the people figure out how to outvote the elite.

In the 1980s the Southern Baptist Convention found itself at a crossroads. While many of its churches were faithfully teaching biblical Christianity, the seminaries where its pastors were trained had been immersed in theological liberalism for decades.

In a lot of stories, this is where the split would occur. But this time something different happened. Instead of dividing, a group of courageous Christians decided to change the equation. They came up with an unprecedented plan to turn Southern Seminary from liberal theology, back to its confessional roots.

Politics. Technology. Identity. Power. Science. Everything seems to be changing. So why not faith?

Visit christianityandliberalism.com for more on the book, audiobook, and show.

Music: “Line in the Sand (C&L)” by Timothy Brindle Produced by Nobody Special Wrath and Grace Records Music Licensing Codes: SRMLYXTJPKIJ7KT1 DYWHAHXSILHN6QAG