Revisiting the Manhattan Declaration n The Minister’s Toolbox

Spring 2011

Dietrich Bonhoeffer Confessing Christ in Nazi Germany Table of Contents

FROM THE DEAN EDITORIAL TEAM A Tale of Two Declarations Dean Timothy George 2 HISTORY Director of External Relations Tal Prince (M.Div. ’01) A Spoke in the Wheel Confessing Christ in Nazi Germany Editor 4 Betsy Childs CULTURE Costly Grace and Christian Designer Witness Jesse Palmer 12 TheVeryIdea.com Revisiting the Manhattan Declaration Photography Sheri Herum Chase Kuhn MINISTRY Rebecca Long Caroline Summers The Minister’s Toolbox 16 Why Ministers Buy Books For details on the cover image, please see page 4. COMMUNITY Beeson was created using Adobe InDesign CS4, Adobe PhotoShop CS4, CorelDraw X4, Beeson Portrait Microsoft Word 2007, and Bitstream typefaces Paula Davis Modern 20 and AlineaSans.AlineaSerif. 20 ...at this critical moment in our life together, we Community News Revisiting the Manhattan Declaration find it important to stand together in a common struggle, to practice what I Beeson Alumni once called “an ecumenism of the trenches.” Beeson Divinity School Carolyn McKinstry Tells Her Story Samford University 800 Lakeshore Drive Dean Timothy George Birmingham, AL 35229 MINISTRY (205) 726-2991 www.beesondivinity.com Every Person a Pastor ©2011-2012 Beeson Divinity School 28

eeson is affiliated with the National Association of Evangelicals and is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States Band Canada.

Samford University is an Equal Opportunity Institution that complies with applicable law prohibiting discrimination in its educational and employment ROW 1; A Tale of Two Declarations 2; A Spoke in the Wheel 4; policies and does not unlawfully discriminate on the Costly Grace and Christian Witness 12; ROW 2;The Minister’s Toolbox 16; basis of race, color, sex, age, disability, or national or ethnic origin. Beeson Portrait 20; Community News 22; Alumni News 24. of Jesus in John 14:6, an of religious opinion. Both are 5 From the Dean assertion that demands a movements of the Spirit and decision: “I am the Way, calls to commitment. Stefanie the Truth and the Life. No von Mackensen, the only woman one comes to the Father delegate at Barmen, later said except through me.” that she had felt the presence of A Tale of Two Declarations Second, neither the Holy Spirit sweep the room Barmen nor Manhattan when the Barmen Declaration are “political” statements was unanimously adopted and in the sense of being tied the congregation rose and sang to a particular political spontaneously, “Now Thank We By Timothy George party or ideology. The All Our God.” Both Barmen and

