Book Review
Reviewed by Darold Morgan,
Richardson, TX

Columns-Glimpses of a Seminary Under Assault
By Russell H. Dilday
Macon, GA: Smyth & Helwys, 2004.

Here is a “must read” for Baptists everywhere! Here is a brittle, hard-hitting, overwhelmingly sad but accurate accounting of how the fundamentalist segment of the Southern Baptist Convention literally tore Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary from its moorings of a healthy, balanced, and theologically conservative stance. One of the inevitable conclusions one moves toward as this tragedy unfolds is the realization that one of the chief architects of “The Takeover” is now the current president of this school. Baptists everywhere need to be informed about these associations of charges and counter-charges which emerge from these events on this tenth anniversary of “a Seminary under Assault.”

The format of this book is quite novel. After a helpful introductory chapter that speaks eloquently to the relevance of the manner of documenting this personal and institutional shock wave, Dilday uses his “Columns” (a series of regular reports to the entire Southwestern Family) as the basis of the book. He intersperses this sixteen-year period of his presidency with updates on the seminary’s expansion and ministry. He also adds penchant asides from his busy personal schedule of appearances and his lectures on his well-known book on biblical authority, which is a major proof of his own conservative credentials.

It sounds anything but exciting, but cleverly and adroitly he weaves two separate streams together in a most readable and helpful fashion. One is the astounding story of the growth and strengths of Southwestern. There are record enrollments, new buildings, new directions of study, new programs, and exciting additions of the faculty and staff. That there are problems along the way with such growth and people is not glossed over. But the reasons why national and international recognition came to this school in this timeframe are clearly stated. There is no doubt whatsoever that Southwestern was a solid, healthy, conservative theological institution, recognized far and wide as the largest such school in the entire evangelical world.

The other emphasis in Dilday’s book is his account of the growing strength of the fundamentalist trustees on the board of the school. Their avowed intent from the beginning of “The Takeover” in 1979 was to rescue the school from its moderate stances to the hard-core right of their philosophy. Slowly and inexorably the balance in the governing body moved in that direction with a “cat and mouse” game, resulting in Dilday’s brutal and callous ouster in 1994, a move predetermined by a plurality of rigid trustees who forced him out. The accounting of this move, accompanied by mistruths and obvious hypocrisy and sham, is literally one of the most sickening moments in Southern Baptist history.

Perhaps Dilday and his staff misjudged the intent and depth of the fundamentalist mindset. He is not alone in this. But as the internal rejoicing took place about the sheer numbers of graduates, the expansion of endowment, and the encouragement from accrediting circles, the administration seemed unaware of how these factors did not impress those who wanted power and control of this great school. The personal animosity and conflict is not swept under anyone’s rug. But the absence of Christian love, respect, and the willingness to compromise and to work toward common goals increases the continuing tragedy.

So ten years after this dismissal, Dilday tells in depth and with precision the details of what led up to that fateful day. He boldly lists names of his antagonists. His recall of conversations and responses to the tightening noose his enemies were fabricating is a vivid reminder of their unchanging goal—complete control of every aspect of both the denomination and its institutions!

So in that timeframe (1979-1994), charges and counter-charges about theological liberalism resounded so forcefully that fundamentalism swept the deck. Today in all SBC seminaries changes of leadership have taken place with the ultimate plan to indoctrinate succeeding generations of SBC pastors and leaders. This educational process now blends a biblical literalism with dispensational overtones that will have astounding influence in the years ahead.

Dilday’s final chapter is worth the price of the book. With deep emotional and spiritual insights, he makes it clear that he and his wife personally have moved far beyond these events, which at that time shattered them both. Using 2 Corinthians 4:1-18 as his text, he shares some lessons for Christians anywhere who have suffered at the hands of other Christians. With God’s help in the midst of a painful darkness and abject personal sufferings, Dilday affirms you can go on. The bitterness is history. Russell Dilday has discovered open doors of service, continued ministry, and the power to survive and transcend.

Updated Saturday, March 26, 2005