US Baptists Seminaries Reject Critical Race Theory
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The critical race theory divides humanity whereas a gospel-minded Christian church seeks to unite humanity, the Presidents of the Baptists Seminars stated.
The presidents of the six seminaries of the Southern Baptist Convention have called critical race theory “incompatible” with the faith’s values.
In a statement published Monday, the Council of Seminary Presidents of the SBC reassured followers that their professors reject racism but could not condone what some consider a radical school of thought on race and culture.
“In light of current conversations in the Southern Baptist Convention, we stand together on historic Southern Baptist condemnations of racism in any form and we also declare that affirmation of Critical Race Theory, Intersectionality, and any version of Critical Theory is incompatible with the Baptist Faith & Message,” read the Council’s statement, in part.
Critical Race Theory that divides rather than unite is unbiblical,
stated the Presidents of Baptist Seminaries
The statement did not elaborate on why the seminary leaders found the theory untenable with the theology of the nation’s largest Protestant denomination.
But the comments of the signatories emphasised that the theory stands in contradiction to the most fundamental Christian beliefs.
President of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Mr. Adam W. Greenway emphasised that our times are "days of rampant confusion about biblical truth", and the only Gospel can save when it comes to racism. He called a Critical Race Theory "antithetical to the Bible".
Critical race theory divides humanity whereas
a gospel-minded Christian church seeks to unite humanity.
While we must continue to speak with clear conviction against any aspects of racism, the sure and certain cure to any evil of this age is the gospel of Jesus Christ. No unbiblical ideology can solve the social issues that confront us, stated the President of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary Mr. Danny Akin.
Our condemnation of racism arises from the teachings of Christianity itself, not from any modern secular ideology, added Mr. Jamie Dew from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
Dr. Albert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, noted a resolution passed at the last all-denomination meeting of the SBC in 2019 that called the twin social science lenses of critical race theory and intersectionality “analytical tools subordinate to Scripture.” He called that resolution “badly timed and badly expressed.”
Christianity names sin ... including the sin of racism, Mr. Mohler told media. It [critical race theory] divides humanity whereas a gospel-minded Christian church seeks to unite humanity.
On June 14, 2017 the Southern Baptist Convention approved a resolution distancing itself from the alt-right movement. The legislation condemned “every form of racism, including alt-right white supremacy, as antithetical to the Gospel of Jesus Christ” and “every form of racial and ethnic hatred as a scheme of the devil.”
One of the most renowned Southern Baptists was the prominent evangelist of the twentieth century Dr Billy Graham.
The Statement on Critical Race Theory by the Council of Seminary Presidents of the Southern Baptist Convention
On this twentieth anniversary year of the Baptist Faith & Message (as revised and adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention in 2000), the Council of Seminary Presidents of the Southern Baptist Convention, meeting in its annual session, hereby reaffirms with eagerness the Baptist Faith & Message as the doctrinal statement that unites and defines Southern Baptist cooperation and establishes the confessional unity of our Convention. Our six seminaries are confessional institutions, standing together in this classic statement of biblical truth.
All professors must agree to teach in accordance with and not contrary to the Baptist Faith & Message. This is our sacred commitment and privilege, and every individual faculty member and trustee of our institutions shares this commitment. We are thankful for the theological commitments of the Southern Baptist Convention, standing against the tide of theological compromise and in the face of an increasingly hostile secular culture.
In light of current conversations in the Southern Baptist Convention, we stand together on historic Southern Baptist condemnations of racism in any form and we also declare that affirmation of Critical Race Theory, Intersectionality, and any version of Critical Theory is incompatible with the Baptist Faith & Message.