Courtesy of Manhattan Declaration Manhattan of Courtesy MD has been signed by Manhattan recognize “the cost of Democrats, Republicans, discipleship.” Both call for the kind onhoeffer faced a church everyone who had eyes to see. Manhattan Declaration (MD), Chuck Colson speaks at the and Independents alike. Some say of conscientious courage that dares that had bowed its knee to The Barmen Declaration set a recent statement of Christian Manhattan Declaration press today that the church should take to count the cost of following Jesus the reigning culture, but we forth in six clearly written articles conscience affirming the sanctity conference on Nov. 20, 2009. a sabbatical from speaking to the Christ along the way that leads are facing that today as well. the meaning of Christian faith and of human life from conception Barmen was deleted in the final culture at large. Hitler himself finally to the cross. The situation that compelled life based on the Holy Scriptures to natural death, the dignity of form of the MD for several good was happy (at least for a while) Pastor Steven Grund, the main BBonhoeffer and the other Confessing and the great confessions of the marriage as a lifelong covenantal reasons. First, the plight of the to leave the Christians alone so figure in John Maarten’s storyThe Church leaders to draft the Barmen sixteenth-century Reformation. It union between one man and one church in North America today, long as they stayed within the four Village on the Hill, wrote from his Declaration in the 1930’s is not so rejected the totalitarian claims of woman, and religious freedom for serious as it is, is not analogous to walls of their church buildings prison cell: “If the church sleeps terribly different from the current the state and called the German all persons. The MD was drafted the repression Jews, Christians and and refrained from “meddling” in and her witness is silent, then she situation that has compelled Christian church back to the central by Chuck Colson, Robert George, many others experienced in Hitler’s matters related to public policy will not be attacked and may live leaders to draft the Manhattan truths of the Gospel. It did so by and me and released in November, Germany. Second, the Barmen and the common life of the in comfort, but she betrays her Declaration. announcing in its first article that 2009. Within one year of its Declaration was written and signed German people. But both Barmen Lord. But when the church awakes —Eric Metaxas “Jesus Christ, as he has attested release, the MD had garnered the for us in the Holy Scripture, is the signatures of some half-million by only Protestant (Lutheran and Manhattan refuse to say that and speaks, then come storms and and Reformed) Christians, there are areas of life which do not sorrow and the cross, but the Lord It was a bright, sunny day on one Word of God which we have Christian believers. You can find whereas the MD includes Roman belong to Jesus Christ. Both affirm May 31, 1934, not a cloud in the to hear and which we have to trust out more about the Manhattan is near.” 5 Catholic, evangelical Protestant the sovereignty of God and the sky, when 139 delegates from and obey in life and in death.” Declaration on its website: and Eastern Orthodox voices. lordship of Jesus Christ. The presentations on Barmen will Protestant churches throughout During the spring semester of www.manhattandeclaration.org. None of us is interested in an Finally, both Barmen and be posted at www.beesondivinity.com. Germany came together in the 2011, the community of Beeson It needs to be said that these easygoing ecumenism that blurs Manhattan are more than mere There you can also subscribe to the town of Barmen and issued the Divinity School is studying the three issues are not the only the theological convictions we hold statements of academic discourse. Beeson Podcast with weekly postings Theological Declaration of the First Barmen Declaration and asking matters of pressing moral concern dear. But at this critical moment They are not mere declarations of sermons, lectures, and interviews. Confessional Synod of the German what it can mean for us today. “To in our culture today. Many issues in our life together, we find it Evangelical Church. Though the the Winds Thy Fears,” from a hymn call for Christian engagement. important to stand together in a weather was beautiful that day, the text by Paul Gerhardt (translated Care of creation, racial injustice, common struggle, to practice what storm clouds of a gathering crisis by John Wesley), is the theme of the proliferation of violence, the I once called “an ecumenism of the were evident to believing Christians our community worship services spread of HIV-AIDS, the blight of trenches.” in the Third Reich. The Barmen this spring. Each week in Hodges poverty and hunger around the Still, Metaxas is right to discern Declaration nowhere mentioned Chapel, we will listen to sermons world, and many others are all an underlying similarity between Hitler or the Nazis by name, but on the significance of the Barmen areas of concern. But life, marriage the statements of 1934 and 2009. the issues which gave rise to this Declaration today. We shall also and freedom are threshold issues First, both Barmen and the confession of faith were known to sing some of the great hymns of on which so much else depends. If Luther and Gerhardt and listen Christians cannot stand together MD appeal to the authority of Holy to the music of the on the sanctity of life, the dignity Scripture. Each offers quotations Reformation that so of marriage, and religious freedom from the Bible as the theological inspired Bonhoeffer and for all, then how can we act with basis of its statements. Each other believers in the any moral earnestness on a host of recognizes that the Christian Confessing Church. other concerns that press upon us? faith can be, and often has been, One of the speakers The Manhattan Declaration distorted by accommodation to in our series will be Eric was written on the seventy- the “prevailing ideological and Metaxas, a biographer fifth anniversary of the Barmen political convictions” of the day. of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Declaration. The early drafts of the Thus, it is not surprising that He, among others, has MD did cite the Barmen statement both Barmen and Manhattan compared the Barmen as a precedent that inspired our have been controversial. Each Declaration to the concern. But the reference to document subscribes the claim ►Timothy George is founding Dean Gemarker Kirche, site of the Synod of Barmen of Beeson Divinity School BEESON | SPRING 2011 m Page 3 Nazi racial laws and the Führer about human identity and He addressed the issue of 5 History Principle. They thought that by community. Across Europe and the church’s attitude toward wedding the church to the state, the world, there had often been the state and created common they would restore the church strong taboos against mixing races ground with his skeptical readers and Germany to her former glory, and ethnicities. So even though by paraphrasing Romans 13: before the Treaty of Versailles Bonhoeffer knew that what he was “There is no power, but of God; A Spoke in the Wheel and the chaos and humiliation of facing was inimical to Christian the powers that be are ordained of the last twenty years. The moral faith, he knew that such thinking God.” In other words, governments Confessing Christ in Nazi Germany degeneration of Weimar Germany was also widespread. are established by God for the was self-evident. Hadn’t Hitler Unlike most Germans, preservation of order. The church spoken of restoring moral order Bonhoeffer had experienced had no fundamental quarrel with By Eric Metaxas to the nation? They didn’t agree the church far beyond the the state being the state, with its with him on everything, but Lutheran churches of Germany. restraining evil, even by use of force. n March 1, Eric Metaxas lines. No one dreamed how quickly they believed that if the church’s In Rome, he had seen Christians Then he moved on to clarify spoke at Beeson Divinity and dramatically things would prestige were restored, they might School’s chapel service change. be able to influence him in the The German church was in turmoil. Some as part of the spring The Bonhoeffers always had right direction. church leaders felt the church should series on the Barmen access to privileged information, There was at this time a ODeclaration. Metaxas is author but as the shadow of the Third group that stood solidly behind make peace with the Nazis, who were of the acclaimed new biography Reich fell across Germany, much Hitler’s rise to power and blithely Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, of the information came from tossed two millennia of Christian strongly opposed to communism and Prophet, Spy, published by Thomas Bonhoeffer’s brother-in-law, orthodoxy overboard. They “godlessness.” Nelson in 2010. The following article lawyer Hans von Dohnanyi, at wanted a strong, unified Reich is an excerpt from the book. the German Supreme Court. church and a “Christianity” that of many races and nationalities that the church does, nonetheless, The Bonhoeffers learned that was strong and masculine, that worshiping together; in the United play a vital role for the state. something especially disturbing would stand up to and defeat the States, he had worshiped with What is that role? The church called the Aryan Paragraph would godless and degenerate forces of African American Christians in must “continually ask the state take effect April 7. It would result Bolshevism. They boldly called Harlem; and via the ecumenical whether its action can be justified in a series of far-reaching laws. themselves the Deutsche Christen movement, he had worshiped as legitimate action of the state, Government employees must (German Christians) and referred with other European Christians. i.e., as action which leads to law be of “Aryan” stock; anyone of to their brand of Christianity as The immediate question before and order, and not to lawlessness Jewish descent would lose his job. “positive Christianity.” The German him was, what is the church’s and disorder.” In other words, If the German church, essentially Christians became very aggressive response to the Jewish question? it is the church’s role to help the a state church, went along, all in attacking those who didn’t agree But the question that stood behind state be the state. If the state is not pastors with Jewish blood would with them and generally caused that question was still, what is the creating an atmosphere of law and be excluded from ministry. Many much confusion and division in the church? order, as Scripture says it must, church. were confused about how to Bonhoeffer’s Desk respond. The pressure to get in line But perhaps the most grievous Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial with the National Socialist wave aspect of the church turmoil was sweeping the country was intense. Church, Berlin the willingness of mainstream Bonhoeffer knew someone must turmoil. Some church leaders felt Protestant Christian leaders to think it all through carefully, and the church should make peace consider adopting the Aryan in March 1933, he did so. The with the Nazis, who were strongly Paragraph. They reasoned that Jews result was his essay, “The Church opposed to communism and who were baptized Christians could and the Jewish Question.” “godlessness.” They believed the form their own church and had no church should conform to the particular business expecting to The Church and the Jewish be a part of a distinctly “German” Question m Eric Metaxas is a bestselling church. In the 1930s, such racially ideological ideas were not nearly as A group of pastors had been author with an eclectic career. foreign as they are today. In the first months of Nazi rule, the meeting in the home of Gerhard He has written for the New York The idea that the races should speed and scope of what the Nazis Jacobi, pastor of the Kaiser Times, the Atlantic, and Veggie be “separate, but equal” was intended and had begun executing Wilhelm Memorial Church, to Tales. Bonhoeffer, his second popular and widespread in the throughout German society were discuss developments in the biography, is the recipient of Jim Crow American South, and staggering. Under what was called country. Bonhoeffer planned to Beeson Divinity School’s 2011 Bonhoeffer had seen it firsthand. the Gleischaltung (synchronization), deliver his essay to them in early He knew that such ideas were the country would be thoroughly April. John Pollock Award for Christian powerfully rooted in notions reordered along National Socialist The German church was in Biography. Axel Mauruszat Axel Page 4 m BEESON | SPRING 2011 Berlin Boycott, April 1, 1933 The church has the unconditional obligation...not just to Bonhoeffer knew that a church that did bandage the victims under the wheel, but to put a spoke in the not stand with the Jews was not the wheel itself. church of Jesus Christ. Deutsches Bundesarchiv Deutsches then it is the job of the church to bold leap—was “to aid the victims the wheel to stop the vehicle. It in which the “confession” of the task of Christian preaching to draw the state’s attention to this of state action.” He said that the is sometimes not enough to help gospel was at stake. To “confess say: here is the church, where failing. And if on the other hand, church “has an unconditional those crushed by the evil actions the gospel” simply meant to speak Jew and German stand together the state is creating an atmosphere obligation to the victims of any of a state; at some point the forth the good news of Jesus Christ. under the Word of God; here is the of “excessive law and order,” it is ordering of society.” And before church must directly take action Bonhoeffer continued, “A state proof whether a church is still the the church’s job to draw the state’s that sentence was over, he took against the state to stop it from which includes within itself a church or not.” attention to that too. another leap, far bolder than perpetrating evil. This, he said, is terrorized church has lost its most To underscore his point, If the state is creating the first—in fact, some ministers permitted only when the church faithful servant.” Bonhoeffer concluded with words “excessive law and order,” walked out—by declaring that sees its very existence threatened Bonhoeffer went on to say that from Luther’s commentary on then “the state develops its the church “has an unconditional by the state, and when the state to “confess Christ” meant to do so Psalm 110:3: “There is no other power to such an extent that obligation to the victims of any ceases to be the state as defined by to Jews as well as to Gentiles. He rule or test for who is a member of it deprives Christian preaching ordering of society, even if they God. Bonhoeffer added that this declared it vital for the church to the people of God or the church of and Christian faith . . . of their do not belong to the Christian condition exists if the state forces attempt to bring the Messiah of Christ than this: where there is a rights.” Bonhoeffer called this community.” Everyone knew that the “exclusion of baptized Jews the Jews to the Jewish people who little band of those who accept this a “grotesque situation.” “The Bonhoeffer was talking about the from our Christian congregations did not yet know him. If Hitler’s word of the Lord, teach it purely church,” he said, “must reject this Jews, including Jews who were not or in the prohibition of our laws were adopted, this would and confess against those who almost everyone. But for him they encroachment of the order of the baptized Christians. Bonhoeffer mission to the Jews.” be impossible. His dramatic and persecute it, and for that reason were inescapable. In time, he state precisely because of its better then quoted Galatians: “Do good The church would be “in statu somewhat shocking conclusion suffers what is their due.” would do all three. knowledge of the state and of the to all men.” To say that it is confessionis and here the state was that not only should the In the spring of 1933, The advent of the Nazi victory limitations of its action. The state unequivocally the responsibility would be in the act of negating church allow Jews to be a part Bonhoeffer was declaring it the and the Nazis’ attempt to co- which endangers the Christian of the Christian church to help itself.” This Latin phrase, which of the church, but that this was duty of the church to stand up opt the church resulted in chaos proclamation negates itself.” all Jews was dramatic, even means “in a state of confession,” precisely what the church was: for the Jews. This would have within the church itself, and in Bonhoeffer then famously revolutionary. But Bonhoeffer was originally used as a specifically it was the place where Jews and seemed radical to even staunch fighting and politicking among enumerated “three possible wasn’t through yet. Lutheran phrase in the sixteenth Germans stand together. “What is allies, especially since the Jews had the many factions of the church. ways in which the church can The third way the church can century. By Bonhoeffer’s time it at stake,” he said, “is by no means not begun to suffer the horrors Bonhoeffer wanted to drown act towards the state.” The first, act toward the state, he said, “is had come to mean a state of crisis the question whether our German they would suffer in a few years. out the cacophony of voices and already mentioned, was for the not just to bandage the victims members of congregations can Bonhoeffer’s three conclusions— look at these things calmly and church to question the state under the wheel, but to put still tolerate church fellowship that the church must question logically. He knew that if these regarding its actions and their a spoke in the wheel itself.” with the Jews. It is rather the the state, help the state’s victims, questions were not addressed legitimacy—to help the state be The translation is awkward, and work against the state, if properly, one would be reduced Assembly of “German Christians,” the state as God has ordained. The but he meant that a stick must necessary—were too much for to merely “political answers” or 1933 second way—and here he took a be jammed into the spokes of “pragmatic” answers. One could begin to veer away from the true gospel, toward worshiping What is at stake is by no means a god made in one’s own image, the question whether our German rather than God himself, the “eternally other” of whom Barth members of congregations can still had spoken and written. During his time in New York City, he tolerate church fellowship with the Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin – Preussischer Kulturbesitz had seen many well-meaning Jews. It is rather the task of Christian Christians at Union Theological Seminary unwittingly abandon preaching to say: here is the church, that God for many good reasons; where Jew and German stand together so too many of the well-meaning Christians in Germany were under the Word of God; here is the now doing the same thing. They proof whether a church is still the were convinced that if they bent their theology a bit, it wouldn’t church or not. matter—the results would be all right in the end. Many of them

