The Board of Trustees of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary unanimously approved a recommendation to adopt “The Nashville Statement” as an official part of the school’s confessional documents yesterday during its fall meeting. The Board also responded to two additional motions, heard financial reports, and celebrated record student enrollment from the previous academic year. The recommendation about “The Nashville Statement” came from seminary president, R. Albert Mohler Jr.
The Nashville Statement is a document that affirms biblical teaching about gender and sexuality and seeks to clarify Christian beliefs on some of the most pressing cultural issues. It was published earlier this year by the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood and signed by evangelical leaders across the United States, including each Southern Baptist seminary president. That Southern Seminary adopted it, according to Mohler, is a matter of responsibility.
Mohler emphasized The Nashville Statement does not reflect new thinking. Instead, he said, it affirms historic Christian teaching about human sexuality. What is new, Mohler said, is the need to apply historic Christian teaching to contemporary confusion regarding sex and gender.
“These days, no Christian, and certainly no Christian institution or ministry, can avoid answering the most pressing questions presented to us by the culture. These are real-life questions that will determine the policies and the substance of any ministry or school. The Nashville Statement is the kind of clarification that is so clearly needed at this moment,” Mohler said.
— Andrew J.W. Smith
Find hope in the sovereignty of God, said World War II veteran during Night of Valor
A 93-year-old retired Marine encouraged students who are preparing to serve as United States military chaplains with his story of deliverance from a shipwreck during World War II, November 13 at Southern Seminary.
At the event, hosted by the Bevin Center for Missions Mobilization, Edgar Harrell told the group about his experience surviving the shipwreck of heavy cruiser U.S.S. Indianapolis, which is considered one of the worst disasters in U.S. naval history.
More than 120 guests attended the event, and more than 65 attended via live stream.
— Grant Mitchell