SWBTS officers, McKissic agree to meet
In a joint announcement March 12, Arlington, Tex., pastor Dwight McKissic and the officers of the board of trustees at Southwestern Baptist Seminary announced they “have agreed to meet privately and confidentially” and “also agreed to table any recommended action against McKissic,” a first-year board member. The Southern Baptist Texan newspaper broke the story March 5 that the board’s officers planned to meet privately with McKissic to address what board chairman Van McClain deemed possible trustee policy violations during McKissic’s first year on the board. McKissic has publicly criticized SBC agency policies that prohibit the charismatic use of tongues and private prayer language, the latter of which he said he practices in his personal devotions. At issue are concerns about the manner in which McKissic has expressed his disagreement regarding board actions and seminary policies, McClain said. McClain also claims McKissic inappropriately used confidential material sent to him as a trustee in advance of the board’s Oct. 16-17 meeting. McKissic made headlines last August when he preached in a Southwestern chapel service and spoke of an experience of a “private prayer language” during his seminary days.
Former prof. files suit against SWBTS
A former professor at Southwestern Baptist Seminary has filed a federal lawsuit against the seminary and its president, Paige Patterson, alleging she was dismissed from her tenure-track position because she is a woman. In the lawsuit filed March 8 in U.S. District Court in Fort Worth, Tex., Sheri Klouda, now a professor at Taylor University in Upland, Ind., accuses the seminary and Patterson of breach of contract, fraud and defamation. She is seeking unspecified damages and has requested a trial by jury. Klouda received her Ph.D. at the Fort Worth campus in 2002 and was unanimously elected by trustees to a tenure-track assistant professor position to teach Hebrew in Southwestern’s school of theology. She also is a graduate of Criswell College in Dallas. Patterson has stated that the seminary does not employ women to teach men in its school of theology out of its desire to “model the local church.” The Baptist Faith and Message 2000, adopted by a majority of messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention, states that the role of senior pastor in local churches should be held by men. Patterson, according to the suit, believes that same standard applies to the seminary.
Franklin Graham’s son injured in Iraq
Capt. Edward Graham, the youngest son of evangelist Franklin Graham, has sustained shrapnel wounds to his arms, legs and back in Iraq. Edward Graham, a 27-year-old Army Ranger and West Point graduate, did not suffer life-threatening injuries and is recovering at an undisclosed hospital, according to news reports. “We know that he is fine and has asked for prayers for his men,” Jeremy Blume, a spokesman for Franklin Graham, told the Citizen-Times newspaper in Asheville, N.C., adding that he had no more details on the incident. “Rangers aren’t allowed to disclose much information – even where he is.” Franklin Graham, head of the Samaritan’s Purse international relief organization, revealed the news of his son’s injuries during his message March 3 at MissionFest in Toronto, the Charlotte Observer said March 10. Glenn Wilcox, a close friend of the Graham family, told the Citizen-Times that Edward Graham is serving his second tour in Iraq and that his father is extremely proud of him. “He’s a very fine, outstanding young man, but very tough and very sure of himself,” Wilcox said. “I’ve never met anyone I was more impressed with than Edward. And he loves it – he’s really committed to the United States, to West Point and to doing his job the very best he can.” Edward Graham is one of four children of Franklin Graham and one of 19 grandchildren of evangelist Billy Graham.