Page 6 m BEESON | SPRING 2011 BEESON | SPRING 2011 m Page 7 Deutsches Bundesarchiv Deutsches honestly believed that under Hitler the opportunities for Bonhoeffer was forever considering all sides of a question, evangelism would increase. But Bonhoeffer knew that a church sometimes to a fault that did not stand with the Jews was not the church of Jesus On the day of the boycott in Gerhard was a popular professor of crossed to the other side to avoid Christ, and to evangelize people Berlin, Dietrich’s grandmother law at Göttingen, so it wasn’t long them. “In Göttingen,” Sabine into a church that was not was shopping. The patrician before they were directly affected said, “many tried to collaborate. the church of Jesus Christ was ninety-year-old was not about to by the mounting anti-Semitism. At Lecturers who had not achieved foolishness and heresy. From the be told where to shop. When SA one point, the National Socialist further promotion now saw their time Bonhoeffer finished writing men tried to restrain her from student leaders in Göttingen called opportunity.” But a few were “The Church and the Jewish entering one store, she informed for a boycott of his classes. Sabine sickened at what was taking place Question,” he saw this clearly them that she would shop where recalled: and were not afraid to express and would stake everything on she liked and did so. The story of I had often heard my their horror. The theologian it. But it would be a long and Julie Bonhoeffer marching past husband’s lectures and I Walter Bauer met them on the lonely road. Nazi gorillas was a favorite in the went to the university on the street and launched into a tirade Bonhoeffer family, who saw in her actual day of the boycott in against Hitler. When Gerhard lost The April 1 Boycott an embodiment of the values they order to be there and to hear his position, another professor sought to live by. approached him and, with tears In April 1933, Hitler what the students would have in his eyes, said, “Sir, you are my declared a boycott of Jewish to say. A few students were Sabine and Gerhard colleague and I am ashamed to stores across Germany. The standing there in SA uniform, be a German.” And a group of stated purpose was stopping the Ten days after the boycott straddling the doorway students from Gerhard’s seminar international press, which the of Jewish stores, Bonhoeffer was in their jackboots as only went to the Ministry to ask that he Nazis maintained was controlled asked to preach another sermon, these SA men could and not be allowed to teach. by the Jews, from printing lies for a funeral. On April 11, Gerhard allowing anyone to enter. Many of Gert’s relatives lost about the Nazi regime. They Leibholz’s father died. For Dietrich, “Leibholz must not lecture, their jobs too. One Jewish school always cast their aggressions as this was a difficult spot, one that he is a Jew. The lectures are friend of Gerhard committed a defensive response to actions he later admitted he had not not taking place.” obediently suicide. There was constant news against them and the German negotiated well. Leibholz was the students went home. of this sort. On Reformation Day, a people. ethnically Jewish, but unlike his A corresponding notice few months after his decision not Goebbels spoke at a rally son, he had not been baptized had been posted on the to preach at Gert’s father’s funeral, in Berlin that day, fulminating into the church. Bonhoeffer was blackboard. Bonhoeffer wrote Gert and Sabine against the “Jewish atrocity forever considering all sides of a After a while, Sabine and in Göttingen: propaganda,” and everywhere question, sometimes to a fault. Gerhard needed only to walk across Germany SA men Now he thought about how it down the street in Göttingen to I am tormented even now by intimidated shoppers from Deutsches Bundesarchiv might appear if someone who was breathe the poisonous atmosphere. the thought that I didn’t do as you entering Jewish-owned stores, speaking boldly against the Nazis People who recognized them asked me as a matter of course. To whose windows had been on the Jewish issue preached at Berlin Boycott, April 1, 1933 daubed in black or yellow paint the funeral of a Jew who was not with stars of David and the a member of the church. Would word Jude (Jew). The SA also it seem merely incendiary? Would it destroy his chances for future handed out pamphlets and held Joseph Goebbels placards: “Deutsche Wehrt Euch! action in the church? Would it Kauft Nicht Bei Juden!” (Germans, Bonhoeffer’s Jewish brother- that weekend, while other family destroy his credibility with those protect yourselves! Don’t buy from in-law, Gerhard Leibholz, was a members checked in via telephone. inside the church who already Jews!) Some signs were in English: lawyer, and like many German That April, “the hope, so eagerly thought his ideas on this subject “Germans, defend yourselves from Jews, he was a baptized Christian. nourished, that Hitler would soon overly radical? Jewish Atrocity Propaganda—buy Karl and Paula Bonhoeffer ruin himself by mismanagement He wasn’t sure what to do, but only at German shops!” Even (Bonhoeffer’s parents), fearing was shattered,” recalled Sabine. he was urged to consult with the offices of Jewish doctors and the situation, went to Göttingen “National Socialism established his district superintendent. lawyers were targeted. to be with Sabine and Gerhard itself with lightning swiftness.” Knowing the uproar it might cause, his superintendent strongly opposed the idea of Bonhoeffer’s preaching, and so The hope, so eagerly nourished, that Hitler would soon ruin Dietrich declined. But he would soon deeply regret his action. himself by mismanagement was shattered Sabine stayed in close contact with her family. Deutsches Bundesarchiv Deutsches Page 8 m BEESON | SPRING 2011 Berlin Book Burning, 1933 but not agreed on much else. of a new age will arise. . . . O And Gerhard Jacobi, who would Century! O Science! It is a joy to work arm in arm with Bonhoeffer be alive!” in the church struggle, began As with so much else in the meeting with other pastors at the Third Reich, the scene had an Cafe am Knie in Charlottenburg. undeniably macabre aspect to There were so many theological it: the midnight bonfire feeding and political points of view in the like a succubus on the noble opposition that they could never thoughts and words of great muster a single, focused plan of men and women. Goebbels, the resistance. But they would try. propagandist, well knew that to stage a torchlight parade, “Where Books Are Burned . . .” followed by a bonfire at the In May 1933, the madness stroke of midnight, evoked continued apace. Gleischaltung was something ancient and tribal much discussed. This idea, which and pagan and invoked the Göring referenced at the German gods of the German Volk, who Christians’ conference in Berlin represented strength and the previous month, meant that ruthlessness and blood and everything in German society must soil. The ritual was not meant fall in line with the Nazi worldview. to be Christian in any sense; indeed it was very much meant Deutsches Bundesarchiv Deutsches This included the world of books

and ideas. Bundesarchiv Deutsches to be anti-Christian, though it Karl Bonhoeffer had a Berlin Book Burning, 1933 wouldn’t do to say so, since most be frank, I can’t think what made lecturers, and notaries. In June front-row seat to see how the of those present might have balked me behave as I did. How could I all Jewish dentists and dental Nazis exerted pressure on the to hear such a thing, though they have been so horribly afraid at the technicians were prohibited from universities. When the Nazi There were so many theological and well felt it. The torches and the time? It must have seemed equally working with state-run insurance minister for cultural affairs spoke drums and the procession were incomprehensible to you both, and institutions. By the fall, the laws at Berlin University, Bonhoeffer political points of view in the opposition meant to create an atmosphere of yet you said nothing. But it preys included the spouses of non- recalled with shame that even ominousness and foreboding and on my mind, because it’s the kind Aryans. On September 29, Jews though he found the man’s that they could never muster a single, fear, and to summon forces who of thing one can never make up were banned from all cultural and attitude insulting, neither he knew nothing of the weak virtues for. So all I can do is ask you to entertainment activities, including nor his colleagues felt sufficient focused plan of resistance. But they of the Christian faith, but stood in forgive my weakness then. I know the worlds of film, theater, courage to walk out in protest. fundamental opposition to them now for certain that I ought to literature, and the arts. In October He was at the University of would try. and to the monotheistic religion of the despised Jews. have behaved differently. all newspapers were placed under Berlin another five years, and only enthusiasm as Nazi officials raved too.” That night across Germany with some effort did he manage The bonfires were only the Throughout 1933, the Nazis Nazi control, expelling Jews from about the glories of what the brave his books were among those to avoid displaying a portrait of beginning, and much worse lay continued their campaign to the world of journalism. young men and women of Germany thrown into the crackling flames. Hitler. Anti-Semitism had existed in store for the Jewish people and legally bar Jews from state- The aggressive attacks from the were about to do. At midnight the Sigmund Freud, whose books were for decades among the students of those Germans who would come to affiliated institutions. More and German Christians during April whole thing roared to grand effect also burned that night, made a German universities, but now they their aid. more laws were enacted along the shocked a number of pastors and in a great Saüberung (cleansing) similar remark: “Only our books? expressed it formally. That spring Though the momentum of the lines of the April 7 Reformation of theologians into action. Heinrich where huge bonfires were lit and In earlier times they would have the German Students Association Third Reich grew with apparently the Civil Service. On April 22, Jews Vogel published his “Eight Articles into which the students hurled burned us with them.” planned to celebrate an “Action unstoppable force, Dietrich were prohibited from serving as of Evangelical Doctrine.” Some thousands of books. In Berlin, at the Opernplatz, against the un-German Spirit” on Bonhoeffer knew with growing patent lawyers, and Jewish doctors Westphalian pastors published a Thus Germany would be stood the great pile of wood May 10. At 11:00 p.m. thousands certainty that he must act as a from working in institutions declaration that, like Bonhoeffer’s “purged” of the pernicious “un- that would become the bonfire. of students gathered in every spoke in the wheel of evil, even if it with state-run insurance. Jewish essay, roundly rejected as heresy German” thoughts of authors Addressing the thirty thousand, university town across Germany. cost him his life.5 children were affected too. On the exclusion of baptized Jews such as Helen Keller, Jack London, the vampiric homunculus Joseph From Heidelburg to Tübingen to April 25, strict limits were placed from German churches. The young and H. G. Wells. Erich Maria Goebbels ranted into the darkness: Freiburg to Göttingen, where the on how many of them could attend Reformation movement came into Remarque’s books were included, “German men and women! The age Reprinted by permission. Leibholzes lived, they marched public schools. On May 6, the being, representing a number of as were those of many others, of arrogant Jewish intellectualism Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, in torchlight parades and were laws were expanded to include all theological points of view—all including Albert Einstein and is now at an end! . . . You are doing Prophet, Spy, Eric Metaxas, 2010, then whipped into wild-eyed honorary university professors, opposed to the German Christians, Thomas Mann. In 1821, in his the right thing at this midnight Thomas Nelson Inc. Nashville, play Almansor, the German poet hour—to consign to the flames the Tennessee. All rights reserved. Heinrich Heine wrote the chilling unclean spirit of the past. This is a words: “Where books are burned, great, powerful, and symbolic act. “Where books are burned, they will, in the end, burn people, too.” they will, in the end, burn people, . . . Out of these ashes the phoenix

