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The history of Southern Seminary fascinates me. I am intrigued by the stories of its founding, its survival through the Civil War era, its emergence as an important theological institution during the early 1900’s, and its late last-century liberalism which then gave way to a resurgent conservative theology.

Southern Seminary students and professors (or anyone else interested in the history of the seminary) will appreciate the autobiography of Southern’s seventh president, Duke McCall. Duke McCall: An Oral History (Nashville: Fields Publishing, 2001) contains McCall’s recollections of his life and ministry.

The story traces McCall’s early Baptist upbringing, his conversion, early ministry opportunities and his role as the president of Southern Seminary from 1951-82. Though the book was published in 2001, McCall actually sat down with the editor and recounted these memories in 1985, shortly after the death of his wife.

The autobiography is written in the form of an interview. Ronald Tonks (the editor) asks questions, to which McCall answers in story form. At times, the narrative meanders a bit, probably due to the nature of interviewing. There are a few moments of repetition, but nothing that causes the reader to grow frustrated. I actually found that the interview style helped to move the book along. Readers who do not wish to labor through 400+ pages will be able to quickly find the subjects that most interest them.

The most fascinating story in McCall’s book is the revolt of 13 faculty members against him in 1958. This controversy endangered his position as president, as well as the position of the school for the 1958-59 semester. The political machinations of McCall, the faculty members, and the board of trustees are fascinating. McCall maintains the rightness of his position, but he also humbly recognizes the mistakes he made in leadership.

McCall’s 30-year term as president of Southern is marked by an increasing trend toward liberal theology. While McCall stresses his conservative credentials throughout the book, he also makes it clear that the Bible is not inerrant. He wonders aloud if his friend, W.A. Criswell was motivated more by the desire to create a legacy for himself than to truly return the Southern Baptist Convention to more conservative roots. He criticizes the leaders of the conservative resurgence for “demonizing” the opposition.

McCall’s autobiography concentrates much more on the events of his life than his theology. What surprised me most about his book was not McCall’s liberalism, but the virtual absence of any theology at all. One finds more theological reflection in Billy Graham’s autobiography than in McCall’s – surprisingly, since McCall was the head of a theological institution. It seems that his lack of doctrinal commitment prepared the way for Southern Seminary to be overrun with professors and students who could claim to affirm the Abstract of Principles (Southern’s confession of faith), yet hold to that confession so loosely as to make it virtually irrelevant.

For a good history of Southern Seminary during the left-leaning years, I suggest you pick up McCall’s Oral History. It not only traces the main events of McCall’s life and ministry; it also contains several good insights into how an effective leader can run an institution.

written by Trevin Wax  © 2008 Kingdom People blog

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