RIP T.E.D.S.

 RIP T.E.D.S.

Dedicated to the friends and colleagues I met at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

I suppose that some of you have seen this news: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/teds-midwife-movement-legacy/

I do not think I agree with all this particular author's assessments--especially as related to the Southern Baptist Convention; but I definitely share his unhappiness, to see what has happened to Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.

Part of my sadness, is because this school had such a huge place in my life and ministry.  I am grateful for what God provided me, while I was there.  The place was a "hotbed" of scholarship and passion; and many of us, myself included, forged our theological convictions there.  Though TEDS was not a Reformed, Covenantal, and/or Calvinistic "bastion," by any means, it did have very significant professors who were committed to these glories.  Besides, having to deal, first-hand, with other views and perspectives certainly, in my case at least, helped me come to the deeply-held beliefs I have today.

When I did my M.Div. at TEDS (from 1979-1983), that place had some truly amazing instructors in it.  Kenneth Kantzer was, to use my friend's (Gary Templin's) words, able to "assemble a winning lineup."  (Gary also got an M.Div. there, graduating in 1986.)  Kantzer had pretty much scoured the earth, to convince top men to go to that school and teach there.

Personally, I will miss even the ability to go back to the campus, and to re-trace the steps my friends and I so often traversed back in those days.  It is just sad; there is no other way to say it.

My own personal diagnosis for TEDS' decision to leave Chicago's north shore, and go 2,400 miles to British Columbia, Canada, is because it (the school) was no longer able to compete with the better Reformed seminaries.  The author of the Gospel Coalition article (above), focuses more on the Baptists' influence; but I think TEDS's glory lay in its residual Reformed distinctives.  The Baptist-leaning students there can certainly find other places to go to school; and so can the Reformed ones.

The overall thrust of the article, however, I think it right on.  TEDS ushered the "evangelical" world out of the darkness of fundamentalism; but (in my opinion) it kind of lost its purpose, once it did not fully embrace the Reformed world.

Of course, when I say "RIP T.E.D.S.," the school hopes to keep on going (in Canada).  But, can you think of any professor (or student) who is going to want to pick up everything, and move so far away?  There probably will be some; but I cannot imagine it would be that many.

To the old school and campus where I enjoyed so many truly wonderful people and experiences, I say, "Adieu."  It is a sad thing; but I will cradle good memories of it for as long as I am able to remember anything.

Rev. Mark J. Henninger

Treatise #14

11 April 2025

https://theologicaltreatisesinretirement.blogspot.com

https://henningerdevotions.blogspot.com/

Comments

  1. AnonymousApril 11, 2025 at 11:30 AM

    As always, great thoughts!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Rev. Mark J. HenningerApril 11, 2025 at 12:23 PM

    Thank-you. Some places in one's life leave lasting impressions; and this is one of those places (for me). We started a Presbyterian Fellowship while I was there; and I went under care of the RPCES while a student there.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Lynette BrevikApril 11, 2025 at 6:20 PM

    I’m sorry to hear about this, Mark.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousApril 11, 2025 at 7:45 PM

    Lyn, do you remember when you came and visited me there? You even went to some classes with me, if I remember correctly. I am sure all my friends were jealous of me, having you with me(!) (Lynette is my sister, just so that you all know!)

    ReplyDelete

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