Page 10 m BEESON | SPRING 2011 BEESON | SPRING 2011 m Page 11 who have abortions. was agitated and fearful when could be said of the institution of 5 Culture When Stalnaker was 41 years away from him, but peaceful and marriage. Scores of young people, old, she was diagnosed with content when he was present. having witnessed the failed uterine cancer. She has since been He believed that he should be marriages of their parents and through treatment for cancer three her primary caregiver, a role peers, don’t view marriage as an times. She will probably never incompatible with that of college option. Others seek to redefine it Costly Grace and have a child. This knowledge adds president. as a temporary union (for as long to the regret Stalnaker feels for In his resignation speech, as it is satisfying) or as a union not keeping the child that she he told the college, “It’s not only between any two (or more) people conceived 20 years ago. She works that I promised in sickness and in who love each other, regardless of Christian Witness tirelessly to keep others from health, till death do us part….She their gender. making the same mistake and sacrificed for me for forty years to But there are people who Revisiting the Manhattan Declaration knowing the same grief. make my life possible. So if I cared are honoring God’s design for The Manhattan Declaration for her forty years, I’d still be in marriage, some at great personal states, “A culture of death debt. However, there’s much more. cost. They choose to honor the By Betsy Childs inevitably cheapens life in all It’s not that I have to. It’s that I get vows “in sickness and in health” its stages and conditions by to. I love her very dearly.” though it means a lifetime of he Manhattan while he performed the abortion promoting the belief that lives McQuilkin cared for his wife caring for a disabled spouse. “For Declaration: A as casually, she says, as if he were that are imperfect, immature or for 13 more years until her death better or worse” may mean years Call of Christian removing a splinter from her inconvenient are discardable.” in 2003. Muriel had stopped of conflict, financial stress, or just Conscience,” now finger. She knew the exact moment Jacquie Stalnaker’s story testifies recognizing him in 1993. She plain irritation, but many refuse in its second year that the child inside her body died. to the painful consequences that stopped smiling several years to end their marriage in divorce, “Tof existence, urges Christians to “It was the most painful thing follow when life is treated as before she died, and for the last even though it might have made reflect critically on three issues. that I will ever go through. At that disposable. couple of years, she rarely opened life easier. The declaration, written by Charles very moment, I realized, I killed my her eyes. Still, McQuilkin faithfully Robertson McQuilkin honored Colson, Robert George and Beeson child,” she said. “It wasn’t just my Marriage served her, feeding her, bathing his wife and his marriage. The Divinity School Dean Timothy child; it was a child of God. It was her, and doing whatever he could Manhattan Declaration states, In 1981, when she was 58 George, affirms the intrinsic value my parents’ grandchild. It was my to make her feel loved. “I would “Where marriage is honored, years old, Muriel McQuilkin of life, upholds marriage between brother’s niece. It was my cousin’s was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s one man and one woman, and cousin. From that moment on, my "She sacrificed for me for forty years to disease. The disease progressed, decries encroachments on religious life changed forever. I lived in fear. and in 1990, her husband, liberty. I was ashamed. I felt abandoned. It make my life possible. So if I cared for her Robertson McQuilkin, resigned It is all too easy to divorce wrecked every relationship that I from his job as president of forty years, I’d still be in debt." these issues from the real lives was in.” Columbia Bible College and that they affect. For some, these Stalnaker spent thousands of love her,” McQuilkin recalled and where there is a flourishing Seminary in order to care for are not just abstract topics to be dollars on counseling, but none of after her death “but she couldn’t marriage culture, everyone her. The reason was simple: she debated in endless blog threads her counselors ever asked her if love me back, and that’s a painful benefits—the spouses themselves, and editorial pages; they are crisis she had had an abortion or helped thing.” their children, the communities Maria Nyeste Maria points that redirect the trajectory Jacquie Stalnaker her seek healing. It was many years The McQuilkins’ marriage and societies in which they live. of life entirely. This article briefly later that she met Father Frank is a beautiful rarity in a bleak Where the marriage culture of it.’” She was afraid to tell her examines lives that have been Pavone, who introduced her to a landscape. One doesn’t have to begins to erode, social pathologies parents, so she let him talk her personally affected by the three ministry called Rachel’s Vineyard. look far to discover that marriage of every sort quickly manifest into an abortion. He drove her to issues covered in the Manhattan Rachel’s Vineyard holds vows are not honored in our themselves. Unfortunately, we the clinic. Declaration. retreats for women and men society. Celebrity scandals line have witnessed over the course of The clinic staff told her that who seek to heal from the pain the magazine aisles at the grocery the past several decades a serious the abortion would be quick and Life of abortion. Stalnaker attended store, and billboards offering erosion of the marriage culture in painless, and that she wouldn’t one of these retreats, where she cheap divorce for $299 line the our own country.” Last spring, Jacquie Stalnaker have to worry about “it” anymore. was encouraged to acknowledge highways. Marriage has become In 2005, McQuilkin married told her story at Beeson’s Sanctity “They said they could discard it for that she aborted a child, not just a cheap commodity, a disposable Deborah Jones Sink. Caring for of Life Forum. More than 20 me,” she recalled. “I had no idea of a fetus. She named her child Lilly lifestyle rather than a lifelong his wife for 25 years had not years ago, Stalnaker found herself the impact of that word ‘discard’ Gabriel. This retreat propelled covenantal commitment. diminished the value he placed on unexpectedly pregnant. She recalls until it was too late.” Stalnaker’s search for healing and Of Christianity, G. K. marriage or made him reluctant to telling her boyfriend about the Stalnaker was given no pain forgiveness. She became active in Chesterton said, “The Christian take the marriage vows a second baby: “The first thing out of his medicine, anesthesia or sedative. the awareness campaign Silent No faith has not been tried and time. His example of sacrifice and mouth was, ‘We have to get rid The doctor chatted with the nurses More, speaking about the pain and found wanting. It has been found resilience stands in contrast to our trauma experienced by women difficult and left untried.” On a culture’s degradation of covenantal broad cultural level, the same thing faithfulness. Read and sign the Manhattan Declaration m Betsy Childs is editor of Beeson Courtesy of ColumbiaInternational University ColumbiaInternational of Courtesy at www.ManhattanDeclaration.org. Magazine Robertson McQuilkin

Page 12 m BEESON | SPRING 2011 BEESON | SPRING 2011 m Page 13 feeding helps us to learn. . . . I am Court of Appeals ruled in favor of and action, not in the first place willingly laid his down. The happy because I am not hungry.” the organization in August 2010, by his own sufferings, but by Manhattan Declaration is not This program is one of though the plaintiffs may appeal the sufferings of his brethren, simply a call for Christians to toe thousands of different aid and the ruling. Nevertheless, this for whose sake Christ suffered. the line on particular issues; it is relief projects of World Vision. case serves as a reminder that a Bonhoeffer knew that a call for us to examine our lives, These programs have been humanitarian organization whose Christianity is a costly confession. for the strong to bear the burdens jeopardized by recent legal action primary focus is working against What began in Germany as a of the weak and for Christians against World Vision. Because poverty and injustice around the battle over issues became a battle everywhere to take up the cross and it is an explicitly Christian world could be denied the status of that cost lives, and Bonhoeffer follow Christ. 5 organization, World Vision a religious organization. hires only Christian employees. In a press release, World The agency was sued by three Vision has said, “A non-profit former staff members who were that advocates for animal rights terminated after it was discovered . . . would be unlikely to hire a that they denied the fundamental hunter or a non-vegetarian. An Augustine of Hippo on beliefs of Christianity, namely, the environmental organization is Trinity and the divinity of Jesus. unlikely to hire a global warming No one has accused World skeptic. Non-profit organizations Vision of trying to force a Christian are defined by their core mission “Obedience in Babylon” message on the recipients of its and motivation. To hire those aid. The World Vision website uncommitted to that mission ust as the soul is the life of the makes it clear that this is not would be to undermine the flesh, so God is the blessedness of the case: “[W]e never require aid organization itself.” J man’s life. As the Holy Scriptures of recipients to listen to a religious The Manhattan Declaration message as a condition of our warns, “Restrictions on the the Hebrews say, ‘Blessed is the people help, nor do we use aid as an freedom of conscience or the whose God is the Lord.’ A people inducement for recipients to ability to hire people of one’s estranged from God, therefore, must change religion. We also never own faith or conscientious be wretched; yet even such a people as discriminate on the basis of moral convictions for religious this loves a peace of its own, which is religion in giving aid; we serve institutions . . . undermines the not to be despised. It will not, indeed, every child in need that we viability of the intermediate possibly can, of any faith or none.” structures of society, the essential possess it in the end, because it does At the heart of the legal buffer against the overweening not make good use of it before the battle is the issue of whether authority of the state.” The end. For the time being, however, it an organization that receives litigation against World Vision is advantageous to us also that this federal funding can qualify as is one example of how hiring people should have such peace in a religious organization, and restrictions could threaten the this life; for, while the two cities are thereby discriminate in hiring on existence of Christian ministries. the basis of religion. According The repercussions of that threat intermingled, we also make use of to Colorado attorney L. Martin extend to the neediest members of the peace of Babylon. We do so even Nussbaum, quoted in Christianity society, like the children of Gohole though the people of God is delivered from Babylon by faith, so that Today, the statement that World Primary School. it is only for a while that we are pilgrims in her midst. It is for this Vision “receives federal funds,” is From a German prison cell, reason, therefore, that the apostle admonishes the Church to pray slightly misleading. Those federal Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote:

