Tulips get a reprieve at SWBTS and Baptist theological diversity gains a little ground

Oklahoma pastor Wade Burleson gracefully stood his ground today regarding the planned purge of Calvinist professors from the ranks at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

The former Southern Baptist International Mission Board member also provided more detail and made it clear that he isn't just fighting for Calvinists -- he's fighting for fair treatment in Baptist life and healthy diversity in Baptist faith culture.

He reported a victory this week for fair treatment and diversity:

There will be faculty reductions at SWBTS as there will be at Southern and other educational institutions of the Southern Baptist Convention. But, due to the uproar over the exposure of removing only the Calvinists at SWBTS, the chosen method of reduction, at least as of today, will be different.

One march is not the war. He admonishes:

Southern Baptists better realize the path being taken by some leaders, and by God's grace, we better do all within our power to stop the forced removal of those people from SBC service and employment who don't agree with particular ecclesiological, soteriological and eschatological idealogues leading our Convention. This week was a solid step in the right direction. And, as the picture above shows, saving the tulips at SWBTS is on behalf of the next generation of Southern Baptists.

Whether or not you're a Southern Baptist, we recommend the entire piece to you here.

Part one of the debate, with its stream of sometimes harshly accusatory comments attached, is here.