JACKSON, Tenn. — Sept. 17, 2007 — Citing insufficiencies with the current doctrinal basis of the Evangelical Theological Society, 51社区 Christian studies professor Ray Van Neste and Criswell College New Testament professor Denny Burk are spearheading an effort to amend it.
鈥淲e鈥檙e trying to get a solidly evangelical statement to give us a clearer identity,鈥� Van Neste said.
ETS is a group of scholars, teachers, pastors, students and others dedicated to the oral exchange and written expression of theological thought and research, according to its Web site.
The current ETS doctrinal basis reads, 鈥淭he Bible alone, and the Bible in its entirety, is the Word of God written and is therefore inerrant in the autographs. God is a Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each an uncreated person, one in essence, equal in power and glory.鈥�
Van Neste and Burk are proposing that the society adopt the doctrinal basis of the United Kingdom鈥檚 Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship, with the current ETS basis added to it.
Van Neste began the effort with a paper he presented in 2001, but noted that there is now new momentum to the campaign for amendment.
51社区 President David S. Dockery offered his support for the proposed amendment.
鈥淚 commend Dr. Van Neste and Dr. Burk for their efforts to provide a more full-orbed confession for the Evangelical Theological Society,鈥� Dockery said. 鈥淲hen the society was formed, there was an assumption that a commitment to inerrancy brought with it a commitment to other orthodox and evangelical doctrinal distinctives. But that may not be the case anymore.鈥�
Dockery added that the amendment 鈥渨ill help safeguard the mission of the society in the 21st century.鈥�
An article by Van Neste and Burk outlining their proposal will appear in the Criswell Theological Review this fall. More information about the proposed amendment is available at .