(C) World Vision World (C) for kings and for all that are in authority, adding these words: ‘that funds come to the organization as World Vision’s Feeding Program in Zimbabwe If we want to be Christians, we may live a quiet and tranquil life in all godliness and love.’ Again, “payments under a contract for we must have some share in when the prophet Jeremiah foretold the captivity which was to befall Religious Liberty talks of breakfast here. As far as delivery of services” Nussbaum Christ’s large-heartedness by many families are concerned, it explained. “There is nothing in the ancient People of God, he bade them, by divine command, to go Mayo was orphaned at age 7. acting with responsibility and does not exist. How can we expect the Constitution that requires a She lives with her grandmother in freedom when the hour of obediently into Babylon, thereby serving God even by their patient children to learn with this kind of ministry to give up its freedom and attends Gohole Primary danger comes, and by showing endurance; and he himself admonished them to pray for Babylon, condition?” to staff itself with like-minded School in Zimbabwe. Although she a real sympathy that springs, saying ‘In the peace thereof shall ye have peace’: the temporal peace World Vision International employees of faith merely because attended school, she had difficulty not from fear, but from the which is for the time being shared by the good and the wicked alike. began a feeding program at the the government is purchasing the learning because each day she liberating and redeeming love school in 2004, and the effort agency’s services.” came to school hungry. Speaking of of Christ for all who suffer. The City of God against the Pagans has paid off. One seventh grader At the time of this writing, the students at the primary school, Mere waiting and looking on Book XIX, Chapter 26 commented, “I do not hear a child World Vision seems poised to win Headmaster Enelia Ncube said, “No is not Christian behavior. The Translated by R.W. Dyson cry for food anymore. School this legal battle. The Ninth Circuit breakfast, no supper . . . nobody Christian is called to sympathy

Page 14 m BEESON | SPRING 2011 BEESON | SPRING 2011 m Page 15 5 Ministry will make mistakes and offend members. But, he told me, they will be prone to forgive you if you do but two things well: first, feed them and, second, love them. The Minister’s Toolbox Although we may not think that evangelists and missionaries Why Ministers Buy Books are scholars, a survey of Christian leaders will disabuse us of that misconception. The father By Kenneth A. Mathews of modern missions to India, William Carey, was apprenticed to a shoemaker as a young he ancient Hebrew sage are not surprised by his devotion leave an anemic minister whose teenager, but he taught himself said it well: “Of making to study. But there are also among service to the church can only many languages and had a vast many books there is us those like Peter, who was not a leave spiritually anemic Christians. knowledge of the natural sciences. no end” (Ecclesiastes scholar but a tradesman. Yet once There is nothing sadder than As a youth, he borrowed a Greek 12:12). We can add “and Peter experienced the call to be Christians who are starving for the grammar and taught himself ofT the buying of books there is no the apostle to the Jews, his life by Word of God. New Testament Greek. In India end.” Regardless of the minister’s necessity included vigorous study, An influential pastor for he translated the Scriptures into background and academic as his New Testament letters show. the gospel was W. A. Criswell, Bengali and Sanskrit. interests, books will always be The same is true of all us. long-time pastor of First Baptist More recently, we have another a part of a successful minister’s Whether you are naturally inclined Church, Dallas. Repeatedly he example in the evangelist Angel work. The classic example is to study or not, it is a part of advised young ministers about the Martinez (who referred to himself the apostle Paul who requested the calling of ministry, simply importance of study. He remarked as “a little shoeshine boy from that Timothy bring to his prison because an effective ministry must that at coming to the mammoth San Antonio”). He memorized the residence “the books and above be grounded in the Scriptures downtown church, he appealed whole New Testament and could all the parchments” (2 Timothy and the teachings of the historic to the church “to give me my quote any part of it at request. 4:13). Paul was a scholar, and we church. Anything short of this will mornings with God.” Then he It is little known that he also added that he would be available selected a topic for study each every afternoon and evening to year in addition to his biblical serve the needs of the flock. The preparations, such as the sciences church leadership accepted his and American or European history. proposal and as a consequence He educated himself far above his his preaching opened the formal education. treasure troves of God’s word for When I was in seminary in the generations and among thousands. 1970s, the most popular facility My home pastor, C. E. Colton, on campus was not the break could also be found in his study room, but the bookstore. Students as early as five o’clock in the spent hours browsing the stacks morning. He would work on and would squeeze out of their his sermons and type them out meager incomes discretionary himself word for word. Although dollars for books—books that were which God had called us. you don’t have the right tools, the he did not use a manuscript in not required for classes. That When I speak of “tools,” I product will show it. If a minister the pulpit, his investment in they would buy class textbooks am reminded of how important is to produce better products, that his messages meant effective was a given, but students studied tools are to a craftsman in any is, sermons and leadership, he preaching and a church that grew additional volumes that would specialized trade, such as car must have the right tools. spiritually as well as numerically. I be instrumental to their life-long repair or carpentry. I can do But the buying of books remember he advised me once that commitment to ministry. We neither well and therefore I never can be undertaken haphazardly it was inevitable that the preacher learned at seminary that a long- bought good tools. Because of this, or strategically. Every dollar term investment in tools was whenever I do a repair, my work spent must be invested well—  Kenneth Matthews, Professor needed to equip us for the life to is not as good as it could be. If getting the biggest bang for your of Divinity at Beeson Divinity School, teaches Old Testament. Whether you are naturally inclined to study or not, His most recent book is Leviticus: Holy God, Holy People. it is a part of the calling of ministry...

BEESON | SPRING 2011 m Page 17 Remember, ministers are Romans. Before we add yet another can also be a good investment. If a minister is to produce better products, that is, sermons and caretakers of souls. That’s no light commentary on Romans, we might But be as careful about software assignment! consider what books of the Bible purchases as you are about books. leadership, he must have the right tools. The best way to guard against have little to no representation. The investment is greater in terms overindulging in book buying is to Be careful about buying a of dollars, and paying the cost of develop a purchasing plan. Budget whole commentary series. Most the recurring updates may not be buck. Fundamental resources tier of collateral resources, such explained to him that these were a yearly amount for books. Look commentary sets are uneven in worth the additional expense. far outweigh the shelf life of as special studies in backgrounds, in effect reference books that were for the deep discount sales and their quality. It is better to buy The challenge and lighter (sometimes shallow) culture, and word study. In all used but usually in small bites. used books. I recall one seminarian individual volumes from different responsibility for pastors is devotional books or “how to” the third tier are biographies, Actually, my collection is who was leaving the ministry; he sets. The books may not look as greater today than ever since manuals. Language resources, devotional readings, and pragmatic quite meager compared to many pulled up to the seminary parking pretty on the shelf but they will Americans love the Bible but Bible introductions, Bible topics. I know. Since I am on a campus lot and opened his trunk for be more effective tools. Obtain don’t know its story. In a recent dictionaries, atlases, concordances, One of my relatives who was with a theological library, it is a business. I was able to purchase recommendations from teachers, Christianity Today article, “Why theologies, and serious text- an engineer visited my office at blessing to have ready access to some important items rather scholars, pastors, and friends. Johnny Can’t Read the Bible,” the driven commentaries are the Beeson years ago and saw the many many resources. This may not cheaply. Relatives and friends can There are some publications author explains that we preach to fundamentals of the craft. These books on my shelves. He asked me be the case for you now, and also ease the financial blow. At especially given to weighing an alarming number of biblical are works that will stand the test a very pragmatic question: “Ken, you really don’t know what God Christmas and other occasions, the quality of books, which illiterates, and we address people of time. Once you have purchased have you read all these books?” Of has in mind for your future. You request specific resources or cash can be used as guides, such as who do not know the big picture the basics as your solid foundation, course, I would like to have said may be in a setting where there to go toward a bigger purchase. Tremper Longman’s Old Testament (meta-narrative) of the Bible’s then you can turn to a second “yes,” but it was not so. Rather, I is no theological library within As you plan your purchases, Commentary Survey (Baker 2007) message of redemption. a hundred miles or more. It’s consider where you are skimpy and John Glynn’s Commentary and So save those shekels God has important to have a library of your in resources and heavy in others. Reference Survey (Kregel 2003). given you and make the most of own. Typically, our resources for books Electronic resources such as the “talents” the Master invested A common objection to like Ecclesiastes wane compared to BibleWorks, Logos, or Accordance in you (Matthew 25:14-30)! 5 purchasing a book is the hard economic times that many seminarians face. Yet a quick inventory of contemporary ...ministers are caretakers of souls. That’s no light assignment. student life will sometimes exhibit investments that are not necessary but are collateral, such as a myriad RECOMMENDED of electronic devices. One professor in my seminary days asked what Some Recommended Commentaries we typically invested in a car. Of on the Old and New Testament course, most would take out a loan and make monthly payments. He By Ken Mathews and Frank Thielman rightly pointed out that there is no m Exodus by Douglas Stuart (B& H 2006) commodity that depreciates faster than an automobile, especially a m Judges, Ruth by Daniel Block (B& H 1999) recent model. How much more m Proverbs 1-15 and Proverbs 16-31 by Bruce should we be willing to invest in Waltke (Eerdmans, 2004, 2005) the tools of a minister’s trade that will benefit us for years to come! m Psalms by G. H. Wilson (Zondervan, 2002) Married ministers need to m The Minor Prophets edited by Thomas work with their spouses to find McComiskey (Baker, 1992-98) room in the family budget for book purchases so that book m Matthew by D. A. Carson (Zondervan, 1995) buying doesn’t become tinder for m The Gospel according to John by D. A. Carson arguments. Some spouses may see (Eerdmans, 1991) books as an indulgence rather than a needed item. What may help the m The Spirit, the Church, and the World: The spouse understand is the analogy Message of Acts by John Stott (InterVarsity, of other professions, such as law 1990) and medicine. Lawyers and doctors m The Epistle to the Romans by Douglas Moo must have resources to practice (Eerdmans, 1996) their profession successfully. Law libraries and medical journals m The Book of Revelation by G. K. Beale are a staple for such professions. (Eerdmans, 1999)

