Evangelical Theological Society

The Evangelical Theological Society is a professional society of Biblical scholars, educators, pastors, and students "devoted to the inerrancy and inspiration of the Scriptures and the gospel of Jesus Christ" and "dedicated to the oral exchange and written expression of theological thought and research".[1] The society was established in 1949 in response to a "keenly perceived need for interaction and wider dissemination of conservative research on biblical and theological issues."[2] The inaugural meeting was held in Cincinnati and was organized by a committee chaired by Edward R. Dalglish of Gordon Divinity School. The group, representing approximately twenty different institutions and denominations, elected Clarence Bouma of Calvin Seminary as its first president.[3]

Andrew J. Schmutzer at the 2015 Midwest Regional Meeting

Doctrine

When it was initially formed, the society had a single doctrinal basis - biblical inerrancy. Thus, the original doctrinal statement was limited to one sentence: "The Bible alone and the Bible in its entirety is the word of God written, and therefore inerrant in the autographs."[2] However, it was amended in 1990 to require Trinitarian belief, and now includes a second sentence: "God is a Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each an uncreated person, one in essence, equal in power and glory."[4]

Membership

Full, voting membership is available to anyone with a Master of Theology (Th.M.) degree or its equivalent, and who subscribe to the above doctrinal statements. Interested evangelicals who do not have such a degree can apply for associate membership, but do not have voting rights. There is also a student membership. Members are not limited to specific denominational or theological traditions, and not required to be affiliated with particular schools or seminaries. The number of full members in 2010 was nearly 4,200.[5]

Journal

The society produces a quarterly journal which contains scholarly articles and book reviews from various evangelical perspectives. First published in 1958 as the Bulletin of the Evangelical Theological Society, it subsequently was changed in 1969 to the Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society (JETS).[2]

History

Several times during its history, the society has been faced with doctrinal controversy. In the 1970s, members became polarized over the precise definition of "inerrancy" (including questions about literal vs. non-literal language, and the possibility of scribal errors).[2] In 1983, the society voted to expel Robert Gundry for his views on the historicity of some of the events in the Gospel of Matthew.[6][7] In 2003, the society was divided over whether to expel Clark Pinnock and John Sanders for their beliefs about open theism.[7][8] In 2007, Francis Beckwith resigned as president following his decision to be received into full communion in the Catholic Church.[9] In 2008, Ray Van Neste and Dennis Burk introduced a proposal to further expand the doctrinal statement to include eleven points;[10] the motion ultimately failed.[11]

Presidents

Year President
1950 Clarence Bouma
1951 Merrill Tenney
1952 Charles Woodbridge
1953 Frank Neuberg
1954 John Walvoord
1955 Harold Kuhn
1956 Roger Nicole
1957 Ned B. Stonehouse
1958 Warren C. Young
1959 Gilbert H. Johnson
1960 Allan MacRae
1961 R. Laird Harris
1962 Ralph Earle
1963 Vernon Grounds
1964 Burton Goddard
1965 Gordon Clark
1966 J. Barton Payne
1967 Stephen Paine
1968 Kenneth Kantzer
1969 Carl F. H. Henry
1970 Robert E. Cooley
1971 Harold Lindsell
1972 Robert L. Saucy
1973 Arthur H. Lewis
1974 Richard Longenecker
1975 Bruce K. Waltke
1976 Simon J. Kistemaker
1977 Walter C. Kaiser, Jr.
1978 Stanley Gundry
1979 Marten Woudstra
1980 Wilber Wallis
1981 Kenneth L. Barker
1982 Alan F. Johnson
1983 Louis Goldberg
1984 Haddon Robinson
1985 Richard Pierard
1986 Gleason Archer
1987 Walter Dunnett
1988 Elmer Smick
1989 James A. Borland
1990 Robert L. Thomas
1991 H. Wayne House
1992 Gordon R. Lewis
1993 Gerry Breshears
1994 L. Russ Bush
1995 George W. Knight III
1996 Robert C. Newman
1997 Moisés Silva
1998 Norman Geisler
1999 Wayne Grudem
2000 John H. Sailhamer
2001 Darrell L. Bock
2002 Millard Erickson
2003 David M. Howard
2004 Gregory K. Beale
2005 Craig Blaising
2006 Edwin M. Yamauchi
2007 Francis J. Beckwith
2008 C. Hassell Bullock
2009 Bruce A. Ware
2010 Eugene H. Merrill
2011 Clinton E. Arnold
2012 Paul R. House
2013 Robert W. Yarbrough
2014 Thomas R. Schreiner[12]
2015 Scott B. Rae[12]

[13]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "About the ETS". ETS. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Records of the Evangelical Theological Society - Collection 243". Billy Graham Center Archives.
  3. ↑ Wiseman, John (1985). "The Evangelical Theological Society: Yesterday and Today" (PDF). JETS 28 (5).
  4. ↑ "Reports Relating to the Forty-Second Annual Meeting of the Society" (PDF). JETS 34 (1): 141. 1991.
  5. ↑ Brief of Amici Curiae Evangelical Scholars
  6. ↑ Geisler, Norman L.; Bill Roach (2012). Defending Inerrancy: Affirming the Accuracy of Scripture for a New Generation. Baker Books. p. 347. ISBN 1441235914.
  7. 1 2 Olsen, Ted (November 15, 2007). "Inerrancy, Trinitarianism, and … ?". Christianity Today.
  8. ↑ Robinson, Jeff (November 20, 2003). "Theological society retains open theists Pinnock, Sanders". Baptist Press.
  9. ↑ Francis J. Beckwith. "My Return to the Catholic Church". Retrieved 2010-02-24.
  10. ↑ "Proposed Constitution Amendment of the ETS Doctrinal Basis".
  11. ↑ "Reports Relating to the Sixtieth Annunal Meeting of the Society" (PDF). JETS 52 (1): 206. 2009.
  12. 1 2 list of current ETS officers
  13. ↑ list of past presidents is found on page 69 of the program for the 65th Annual Meeting, held in 2013.

External links

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