CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Aug 4 - Sept 28
Alpha Term 2011
Sept 12
COSTS Meeting
(The Council of Southwest
Theological Schools)
Sept 14 - 16
ABHE site visit
Sept 29 - Nov 23
Emmanuel Term 2011
Oct 18
Board of Governors Meeting
October 24 - 26
Texas Baptists Annual Meeting
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SAVE THE DATE
Winter Colloquy
NOV 28 - 30, 2011
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More details will appear in a future issue of the newsletter.
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Graduating in 2012?
| An application for graduation is online under "Admissions: Administrative Forms." Students should contact the Registrar or the Admissions Office at admin@bhcti.org regarding the completion of the Capstone course two to three terms before the final term.
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BHCTI Spotlight
on
| David Ritsema
PH.D. Graduate
On May 31, 2011, David Ritsema
walked across the platform to
receive his doctoral hood and diploma awarding him a Ph.D. in New Testament from B. H. Carroll Theological Institute. David began his doctoral program at Carroll Institute even before the Institute had its formal inauguration, so he is one of the first students to complete his entire program with BHCTI. You can read his interesting story below.
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Report from the President Bruce Corley
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Partnership with the Newport Foundation
Carroll Institute entered a formal partnership with the Newport Foundation at a meeting held at the Institute on July 20, 2011. Dr. Bruce Corley, President of the Institute, said, “We are delighted to join hands with the Newport Foundation in such an important ministry. A vital component of theological education is a Christian worldview.” There has been collegial work for the past seven years, and now an ongoing partnership will engage, promote, and develop mutually beneficial activities. A first product of the partnership is a proposed biography of John Newport, sponsored by the Foundation and written by Dr. Karen Bullock of the Institute.
The mission of the Newport Foundation is to be a resource for Christian education and leadership as reflected in the life, writings, and teachings of the late John P. Newport. Dr. Newport’s contributions to biblical philosophy and theology brought together diverse strands of knowledge and perspectives from various intellectual disciplines in order to form a Christian worldview. The Foundation’s purpose fits well with Carroll’s commitment to develop Christ-centered leaders who are committed to academic excellence, lifelong learning, and transformational ministry.
The board members of the Foundation participating in the meeting included Dr. Larry Williams, Dr. Richard Harmon, Dr. Bob Patterson, Dr. Weston Ware, Dr. James Leo Garrett, Dr. and Mrs. Bill Pratt, David Smith, and members of the Newport family: daughter, Martha Shimkus; son, John Paul Newport; and brother, Russell Newport.
Carroll Institute received official word that ABHE will send their site visit team to the BHCTI offices on September 13 - 16, 2011. The team is chaired by Dr. Sherrill Babb, Chancellor of Philadelphia Biblical University in Langhorne, PA. Four other team members will be joining Dr. Babb:
Dr. Al Hiebert - Christian Higher Education Canada
Steinbach, Manitoba, Canada
Dr. Gary Streit - Nazarene Bible College
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Dr. Jon Weatherly - Cincinnati Christian College
Cincinnati, Ohio
Dr. Lucas Kavlie - Moody Bible College
Chicago, Illinois
The team will meet together as a group over dinner for an opening session on Tuesday evening, September 13, then will invite the BHCTI administrative staff to join them later that evening. On Wednesday and Thursday the team will meet with students and faculty, observe Carroll classes on location and through video conferencing, and review materials and operations on site at the Carroll Institute administrative office in Arlington. The site visit will conclude on Friday morning with an exit interview with the Carroll Institute "hub" personnel.
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BHCTI Spotlight
on
Eddy Carder
Resident Fellow
Dr. Eddy Carder, from Spring, Texas, has taught for Carroll Institute for four years as Professor of Philosophy of Religion, as well as teaching classes in Apologetics, Hermeneutics, and Pastoral Care. When God called Eddy to salvation through Christ at age 17, that call was followed by one to become a youth pastor at age 18, which led to pastoring a small congregation at the age of 20. Dr. Carder has been pastor of various churches over the past 30 years, but another call to the teaching ministry was at work in his life. Dr. Carder has taught as an adjunct professor with Houston Baptist University and Jarvis Christian College. In 2007, he was asked to teach as an Assistant Professor of Philosophy with Prairie View A & M University. As a pastor and teacher, Dr. Carder saw the importance of relating philosophic concerns to the practical application of Christian faith and ministry.
When asked about his own philosophy of teaching, Dr. Carder replied, "My philosophy of teaching lies in recognition to demonstrate to students that Christian belief can find in the discipline of philosophy a very good friend. Philosophy can be a means by which we not only understand the contemporary post modern culture in which we live but also a means by which we bridge between Christian faith and contemporary culture. In addition, it is my conviction as a philosophy instructor that we are to hold dear Christian faith not only with our hearts, but also with our minds or rationality. Further, I find that I have abundant opportunity to demonstrate the pastoral dimensions of philosophy and ethics not only as content is concerned but also in my relationship with the students in my courses."
Dr. Carder cites Dr. John Newport as being one of the greatest influences during his academic studies at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. "Dr. Newport's focus was the importance of dialogue between Christians and those operating from other worldviews. He was convinced that we only earn the right to dialogue about our faith when we have allowed others to dialogue about their faith."
