The four parts included in his blog are divided by time frames: Start-Lolley years / Lolley / Patterson / Akin to present.
My comments on each can be found, but to simplify here they are:
The beginning section is basically factual with nothing noteworthy.
Lolley years: I find this segment to imply the faculty was only “moderate,” when I was a student in 1967-70 and closely related to the Seminary (1986-1990) as their representative with Ministers Life Insurance Company.
As a salesman with “no ax to grind” or I would immediately not be able to sell our products, I assumed the attitude of “silent observer.”
My personal knowledge of Leo Green / John Wayland / Thomas Bland to just name a few, is of men with conservative theological views doing their job of presenting the entire picture of church and theology. Dr. Bland, for one, started the Urban Studies Seminar and I was in the first.
It was a practical survey of churches and denominations in and around Wake County. It was a-political. I never in public or private heard any of these 3 plus others utter a word against CR.
I recommend you go down the list of faculty at the time and clearly cite how many were “liberal” vs. How many were just plain well-educated men of God with an education to give their students so that we might be fair and balanced in our understanding of religion.
Your characterization of Randall Lolley is totally skewed as you imply he was a “liberal.” He was a Pastor’s Pastor and brought the best years of practical theology and “being Baptist” to the Seminary.
Further, you fail to show how much the student body decreased after he left as well as the academic problems generated for the SACS accrediting agency. For a while they almost lost accreditation for reasons of Administrative activities of the Trustees.
Patterson years: This segment reflects a "golden dream" view of SEBTS. You have relied too heavily on the publications of the Seminary for it.
Some realities:
1) In the face of published statistics of great enrollment, I journeyed to the campus to do a photographic recording of pictures of all classrooms at the most popular class hour--11:00 Tuesday. That strip of film I will gladly share with you. It shows about 80% of all those new and old classrooms---EMPTY.
2) You fail to cite the academic background of the new faculty---most from places such as Liberty University, etc. It reflects an unbalanced faculty in the face of one which could not be characterized as you imply to be "liberal."
3) Also in previous years any student matriculating without additional fees had to be recommended by his local SBC church. I was not allowed any access to student files to determine how many were non-SBC.
4) In private conversations around the Library and across campus I often asked, "And what church are you from." The answer given by a vast majority indicated students from Liberty U / Bob Jones / Pat Robertson's University / etc. My personal observation was Patterson drew students from all the conservative schools with which he had a connection.
5) The alumni magazines I continued to receive were about 60% a publication lauding Dr. Patterson over the courses being taught and books being written by faculty.
I viewed it as "President worship" which had never been a part of the alumni magazine before.
Akin to present: Dr. Finn--I think I would be unfair if I did not congratulate you for encapsulating the history of SEBTS. In toto, I think you have done a fair job with the restrictions of a busy schedule and minimal time to prepare these summations.
I remember from my BSU days a wonderful trip to SEBTS for the Student Conference where some 500 came from all over the southeast to visit. It was my first introduction to the campus, having been the year before to Southern for their Student Conference.
Clarence Jordan who founded Koinonia Farms in Americus, GA, was the featured speaker. His vision was the basis for Habitat for Humanity and the "Cotton Patch Gospels." I was inspired enough to seek admission in the fall of 1967.
I had seen for myself a true "liberal" in Thomas J.J. Altizer doing his"God is Dead" stuff as I was President of the Emory University BSU in 1966-67. Perhaps that is why I an very hesitant to label any SEBTS professor I knew as "liberal."
As far as facilities and numbers of students go, there has been a great amount of growth and modernization. It is sad that Hurricane Fran virtually destroyed the magnolias of the campus where I attended. It was far more "Southern" than it is today, but life goes on.
In the same way as Fran changed the campus, Conservative Resurgence had transformed the outlook and theological tenor of what is there today.
I won't categorize it as better or worse---just changed. Time will be the judge of "better or worse."
I wish you well in your endeavors. Given more time, you might choose to add some things I have shared. Should you choose to do so, I would be glad to help as well as many other graduates so you might have a truly full picture of SEBTS to present.
From its beginnings with old and somewhat dilapidated buildings to its magnificent present our school has had great impact on lives. The number of missionaries is astounding and the reach is great with Pastors and educated laity as well--from the beginning.
