Two weeks ago, nearly 3000 students, professors, exhibitors, pastors, and scholars of many kinds gathered in downtown Atlanta for the annual meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society. While regional bodies meet throughout the year, the national organization gathers every November for hundreds of stimulating presentations, plenary addresses, discussion forums, and a first-rate exhibit hall, featuring biblical training resources, theological institutions, and all the discounted books one could desire.
In recent years, Free Will Baptist scholarship has been increasingly represented on the program. Even Forum members have been able to attend and even present. Not only did several Free Will Baptists have several people attend, but four even presented papers. Here I will briefly review and reflect upon this year’s meeting.
Overview
In view of this year’s theme “Marriage & the Family,” most sections (including plenary addresses) addressed matters relevant to this theme in some way. One of the most well-attended and thought-provoking plenary addresses was given by Wesley Hill, author of the widely-discussed book Washed and Waiting (an honorable mention in a past book recommendation post). His talk was entitled, “Washed and Still Waiting: Homosexuality in Evangelical Perspective.”
Hill (Trinity School for Ministry) is one of several evangelical scholars-authors who identifies as a gay Christian, and yet understands the biblical account to teach such Christians to practice celibacy. Thus, much of his talk and other work is intended to help the church understand how to foster chaste friendships among its members who are attracted to the same sex. Hill’s proposals and insights have stimulated much discussion about the implications of monikers like “gay Christian,” as well as the church’s challenge to provide the type of authentic community for single believers living chaste, celibate lives.
Other plenary addresses discussed the subject of healthy marriages, as well as Christian involvement in broader cultural activities to affirm human dignity. In particular, one Grecian Bible scholar spoke about human trafficking. ETS President and renowned ethicist Scott Rae (Talbot School of Theology) gave a helpful address at the annual banquet about some of the bioethical challenges that the church is currently facing and will increasingly face as technology creates new possibilities for human reproduction, alteration, and end-of-life decisions.
Among the better-attended sessions was one on the validity of reparative therapy for same-sex attracted persons, which provoked a substantial exchange between two Southern Baptist scholars and Robert Gagnon, the leading authority on questions of homosexuality and biblical texts. Similarly, the special session entitled “Evangelical Theology After the Sexual Revolution” resulted in a packed house as several well known Reformed and evangelical scholars presented and discussed recent developments within this area. Among those presenting were Carl Trueman who discussed the prescient nature of J. Gresham Machen’s Christianity and Liberalism as it relates to recent cultural developments. New Testament scholar Thomas Schreiner engaged recent hermeneutical attempts by biblical scholars to legitimatize same-sex relationships. And Wayne Grudem also contributed an argument for the ongoing need of Christians to work in the legislative realm on these subjects.
Many other presentations were made on the nature of marriage, family, sexual orientation, and the implications of Christian theology for these important topics. The doctrine of the Trinity, image of God, and other key teachings were significant parts of many papers being presented. The work of figures like Wendell Berry were featured, as well as other more recent theological publications which served as the discussion pieces of many sessions. It is also worth observing that other organizations help fill-out the overall week by providing their own sessions and presentations, such as the Evangelical Philosophical Society, the Colson Center, and the Acton Institute. Among the many positive aspects these organization contribute is an emphasis on thinking about theology’s implications for public life.
No matter what the scholarly bent may be of one who attends, there is truly something for everyone happening nearly all of the time.
Free Will Baptist Contributions
As mentioned above, Free Will Baptists were also on this year’s program, giving papers in areas as diverse as Ancient Near Eastern studies to Pastoral Theology. Below are the presenters and their paper titles:
Dr. Matthew McAffee (Professor & Campus Pastor at Welch College) presented a paper in the Old Testament Backgrounds / Ancient Near East section. His paper was entitled, “Biblical King Og and the Ugaritic Deity Rāpi’u: Sorting Out Two Figures in Light of the Rephaim and the Toponyms Ashtaroth and Edrei.” McAffee has become a mainstay in this section due to his credible, scholarly contributions.
Forum contributor Jesse Owens (Pastor; PhD Candidate at Southern Seminary) and Dr. Matt Pinson (President of Welch College) both presented in the section of papers on Christian History and Thought Since 1700. This year’s emphasis was on Arminius’s legacy, especially with respect to those who later appropriated or responded to his work in significant ways.
Owens’s presentation was entitled, “Scripture and History in the Theology of John Goodwin.” Pinson’s presentation was entitled, “Reformed Arminianism: A Non-Wesleyan Appropriation of the Legacy of Arminius.”
I (Jackson Watts; Forum editor/contributor) presented a revised version of his recent Theological Symposium paper, which was entitled “The Gospel of Singleness.” As it turned out, I think my presentation coincided well with plenary speaker Wesley Hill’s call for the church to develop a more robust understanding of its ministry to singles.
Reflection
In reflecting back over the meeting, there are two central takeaways that I would mention with respect to the shape and state of evangelical theological scholarship.
First, I believe (and have believed for some time) that there is a renaissance afoot in historical-theological circles concerning the theology and legacy of James Arminius. This is evident in several ways, including the interest of many Southern Baptist leaders in the scholarship of Free Will Baptists. Among other factors, this signals that there are unique opportunities for our movement to articulate a Reformed-Classical understanding of Arminian theology for life and ministry.
Second, on a less positive note, we need not pretend as though ETS is a comprehensive, uncompromised bulwark for biblical fidelity on questions of gender, sexuality, and marriage. One session at this year’s meeting featured several panelists who affirmed the legitimacy of same-sex marriage, and at least one openly challenged the historic understanding of gender as rooted in Genesis 1:27 (Denny Burk has elaborated on this a bit more here, calling this year’s meeting a watershed moment in the marriage discussion). Additionally, during the Business Session several resolutions were adopted which affirmed a traditional understanding of the imago Dei, sexuality, marriage, and gender, though not at all unanimously.
Such developments remind ETS observers and members that in an organization whose doctrinal basis is reducible to two tenets (biblical inerrancy and the Trinity), those who take Scripture seriously will occasionally wonder about the bounds of evangelical theology. However, by no means should these developments motivate withdrawal. Rather, we need to continue to preserve what has been handed down from the tradition, and advocate for we believe to be within the proper bounds of biblical fidelity.
For more information on the purpose and activities of the Evangelical Theological Society, readers can visit the ETS website and explore the many opportunities to be involved in evangelical scholarship. Next year’s meeting will be held in November in San Antonio, Texas, and the theme will simply be “the Trinity.” Exact dates and site location will be announced soon at www.etsjets.org.
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