BEESON | SPRING 2011 m Page 19 Bert Kaufmann Bert Community God could use her even while she about stopping, but I didn’t get an Throughout her illnesses, the 5 was on dialysis. answer, so I pushed through.” Beeson community has cheered If this were a parable, you I asked Dr. Paul House, Davis with cards, calls and visits. would expect Davis’s health to professor of divinity, about Davis, “What keeps me going is the turn around at this point. It seems and he testified that her efforts, encouragement and support of the right that things would get easier even in the midst of such serious saints,” she said. Beeson Portrait after she surrendered to God’s call. health problems, have been After graduation, Davis hopes But that has not been the case. wholehearted. “Paula Davis has to work in some sort of inner-city Paula Davis After enrolling at Beeson Divinity been an inspiration to us all,” context. She would like to be part School, Davis developed vascular he said. “She once called me and of a ministry that works to teach disease, which required heart asked me to tell her teachers that and holistically equip people to By Betsy Childs surgery. Poor circulation (a result she could not be in class the next be disciples of Christ. She might of the vascular disease) led to a toe day. When I asked why, she told me even end up working with some aula Davis started hearing herself (and God). ministry, He had not been specific amputation. She’s still waiting for she was having a heart procedure of those same parents she stood the call of God around the In addition to being on the about what that would be, and she a kidney. I asked Davis how many in the morning. She just wanted us beside in court; this time, the help time she graduated from cusp of a legal career, Davis was figured that she wasn’t ready yet. times she’s been hospitalized in to know why she would be gone. she can offer won’t be limited Cumberland School of in the middle of a health crisis. In spite of her health problems, the couple of years she has been I have had her come to my class by the constrictions of the legal Law at Samford University. After years of suffering from Davis went on to found a family in seminary. She wasn’t sure of the in great pain, and I have been system. She’s still praying for a PShe had never before entertained lupus, her kidneys failed. She had law practice. She switched from exact number, but she knows she’s challenged by her determination. kidney. But she’s not going to the idea of going into full-time to spend four hours at a time, hemodialysis to peritoneal dialysis, had at least seven hospital stays. I have been in higher education let the waiting get in the way of ministry, and she had plenty of three days a week, at a dialysis which allowed her to receive “Did you think about quitting?” for 25 years, and I have not had a answering God’s call. 5 reasons to dismiss the idea. “I went center. Although she knew God treatment at home on her own I asked. She nodded. “I prayed more conscientious student.” to law school!” she kept telling was calling her into some sort of schedule. Week after week, she stood up in court and tried to help parents regain custody of their children. She saw the system work, and she saw it fail, but even in FACULTY BOOKSHELF the best of outcomes, success felt hollow. Davis could help her clients Carl Beckwith contributed a chapter on Lyle Dorsett served as an advisory editor for regain custody of their kids, but Athanasius for the book Shapers of Christian the C. S. Lewis Bible from HarperOne. He wrote she couldn’t turn them into good Orthodoxy, ed. Brad Green (Intervarsity Press, the article “City Missions” in the Encyclopedia of parents or transform their broken November 2010). Religion in America (CQ Press/Sage, 2010). lives. “There was only so much the law could do,” she said. “The only Gerald Bray’s book Translating the Bible was Kregel Academic published The Post-Racial thing that could truly help people published by the Latimer Trust in July 2010. Church: A Biblical Framework for Multiethnic was knowing Jesus Christ.” Bray contributed the chapter on Tertullian in Reconciliation by Kenneth Mathews and Sydney Meanwhile, it seemed like Shapers of Christian Orthodoxy (Intervarsity Press, Park in February 2011. every time she turned on the radio, November 2010). Davis heard a sermon on rebellion Frank Thielman’s commentary Ephesians was or running from God. In spite of Mark DeVine contributed the chapter published by Baker Academic as part of the the fact that she was using her law “Emerging or Emergent?” in the book Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New degree and helping people every Southern Baptists, Evangelicals, and the Future Testament in November 2010. day, she knew deep down that she of Denominationalism (April 2011). Timothy had not fully surrendered to God’s George contributed the chapter “Baptists and Douglas Webster’s book Second Thoughts for plan for her life. Their Relations with Other Christians.” Skeptics was published by Regent in June 2010. Davis started thinking about applying to seminary. “I want to be the best servant that I can be for Christ,” she said, “to be thoroughly trained and equipped.” At that point, she had been waiting for a kidney transplant for several years. While she still hoped a kidney would become available, she decided she couldn’t put life on hold forever. She says she figured

 Paula Davis

BEESON | SPRING 2011 m Page 21 5 Community Park Attends Lausanne Chapel Series on Congress Barmen Declaration Upcoming Events During the spring semester of 2011, the Beeson Divinity School m April 5-6 World Community News community will study the Barmen Christianity Emphasis with Declaration, a document of Brian Stanley and BDS Christian confession adopted by alumni missionaries News and Updates Christian leaders (who would later become known as the Confessing m April 7 Art in April with Church) under Nazi rule. The theme for the community worship artist Emmanual Garibay services is “To the Winds Thy Thielman Speaks to Evangelical Students Minister Cross- Fears” from a hymn text by Paul Culturally Dr. Sydney Park was chosen as a Gerhardt. Each week in Hodges Theological Society on Justification delegate to the Third Lausanne Chapel, we will listen to sermons Congress on World Evangelization, on the significance of the Barmen Beeson Divinity School Professor held in Cape Town, South Africa, Declaration today. This series also Frank Thielman gave one of in October 2010. She served as will include a special art exhibit the plenary addresses at the a table group discussion leader. and a contemporary film festival. annual meeting of the Evangelical Park said, “The congress was a For more information on speakers, Theological Society in Atlanta, rich offering of multiple critical go to www.beesondivinity.com/ Georgia. Thielman’s address was subjects facing the modern-day communityworship. called “God’s Righteousness as church. I learned that the work of God’s Fairness in Romans: The the Kingdom is much greater than Go Global Mission Fair Oldest Perspective on Paul.” He I ever imagined.” She was surprised joined Dr. N. T. Wright (University to realize how similar the struggles Student Kennerly King in Ghana Thinking Chair by Emmanual of St. Andrews) and Dr. Thomas faced by churches in Alabama are Garibay R. Schreiner (The Southern to struggles faced by churches In 2010, 41 students traveled to throughout the world. “Hearing Baptist Theological Seminary) in a 18 countries to complete Cross- the testimonies of lives changed panel discussion on justification. m May 4 Service of by the Gospel message compels Conference organizers boasted a Cultural Ministry Practicums. Commencement and Beeson Divinity School me forward to adhere even more Consecration record attendance of more than closely to the words of Scripture,” requires all M.Div. students to 2,500 people. she noted. participate in a Cross-Cultural m July 18-22 24th Annual Wigger Receives Pollock Award Ministry Practicum, where Podcast Beeson Pastors School they have the opportunity to The Beeson Podcast launched The 2010 John Pollock Award for Christian Biography was awarded to reside and minister in a culture Dr. John Wigger for his book, American on October 26, 2010, with a different from their own while Saint: Francis Asbury and the Methodists conversation between Charles (Oxford University Press, 2009). Wigger being supervised by on-site Colson and Dean Timothy George. is associate professor of history at the mentors. Episodes have included interviews the Southern Baptist Convention, University of Missouri. Of the book, with Alistair The Global Center sponsored having served as a trustee of the historian Mark Noll has said, “Francis Begg, Sinclair trips to Jordan and India in 2010. International Mission Board and Asbury was one of the three or four Ferguson, Cliff The Global Center partnered with president of the New England most important religious leaders in In 2011, Global Center teams Barrows and Samford’s University Ministries Baptist Convention. In addition American history, but until now he has visited Kenya in January and plan many other to host the fourth annual Go to her role as director of spiritual lacked a comprehensive biography. John to visit England in July. Students Christian Global mission fair in October. formation at BBC, Rebekah serves Wigger fills this gap splendidly. But leaders. Representatives from nearly 20 were able to share pictures, as a chaplain at Harvard, where she much more than filling a gap, Wigger’s Throughout mission agencies attended. Paul stories and insights from their teaches the Bible on Friday nights. rich account of the man who created 2011, the and Rebekah Kim spoke during experiences at the Global Center’s In the divinity school convocation, American Methodism as the marvel of podcast also will include a series a university convocation and a Paul challenged divinity students its age also reveals a great deal about weekly Prayer for the Nations of model sermons analyzed by divinity school chapel. The Kims by saying that Americans must the United States in its formative meetings. To see more photos George and Robert Smith, Jr. To founded Berkland Baptist Church recover a sense of God’s holiness decades. This is a terrific book on a of student trips, go to www. listen or subscribe for free, go to in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1981. Paul is an active leader in and righteousness. major figure.” beesondivinity.com/globalcenter. www.beesondivinity.com/podcast.

