๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ถ๐ฑ ๐ฆ๐ผ๐๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ป ๐๐ฎ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐บ๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ ๐ง๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต ๐๐ฏ๐ผ๐๐ ๐๐น๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป ๐๐บ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป
๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ข๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐๐ป๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ถ๐ป ๐ญ๐ต๐ฐ๐ฑ?
Baptist and Reflector newspaperOn May 11, 1945, O.W. Taylor, the editor of the "Baptist and Reflector" newspaper of Tennessee wrote Dr. Ellis A. Fuller of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Dr. E.D. Head of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Dr. Duke K. McCall of Bible Baptist Institute (New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary) the following letter:
"The question keeps coming up as I travel through the state as to the position of the seminary on two points. The question appears, not to be asked in the probing of critical spirit, but as simply a search for information. In searching for authoritative information it seems to me that the appropriate party to ask is the president of the institution. Therefore, I am requesting at your earliest convenience your answer to the following questions.
1. What is the position of the ________________ Baptist Theological Seminary on alien immersion?
2. What is the position of the ________________ Baptist Theological Seminary on restricted communion?
Thanking you in advance for your kindness in the matter with every good wish, I am, Sincerely yours, O.W. Taylor."
********************************** Dr. E.D. Head replied, "On question one, let me say that Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary does not believe in alien immersion in any sense. We are firmly committed to the position that to be scripturally baptized an individual must qualify by an experience of grace through repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and then be baptized by an authorized administrator. We understand that authorized administrator to be the one who has been given authority to administer the immersion at the hands of a local Baptist church.
In answer to question two, let me say that we are unreservedly committed to restricted (close) communion. We hold this position on the conviction that no individual is qualified to partake of the Lordโs Supper who has not been scripturally baptized. Scriptural baptism, as we understand it, is the immersion of a believer in water by an authorized administrator in the name of the Faith, Son, and Holy Spirit. Hence, we understand, the position is not close communion, but close baptism.
Thanking you for your inquiry, and in continual and earnest desire ever to be of service and thus to the faith once for all delivered to the saints, I am, Cordially yours, E.D. Head, President."
********************************** Dr. Duke McCall replied, โWe believe that the Bible teaches that the authority for baptism rests in the hands of Christโs church and is to be administered only after a profession of faith, and then simply as a symbolic act.
We believe that the correct order is proper baptism and then participation in the observation of the Lordโs Supper.
With best personal wishes, Cordially yours, Duke K. McCall, President."********************************** [Document provided by Ben Stratton, scanned and formatted by Jim Duvall.]
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