Charismatic Baptist, Seminary Trustees Agree to Work Together
The Rev. Dwight McKissic, who says he practices private prayer language, will continue to stay on board as a trustee of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
McKissic and trustee officers announced earlier this week they have agreed to "put past issues behind" them and "look forward to working together for many years."
The statement, released on Tuesday by trustee chairman T. Van McClain, according to Baptist Press, comes after McKissic had raised concerns among trustees who felt he may have violated trustee policy.
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McClain had noted that the charismatic pastor "has not worked with us in a way that gives many hope that there will be reconciliation and redemption."
Controversy began in August 2006 when McKissic spoke of experiencing private prayer language. The seminary declined to broadcast McKissic's sermon, which was preached at the seminary's chapel service. While SWBTS had posted audio and video recordings of each chapel service immediately after each service, the seminary president, Paige Patterson, reportedly decided to limit distribution of the sermon.
McKissic's sermon sparked debate in the Southern Baptist Convention which does not have an official stance on charismatic practices. A vote in October barred any promotion of speaking in tongues on the SWBTS campus in Forth Worth, Texas. McKissic was the lone vote against the new policy which also bars employing professors or administrators who promote such practices.
Since then, McKissic has received support from students and Southern Baptist pastors who back his stance and has planned for a Baptist Conference on The Holy Spirit at his church in Arlington, Texas, in April.
Concerns among seminary trustees, however, were not around McKissic's charismatic practice. The trustee officers had requested early this month a private meeting with McKissic to discuss his conduct as a trustee, including the manner in which he expressed his disagreement regarding board actions and seminary policies. McClain also claimed that the Arlington pastor made private correspondence public. Specific instances of board violations, McKissic said, had not been given to him.
Trustees were further considering recommending McKissic's removal from the board if no agreement was made.
The agreement this week, however, affirmed first-year trustee McKissic's place on the board. It also does not infringe on his freedom to express his convictions, McKissic told Baptist Press.
McKissic and three trustee officers had met privately on March 26 at the seminary.
