This past Monday and Tuesday, over 130 students, professors, church leaders, and laymen converged on the Thigpen Theater of Welch College for the 2014 Free Will Baptist Theological Symposium. In gathering for this event, the attendees were giving attention to a range of scholarly papers, but especially ones related to the Symposium theme: “Evangelism in the Post-Christian West.” This year’s program included the following presentations:
- Aaron Baldridge (GA): “A Renewed Ministry Model for New Priests: Implications of the Priesthood of Believers for the Ministry of Evangelism”
- Jeff Cockrell (NC): “Provoking to Jealously: Paul’s Missionary Strategy”
- Charles Cook (TN): “Twentieth-Century Evangelism: Exploring the Legacies of Lesslie Newbigin and Billy Graham”
- Mark Coppenger (TN): “Evangelism in a Post-Christian World: Ten Lessons I Think I’ve Learned”
- Greg Hollifield (TN): “Danger Ahead: Preaching and Teaching the Warning Passages of Hebrews, or, When the Plain Meaning of the Texts Contradicts Your Own Personal Theology”
- Eddie Moody (NC): “Preparing Congregants to Survive, Thrive in, and Influence a Post-Christian Culture”
- Phillip Morgan (TN): “Let them be hereticks, Turcks, Jewes, or what soever”: Thomas Helwys’s Seminal Argument for Universal Religious Freedom in England”
- Jackson Watts (MO): “Hearing the Gospel: Reflections on the Hermeneutics of Evangelism”
These presentations were followed by a panel discussion on the conference theme, featuring panelists Dr. Mark Coppenger of Southern Seminary, International Missions Director Clint Morgan, Commission member and pastor Rodney Holloman, and Dr. Barry Raper of Welch College and pastor of Bethel Free Will Baptist Church. The panel discussion was moderated by Jackson Watts of the Theological Commission.
Further Symposium content will be made available in the coming days, including conference papers. Presently the bound edition can be purchased by mail for the price of $25. All purchase requests can be made by emailing fwbtheology@gmail.com, or by making checks out to “Commission for Theological Integrity,” and mailing them to the attention of Matt Pinson at 3606 West End Avenue, Nashville, TN, 37205. Next year’s Symposium will be held on the campus of Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College in Moore, Oklahoma, on October 26-27. The Symposium theme will be announced soon.