Page 22 m BEESON | SPRING 2011 BEESON | SPRING 2011 m Page 23 Ministry short-tem mission initiatives, serve in ministry at Samford 5 Updates especially to Lapila, Haiti. Their University. Renee is Minister to Eddie Gibson (M.Div. 1993) most recent trip involved medical Students for Global Involvement, continues to work as the missions, construction, and and Brian is Minister to Students Executive Director of Eddie Gibson pastoral training and teaching for Spiritual Formation. The couple International Ministries, which and took place in April, 2010. spent June 1 – July 9 in Malaysia Beeson Alumni focuses on missions and education Sherman is currently completing and Indonesia. They led a team of in his his thesis to earn a D.Min. from eight students—including three News and Updates home Gordon-Conwell Theological Beeson Divinity students—to country Seminary focus on relational evangelism of Liberia. in conjunction with other Brent McDougal (M.Div. 1996) He has missionaries in the area. serves as pastor of Cliff Temple helped Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas. Riley P. Green, III (M.T.S. 1999) establish 2011 Distinguished Alumni Previously, he served as the State has served with the Alabama the Marla Coordinator of the Alabama Baptist Children’s Homes and H. Corts Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. Family Ministries since 1996 David Smith (M.Div., Russell J. Levenson, Mission 2004) Jr. (D.Min., 1997) School, Brian Waters (M.Div. 1996) David Smith has been the Russell Levenson is named serves as Minister to Students Correctional Chaplain rector of St. Martin’s for the widow of former Samford at Fellowship Baptist Church in at the Hamilton Aged & Episcopal Church in University President Dr. Thomas Rome, Georgia. Infirmed Correctional Houston, TX. Prior to Corts, in Gbee, Liberia. Facility in Hamilton, accepting his current In June 2009, Terry Beaird (M.Div. Alabama since 2007. position, Levenson Donna Herrick (M.Div. 1994) 1997) planted a church called The Smith also serves as the served churches in resides near Chattanooga, Bridge in Town Creek, Alabama. Student Minister in his Alabama, Louisiana Tennessee. Earlier this year, she Dr. David Parks (M.Div. 1997) home church of South and Florida. While began serving as Supervisor of of Charleston, West Virginia has and in his current position, Vice Hamilton Baptist. Smith a student in the Clinical Pastoral Education recently published a new book, President of Administration, since has worked with the Beeson’s Doctor of program serving the Erlanger Flashback: Understanding the life of 1998. After graduating from Extension Division of Ministry program, Health System. Jesus through Old Testament Stories. Beeson, Green completed the Beeson Divinity School he was Associate Dr. Tracey Jessup (M.Div. Doctor of Education degree from since 2009 to offer Rector at St. Luke’s 1994) has assumed a new role Dr. David B. Riker (M.Div. Nova Southeastern University. classes within the prison, and the classes have become Episcopal Church in at Gardner-Webb University in 1997) completed his Ph.D. at the He has served as an elder at very popular among the inmates. David and his wife, Birmingham. He is the author of the 2009 book Boiling Springs, North Carolina University of Aberdeen and has the Church at Brook Hills in Heather, have two children, Emerson Claire (5) and Provoking Thoughts. Levenson and his wife, Laura, as Vice President for Christian returned to his home country Birmingham, Alabama for several Owen Patrick (11 months). Smith was honored on have three children, Evelyn (23), Jones (22) and Life and Senior Minister to the of Brazil where he now serves as years and has participated January 25 during the opening convocation service of Luke (16). Levenson was honored on March 8 University. After completing his president of the Equatorial Baptist short-term mission trips to the the Spring 2011 semester. during the Conger Lectures on Biblical Preaching. studies at Beeson, Jessup earned Theological Seminary. Philippines, Peru, Venezuela, and a Ph.D. from the University of most recently, the Sudan. Dr. Bill Nikides (M.Div. 1998) lives Nebraska-Lincoln. He teaches in in Billings, Montana where he serves Gardner Webb’s undergraduate Kelli Wommack (M.T.S. 1999) as Director of East Asian Ministries department of religious studies and serves on the staff at Christ Carolyn McKinstry Tells Her Story for i2 Ministries, an organization serves the local church through Community Church in Columbus, On September 15, 1963, a bomb exploded in the Sixteenth Street Baptist that trains people working interim pastorates, pulpit supply Georgia. Church in Birmingham, Alabama, killing four girls who were in the church throughout the Muslim world. and preaching revival services. bathroom getting ready for Sunday school. Carolyn Maul had left the bathroom a Craig Clayton (M.Div. 2000) has few minutes before and was on her way upstairs. She survived, but she lost four Renee Pitts (M.Div. 1998) and Mark Price (M.Div. 1994) served as Minister of Missions at friends and paid a high personal cost in the struggle for civil rights. For years Brian Pitts (M.Div. 1999) both celebrated 10 years of ministry the First Baptist Church of Norfolk, after the bombing, she lived in fear and suffered from depression. Thirty-nine at Church on the Eastern Shore, a Virginia since January 2008. years later, she was called to testify at the trial of the surviving Klansmen who congregation planted in Fairhope, had planted the bomb. Richard Wright (M.Div. 2000) Alabama by Mark and his family. has served as Minister to Families Carolyn Maul McKinstry graduated from Beeson Divinity School with a master at the First Baptist Church of of divinity degree in 2008. She now serves on the ministerial staff at Sixteenth George Sherman (M.Div. 1995) Memphis, Tennessee since 2003. Street Baptist Church. McKinstry has teamed up with author Denise George has served as the Senior Pastor of Shady Brook Baptist Church in to tell her story in the book While the World Watched (Tyndale House 2011). Asangla Ao (M.Div. 2001) and her Charlotte, North Carolina since In addition to her ministerial responsibilities, McKinstry maintains an active husband A.K. Lama (D.Min. 2002) October 1995. The church has speaking ministry and also serves on the Board of Overseers for Samford continue to work in northeast been involved in a number of University. India planting churches.

