Charismatic Pastor, Baptist Seminary Announce Private Meeting
Charismatic pastor Dwight McKissic and the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary board announced Monday their agreement to meet privately.
The meeting, suggested by SWBTS trustees, comes out of recent actions by McKissic during his first year on board that trustees say are a possible violation of trustee policy.
A joint letter by the two meeting parties stated that they "have agreed to meet privately and confidentially" and "also agreed to table any recommended action against Rev. McKissic," according to Baptist Press. No further statements are to be made at this time, stated board chairman T. Van McClain.
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McKissic had stirred debates within the Southern Baptist Convention after mentioning at a seminary chapel service in August that he practices private prayer language. Seminary trustees soon voted not to endorse charismatic practices and neither to employ those who promote such practices. Since then, McKissic has pressed the SBC president and Executive Committee to adopt a clear stance on charismatic practices in the denomination's Baptist Faith and Message, which currently does not specify any position on the matter.
Backed by other Southern Baptist leaders, McKissic has criticized SBC agency policies, such as that of the International Mission Board, that ban speaking in tongues and private prayer language.
McClain explained that the suggested meeting was not about questioning McKissic's charismatic practice. Rather, it was due to concerns over McKissic's recent conduct in expressing disagreement.
Pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church of Arlington, Texas, McKissic has allegedly gone public with private correspondence between him and the board officers and has quoted McClain "out of context."
Earlier, McKissic asked for specific instances of violating trustee policy, but was told that he would be made aware of the specifics at the private meeting next month.
Following McClain's comments indicating that continued disagreement between the board officers and McKissic might result in a recommendation to the SBC annual meeting in June for his removal, the Arlington pastor likened the attempt for removal as "a 21st-century lynching of an independent-thinking black man who has demonstrated strong support for the Southern Baptist Convention."
On March 7, McKissic issued an apology to McClain for his comments which had "grieved" the chairman.
Again, McClain clarified to the Southern Baptist Texan newspaper that the meeting has "nothing to do with his race or his beliefs or his right to appropriately express his beliefs."
"It was not my intent to bring grief to you," said McKissic in a letter to McClain. "It was simply to point out the inequities and injustices I am experiencing by being asked to come to trial without specific charges and to have my trusteeship put on the line with no policy or law violations being cited as specifically being applied to an action or inaction on my part.
"That is certainly reminiscent of a hanging without due process. That is what I meant by 'lynching.' I was not personally referring to you as a racist. I was simply saying the process again reminds me of a kangaroo court or lynching."
Earlier, McKissic said he would agree to meeting with board officers if specific allegations of misconduct is provided in writing before the meeting, a list of questions to be asked of McKissic is given, third-party observers of McKissic's choosing is allowed and he is able to audio record the entire meeting.
