I read with interest the article of May 2, 2013, concerning the 25th anniversary of Samford’s Beeson Divinity School. As a graduate of Samford I was very much aware of the requirement Mr. Beeson put on Samford to receive the money for the divinity school. It had to be interdenominational, a requirement that we as a convention never voted on. I have had a problem with the idea of professors from other faiths teaching our Baptist pastors.
Twice in your article the statement was made that the school is interdenominational. So I was curious as to just how many Baptist professors, teaching our Baptist pastors, were employed by Samford’s Beeson Divinity School.
Of the staff listed on the school’s website I found of the 29 only four were Southern Baptist.
Of the other 25 staff, two are Lutheran, six are combined Church of England-Episcopal-Anglican, three Presbyterian, one Catholic, one a woman pastor in the AME and there were a combined 12 of either “other” or no affiliation was given.
Are we as Alabama Baptists who support Samford and Beeson Divinity School interdenominational or nondenominational?
I believe it is something we as Alabama Baptists need to give some thought to.
Is there any difference to what we believe and teach and what other denominations believe and teach?
Timothy Davis
Brantley, Ala.
EDITOR’S NOTE — The formula used to determine Cooperative Program allocations to Alabama’s three Baptist colleges — Samford University, Judson College and the University of Mobile — does not include graduate hours, according to officials at the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions.
Only undergraduate hours are counted in the formula.
Therefore, no Alabama Baptist Cooperative Program dollars are used to support Beeson Divinity School.
According to Samford University President Andrew Westmoreland, Beeson is “supported entirely from the proceeds of the Beeson endowment, gifts from other friends and tuition paid by students.”
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