A little over two years ago I was stunned to learn that Hardin-Simmons University suddenly decided to close the school’s seminary. While the school’s official explanation focused on a financial necessity, it quickly became clear that the primary reason was theological. More specifically, University administration had a vision for a much more theologically conservative future than was possible with the seminary in place, especially given the views of its tenured faculty.
In February of 2020, I responded to what I knew. And, as what I knew expanded, so did my response:
- My Seminary is Closing (February 8, 2020)
- My Seminary is Closing – The Bigger Picture (February 15, 2020)
- Dear HSU Trustees (February 26, 2020)
My posts in 2020 and what follows are offered with the same disclaimer:
I benefitted from a quality seminary education and formation experience at Logsdon that culminated in earning a Master of Divinity degree from the school in 2001. While my education has not been followed by service in Baptist churches, my experience in multiple denominations and my experience in faith-based non-profit organizations supported by Baptist congregations have kept me somewhat connected to Baptist life.
New Statement of Faith
On May 19, 2022 the HSU Board of Trustees approved a new Statement of Faith. And, in explaining why they chose to publish this statement now, the University suggests that they were compelled to do so in response to changes in the larger culture. More specifically, in a section titled “Additional Information Regarding the Statement of Faith,” they ask then answer this very question:
Why publish a statement of faith now? As the nation’s cultural context changes in ways that with increasing frequency conflict with historic Christian teaching, we believe it is important that we expressly proclaim our beliefs earnestly and transparently as a university committed to providing excellence in education enlightened by Christian faith and values, as has been our purpose from inception of the university.
Given that the University leadership feels that the timely creation, approval, and distribution is important, the lack of media attention to date is striking. In the two weeks since it’s publication, I found only two articles by outside publicatins
- In the Baptist Standard (June 1, 2022) – HSU trustees adopt faith statement on sexuality and marriage by Ken Camp, Managing Editor
- In Baptist News Global (June 1, 2022) – West Texas Baptist university adopts new faith statement with strict emphasis on gender and marriage by Mark Wingfield
What’s Included?
The Statement of Faith starts off in a typical fashion. In all, it includes a preamble followed by ten short sections, each containing Scripture references:
- Jesus Christ
- God
- The Holy Spirit
- Scripture
- Humanity
- Salvation
- The Church
- Sexuality
- Marriage
- Kindness and Respect
What’s Concerning?
The language that captured my attention can be found in the preamble, sexuality, and marriage. The full text of each is included below. Bolded text is added to highlight areas of concern.
- Preamble. As stewards of the Hardin-Simmons University Vision and Mission, and after much prayer and careful deliberation, we humbly and thoughtfully memorialize this HSU Statement of Faith to share our sincere historically-held religious beliefs. We proclaim our beliefs earnestly and transparently as a university committed to providing excellence in education enlightened by Christian faith and values, as has been our purpose from inception. Our intention is for Hardin-Simmons to continue welcoming students from various backgrounds and experiences and together honestly pursue excellence in education and grow in the knowledge and practice of God’s word expressed in the Holy Bible as the basis of our faith and our university. We desire to love one another as God has loved us.
- Sexuality. We believe that God created the human race with two genetic sexes as defined by karyotype, male and female. Genesis 1:27, Genesis 5:2, Mark 10:6
- Marriage. We believe that marriage has been established by God to be a life-long, covenant relationship between one genetic male and one genetic female. We also believe that sexual activity is intended by God to be expressed solely in the context of a loving marriage between one genetic male and one genetic female. Genesis 2:24, Exodus 20:14, Matthew 19:4-8, Mark 10:6-9, Romans 1:26-32, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, Ephesians 5:21-33, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5, 1 Timothy 1:8-11, Hebrews 13:4
So What?
What does this mean? Why is it troubling? And, where might it be leading?
Answering these questions in full is beyond the scope of this post. Scratching the surface of each, however, will hopefully encourage further exploration by others.
For possibilities, I’ll rely on the two published articles and the insight of the last President of the Logsdon Alumni Council before offering my own thoughts.
- Mark Wingfield’s Baptist Global News article provides a timeline showing that while the Trustees approved the statement on May 19, President Bruntmyer did not communicate it to faculty and staff until May 31. The President’s messaging indicates that the University’s Personnel Handbook and Student Handbook will be updated to include the statement, but fails to explain how it will be used (or even if such decisions have been made). The article includes a mention of the word “karyotype” and it’s definition. And, it suggests one possible reason for adopting a statement of faith is so that a religious university can seek “exemptions from federal laws that prohibit discrimination against students or employees based on race, gender or sexuality.”
- Ken Camp’s Baptist Standard article begins with a remark that the Trustees have approved the statement and that the statement rejects “transgenderism and same-sex marriage”. He also notes the strategic timing of the approval, which occurred five days before “five days before the Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Board recommended messengers to Texas Baptists’ annual meeting adopt a statement of faith that—among other things—declares gender “a gift from God” and defines biblical marriage as “one man and one woman in a covenant relationship with the Lord and one another.”
Seeking to learn more I looked to the Save Hardin-Simmons Facebook group. Then, on the evening of June 2, I corresponded with the Rev. Kyle Tubbs.
Tubbs earned a Master of Divinity degree from Logsdon in 2010 and was serving as President of the Logsdon Alumni Council when the school’s closure was announced. Reflecting on his experience of Logsdon, he shared:
When I attended Logsdon, it was a free place to learn, explore, discover, and grow. The former HSU President who started Logsdon believed the purpose of higher education was to “teach a student how to think, not what to think.” HSU attempted to educate, not indoctrinate the university’s students. My classes were full of students from all over the sociopolitical & theological spectrum. We shared new ideas and academically challenged one another while maintaining open minds. There was space for respectful disagreement. Logsdon taught us to have deep personal convictions, but at its Baptist core, Logsdon was confessional, not creedal. There were diversity of thoughts and ideas among students and professors.
Commenting on the publication of the Statement of Faith, Tubbs asked a few critical and helpful questions:
Will the move by President Bruntmyer and the Trustees to adopt a narrow faith statement lean HSU away from the historic Baptist distinctive of being confessional rather than creedal? How will this new creed be used by HSU practically? Will the statement be used as a litmus test the same way the SBC used the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message against dissenting missionaries, professors, and ministers?”
Since I have only known about this new statement for less than twelve hours, I recognize that I have much to learn about how it came to be, how it may be used in upcoming meetings and conversations in the larger Baptist world in and beyond Texas, and how it will be utilized or enforced on campus for students, staff, and faculty. I am, however, immediately discouraged. When Logsdon closed, I mourned the loss of my seminary. Now that Hardin-Simmons has adopted this Statement of Faith, I mourn the loss of the University I knew and treasured.
Finally. I must call attention to the section eight. Oddly this section is titled “Sexuality,” but contains no content on the topic of sexuality. Even more unexpectedly, it relies on the word “karyotype,” which is not a typical word used in creeds or statements of faith. In fact, it’s so uncommon that a Google search yielded zero credible results apart from the two articles referenced in this post, which only speak to HSU’s new statement of faith. (I wonder if a better title given the content of the section would be “Sex Assigned at Birth.”)
Help me learn more. Please post links to other news stories as they are published, and share what you know of the process that led to the creation of HSU’s Statement of Faith as well as how it may be utilized in the future on campus and in the wider Baptist world.