Page 24 m BEESON | SPRING 2011 BEESON | SPRING 2011 m Page 25 John Birchett, Jr. (M.Div. 2001) Jacob Helsley (M.Div. 2009) serves Alabama. He will continue to do in America. He serves as assistant John H. Spencer, Jr. (D.Min. 2007) Josh Keel (M.Div. 2009) and has served as Senior Pastor of as Pastor of Pine View Baptist some work with Wayfarer while pastor at the Cahaba Park Church is the pastor of the First Baptist Broadway Baptist Church in Church in Blythewood, South also serving as the College Minister in Birmingham, Alabama. Church of Englewood, New Jersey. Lexington, Kentucky since July Carolina. at Calvary Baptist Church. 2008. He is also pursuing a D.Min. Mari Beth (Shoemaker) Poor Nashaunna (Brumfield) Sanders in Christian leadership from Kevin Chris Kinsley (M.Div. 2004) has (M.T.S. 2006) and serves as the (M.Div. 2008) is stationed at Camp Southeastern Baptist Theological Thompson served as a Content Creator with Director of Young Adult and Young Lejeune, North Carolina, where she Seminary. (M.Div. 2002) Student Life, Inc. in Birmingham, Married Ministries at Mountain serves as a Chaplain in the United serves as Alabama since 2001. Top Community Church in States Navy. Matt Madison (M.Div. 2001), has Lead Pastor of Birmingham, Alabama. returned to the Army as a Chaplain Community After defending his thesis, Dan Stockum (M.Div. 2008) serves “Hermeneutics and the Church: Thomas as Campus Minister with the for the 1st Battalion, 504th Bible Church his family moved to Little Rock, In Dialogue with Augustine,” last Beavers Fellowship of Christian Students Parachute Infantry Regiment in Fort Smith, Arkansas for Josh to begin serving fall, Jake Andrews (M.Div. 2005) (M.Div. at Georgia Tech. He also serves in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Arkansas. as youth director at Covenant earned his Ph.D. in Theology 2007) has part-times as a Youth Ministry Previously, Madison was the Family Presbyterian Church. Minister at North Phoenix Baptist from the University of Aberdeen served as Associate at John’s Creek Baptist Church in Phoenix, Arizona. in Scotland. Currently, he works the Assistant church in Alpharetta, Georgia. Mary Moss (D.Min. 2009) is the part-time for the After Augustine Pastor of pastor of the Saint Alma Baptist Don Boshell (M.Div. 2002) project at the University of St. the New Jonathan Venable (M.T.S. 2008) Marcus Murphy (D.Min. 2002) has served as Youth Director for Church in Lakeland, Louisiana. She has served since June 2008 as is the Senior Pastor at Oakwood Andrews while his wife, Chris, Rising Star and her husband, Carl, have three Senior Pastor of St. John’s United completes her Ph.D. in Literature. Missionary Ford’s Chapel United Methodist Baptist Church in Lubbock, Texas. Church in Harvest, Alabama since adult daughters: Michelle, Rachelle, Methodist Church in Blacksburg, Baptist Church in Birmingham, and Nicole. South Carolina. Holy Vocabulary: Marcus Davidson (M.Div. 2005) Alabama, and was called by the March 2009. Rescuing the Language is currently congregation in May to be their Jacob Simmons (M.Div. 2009) Jeffrey Gissing (M.Div. 2002) was in the writing Carl Addison, Jr. (D.Min. 2009) of Faith, written senior pastor. He also speaks in a has been the Executive Director of joined the Beeson Divinity School ordained as a Minister of the Word by Michael Kelley phase of variety of spiritual and community staff as Alumni Relations Officer and Sacrament in the Presbyterian his D.Min. Earthen Vessels Ministry, Inc. in (M.Div. 2003), settings through Taking Cities, a Anderson, Indiana since January in October 2010. He spent the is a Bible study studies in ministry he founded in 2005. previous year in London working Black Church 2008. Founded by Carl and his published by LifeWay wife, Valerie, Earthen Vessels is a as a missionary with the London Christian Resources Leadership at Josh Brooks (M.T.S. 2007) began City Mission. The Southern serving the St. Andrew’s United ministry with a focus on the health in its Threads series geared toward of pastors, their spouses, their college students and young adults. Baptist Methodist Church of Cullman, Micah Simpson (M.Div. 2009) Theological Alabama as Associate Pastor in marriages, and their families. serves as Campus Pastor at Earlier this year, Rachel Dove Seminary. He serves as Senior January 2009. Philip Coffman (M.Div. 2009) is Southeastern Bible College and (M.Div. 2004) began serving Pastor of Florida’s largest African- as Minister to College Students Jerry Light (D.Min. 2007) has been stationed in Norfolk, Virginia as a as Director of Preschool and American congregation, the New Chaplain in the United States Navy. at Brookwood Baptist Church in Children’s Ministries for Highland Mount Olive Baptist Church. Birmingham, Alabama. Baptist Church in Meridian, He also serves as the Assistant Bryan Gill (M.Div. 2009) resides Mississippi. Treasurer of the National Baptist in Memphis, Tennessee where Noel Forlini (M.Div. 2010) began Church USA. The service was held Convention, USA, Inc. he serves the Tennessee Baptist working on a Ph.D. in Biblical at the First Presbyterian Church of Jay Watson (M.Div. 2002) began Convention as the Baptist Studies and Early Christianity at Winston-Salem, North Carolina on serving as the pastor of Life Justin Wainscott (M.Div. 2005) Collegiate Ministry Director for the Drew University in Madison, New May 16. Jeff’s wife, Anna Moseley Community Church in Nolensville, serves as pastor of the First Baptist Metro Memphis area. In addition Jersey in 2010. Tennessee in June 2007. Church of Jackson, Tennessee. Gissing (M.T.S. 2003), is an Elder to his work with college students, Doug McNutt (M.Div. 2010) and at First Presbyterian Church and After five years of full-time work Since June 2008, Bryan also writes for Student Life. his family have recently moved served on the Administrative with Wayfarer Ministries, Chris Mark Goodman to Utah to plant churches. He Commission of Salem Presbytery David Brooks (M.Div. 2004) and his (D.Min. 2006) is working with Mission Utah, a conducting the ordination. Jeff called to serve as Senior Pastor of Hudspeth family have moved to Tuscaloosa, has served as church planting movement of the has been ordained to serve as a the First Baptist Church of Selma, (M.Div. the Senior Pastor Presbyterian Church of America. Campus Minister at Wake Forest Alabama. 2009) of Rabbit Creek University with InterVarsity is Senior Community Michael Rodgers (M.Div. 2007) Christian Fellowship’s Graduate Pastor of St. Church in has accepted the pastorate at and Faculty Ministries. Matthew’s Anchorage, Mount Olive Baptist Church in Anglican Tommye Lambert (2002) has Alaska. Norfolk, Virginia. He will be Church in served Hunter Street Baptist serving as Senior Pastor and will Casey Giddens (M.Div. 2006) Lapeer, Church in Birmingham, Alabama also be teaching philosophy and has been ordained as a teaching Michigan. as Minister to Median Adults since religion to undergraduates at elder in the Presbyterian Church 2004. Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia.

Page 26 m BEESON | SPRING 2011 BEESON | SPRING 2011 m Page 27 5 Ministry Doctor of Ministry Studies Every Person a Pastor at Beeson Divinity School

By Douglas D. Webster

astors are set apart by a praying for them and helping to be there for this family and for Spirit-led congregation them through what became for others in our congregation facing to teach the Word all involved a horrendous ordeal. a crisis. Thankfully, I am older and of God and exercise When she was with the family, she a little more biblical now. Lori’s spiritual authority in the laid aside her normal ministry as a spiritual depth and willingness to Phousehold of faith. Most Christians nurse and became their pastor—a be used made her a natural for this also believe in every- challenging responsibility. member ministry, shared There were times leadership, the distribution throughout that stressful of the gifts of the Spirit year that I felt guilty for among all believers and asking her to undertake the mutually received call such a difficult ministry. to ministry. Every member The daily challenges were of the household of faith great, but each time we is in some way a pastor, a discussed the situation, missionary, a theologian she assured me that she and a servant leader. In felt called to do it. I had Christ, we are all called not given her this task; to take up our cross and the Lord had. A few nights follow Jesus. before the baby’s memorial When I think of the service, Lori called me, priesthood of all believers, and we talked through Lori Meals, a neonatal the meditation she was intensive care nurse and writing. I realized that her eeson faculty want to help you grow in spiritual maturity and to see you excel in a a gifted leader in the deep biblical insights were church, comes to mind. born of months of praying, ministry that is biblically rooted, theologically sound and culturally relevant. Our Several years ago when I befriending, witnessing and Doctor of Ministry Program allows you to gain was a pastor in San Diego, loving. She was standing 5 5 5 we received an urgent call at the intersection of the most from on-campus seminars (two weeks to help a young couple the mystery of God and “Seminary gave me tools for in need. Their newborn the mess of the human everyB January and July for two and a half years) while continuing a lifetime of ministry. The was very ill, and they were condition and preaching to serve in your place of ministry full-time. The program is D.Min. program at Beeson has flying from their home in  The Power of the Resurrection by Resurrection hope, a Hawaii to San Diego to receive the privilege not reserved for those Jae-Im Kim both sharpened and retooled me specialized medical care their baby of us who stand in the pulpit on open to those who have already earned a Master of Divinity needed. Our church was asked to Sunday. to lead in God’s church as an pastor with a very helpful medical degree and who have a minimum of three years’ experience in a minister to this family. Because background. ‘approved workman.’” of Lori’s years of experience with At the outset of my ministry  Douglas Webster teaches Pastoral pastorate or other professional ministry. gravely sick children and her career, I doubt if I would have Theology and Christian Preaching Cole Huffman, D.Min. 2010 spiritual maturity, we turned to thought of asking Lori to pastor at Beeson Divinity School. He Pastor of First Evangelical Church her to befriend this family and Offering Specializations in: Memphis, Tn this family. She had her job, and I also serves as senior pastor of  to minister to them. Lori became had mine. Even if I had been pulled Christian Preaching Central Presbyterian Church in a very special pastor to them, in 20 different directions, I would  Spiritual Leadership sharing Christ’s love with them, Manhattan. have felt it was my responsibility More information at www.beesondivinity.com/dmin 800 Lakeshore Drive 5 Birmingham, AL 35229 800-888-8266 Page 28 m BEESON | SPRING 2011 Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 1083 Birmingham, AL

800 Lakeshore Drive 5 Birmingham, AL 35229

Give Yourself a Break This Summer: Attend the Beeson Pastors School

ou know firsthand the rigors and rewards of being a Featured Speakers

pastor. You’ve experienced the natural demand sheep Yput on a shepherd. This year’s Beeson Pastors School should prove just the right place and time for you and fellow

pastors and families to experience a renewal from the inside out.

The speakers are outstanding. The breakout sessions are Richard Bewes ChuckChuck ColsonColson insightful. The inspiration is genuine. The fellowship is as good

as it gets. And you can bring your spouse and kids, too. They’ll

have life-impacting experiences just like you. So why not take a

moment to visit our website www.beesondivinity.com to get the ? details? And make plans now to be with us for our 24th Annual

Pastors School, July 18-22, 2011.

Jim Garlow Tullian Tchividjian

Maurice Watson Ralph West