Southwestern Seminary seeks trustee’s removal

Posted: 3/09/07

Southwestern Seminary seeks trustee’s removal

By Greg Warner

Associated Baptist Press

ARLINGTON (ABP)—For the second time in as many years, a Southern Baptist institution will try to remove a rookie trustee for alleged misconduct. This time it’s Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, which is in a dispute with trustee Dwight McKissic.

Last year, trustees of the International Mission Board tried to remove Oklahoma pastor Wade Burleson from their ranks but later backed down.

In both cases, the trustee controversies emerged around the issue of “private prayer languages,” a controversial devotional practice related to speaking in tongues. And in both cases, the trustees were accused of breach of confidentiality with fellow board members. No trustee has ever been removed from a Southern Baptist board.

McKissic, pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Arlington, said Southwestern’s effort to remove him as a trustee “is nothing but a 21st-century lynching of an independent-thinking black man who has demonstrated strong support for the Southern Baptist Convention. Because I will not join the ‘good old boys club,’ I’m subjected to removal as a trustee.”

McKissic preached a sermon at Southwestern Seminary last August in which he acknowledged he has practiced a private prayer language since his days as a student at Southwestern. He said he disagreed with the IMB’s November 2005 decision to amend its list of missionary qualifications to exclude those who use a “prayer language” in private.

Two months after McKissic’s sermon, Southwestern trustees adopted a policy stating the Southern Baptist seminary would not “endorse in any way, advertise or commend the conclusions of the contemporary charismatic movement including ‘private prayer language.’” McKissic was the lone trustee to vote against the measure.

Trustee chairman Van McClain said McKissic inappropriately used confidential material sent to him as a trustee in advance of the board’s meeting last October. McClain also said he is concerned about the way McKissic has expressed his disagreement with board actions and seminary policies.

McClain said trustee leaders tried to meet privately with McKissic to discuss their concerns about his behavior. But McKissic insisted on bringing outside witnesses and tape-recording the meeting, McClain said, adding that would make a private meeting impossible.

Trustee leaders will try again to meet with McKissic immediately prior to their April 2 board meeting, said McClain, who already has asked the Arlington pastor to resign. If that meeting is unsuccessful, trustees may ask the Southern Baptist Convention in June to remove him.

In a statement March 5, McKissic denied he has broken any rules of confidentiality. “In the past months, I have asked Brother McClain to provide me with copies of any confidentiality policies governing trustee material,” he wrote. “I have not received any copy of such policies, and I have been told by Brother McClain that no confidentiality policies exist.”

Despite Southwestern’s attempts to remove him, McKissic said he remains committed to the seminary. “Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is very dear to my heart, and I consider my trusteeship to be a great privilege and responsibility given by Southern Baptists. I am unwavering in my support of the institution, and I am resolved to walk prayerfully and sensitively through these troubling times.”