Due to a lengthy illness, Dr. Carder has taken a leave of absence from teaching at Carroll Institute but is looking forward to teaching Philosophy of Religion online during the Emmanuel Term 2011 and a course on Christian Ethics at Brookhollow Baptist Church in Houston during the Paschal Term 2012. "My intention is to continue to teach as needed with BHCTI and to continue to grow intellectually in order that I may maximally direct students toward a faith that is intellectually credible. I believe in the vision of BHCTI because there is a need for seminary education that is convenient and that is not excessively expensive and that is coordinated by quality faculty and administrative leadership."
Dr. Carder wants to take a front line role by interacting directly with students who will impact local congregations. "I am convinced that Carroll Institute can serve the purpose of strengthening the education programs of local congregations and strengthening individual believers in their faith through the introduction of the intellectual dimension of Christian faith. Local church pastors could benefit greatly from having an educated laity to thereby strengthen the outreach, doctrinal position, service dimension, and financial dimensions of the local churches. I wish local pastors would find it possible to recognize the potentially positive contribution which Carroll could make to their local congregations."
Among Eddy Carder's interests outside of the classroom are tennis, listening to Texas music, and playing with his 3 1/2-month-old son, Austin Rhett. Eddy and his wife, Doni, also have a 21-year-old daughter who attends Texas A & M University.
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An interview with David Ritsema
Q: What influenced you to become a student at BHCTI?
A: While pastoring Oak Knoll Baptist Church in Ft Worth, Stan Moore was our music supply for two Sundays. In the parking lot after church, he asked me if I was interested in doing a PhD. I told him that I had already made some inquiries into Baylor’s program, but when I moved to Fort Worth, I had to forgo it because of the residential requirement. He encouraged me to apply and so I made an appointment. After meeting the Senior Fellows, I realized that I definitely wanted to come to Carroll.
Q: Please tell us briefly about your call to ministry.
A: When I first started college, I told my guidance counselor I wanted to major in Bible, Computer Science, and Basketball. He told me that I should focus on computers, since I had a better chance of making a career of it. However, after two years of majoring in Computer Science, I was spending most of my time in campus ministry (through the Baptist Student Ministry) and working at Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler, TX. During a summer internship at East Texas Medical Center, I realized that I was spending more time reading my Bible than doing my job. That fall I attended a student conference in Dallas called Focus. Dave Busby, who at the time was the longest survivor of cystic fibrosis, preached a sermon entitled, “Taste and Know that the Lord is Good!” During the sermon, I began to pray and felt that God was giving me a vision. I kept seeing hurting people standing in the shadow of the cross and felt as if God was reaching out to me and saying, “Will you help them?” I opened my Bible and saw the words of Romans 1:16 looking at me, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel…” I realized that God had been calling me into ministry but that I had been avoiding the decision. I went forward during the invitation. However, I was disappointed that I did not have a Damascus Road angelic visitation. Instead, I quietly sat down and later that evening when the group shared, I told everyone I was making a career changing decision: I was going into the ministry! Some people looked shocked and others looked surprised that I had not already made that decision. Wednesday of that week, a church in Tyler asked me come on staff and within a month I was already working as a Youth Minister. God moved pretty fast!
Q. Tell us your story: where are you currently involved in ministry; your responsibilities; your experiences in ministry.
A: I am currently serving as the Lead Pastor of Woodlawn Baptist Church in Austin, TX. I oversee a staff of very qualified leaders and pastors (an Executive Pastor, a Worship Pastor, a Student Pastor, a Children’s Pastor) and many other employees (including volunteers). Woodlawn is the second largest Baptist church in south Austin and the third largest contributor in the city to the BGCT. In the time I have been here, I have been busy! We have had two boys (now 4 and almost 3 years old), we hired an almost completely new staff, completed a building campaign, and then began a major capital campaign ($4 million) toward a new building. We expect to be in the new facility in December of 2011 and our gifts to the campaign are ahead of schedule. That is a lot to do while finishing a PhD. Just ask my wife!
Q: How are you using your preparation at Carroll Institute in your ministry?
A: I have always double dipped my education and ministry. I pastored while I finished my MDiv at Truett and I pastored all the way through my PhD at Carroll. I always found ways to take what I was learning and apply it to the church whether through leadership, administration, pastoring, preaching, or teaching. When I took a course on the Apostle Paul with Dr. Corley, I taught a January Bible Study on Paul. When I worked on my dissertation studying the background of the Messiah in the Old Testament, I taught a Wednesday night Bible Study on Christ in the Old Testament. When I worked on the Portrait of a Divine Messiah in John, I taught through the Christological themes of the Gospel of John on Sunday morning. When we studied administration of a theological school, I applied the principles to our committee process and began casting a new vision for our church. Every step of the way, I have applied the things I have learned. And quite frankly, I have applied things I learned at church to my education at Carroll, as well.
Q: What are your goals in ministry? How has Carroll Institute helped you to achieve those goals?
A: My goals in ministry were set long before I started thinking about an education. My first job in ministry was a youth ministry position. I realized that I was woefully unprepared for ministry. My knowledge of the Bible was far too limited. I could not answer some of the most basic and important questions about Christianity. I never intended on becoming a pastor; I was very content with the idea of just serving in a church ministry or college ministry. However, I knew I needed education to better prepare me for that ministry. Someone told me that I could cut down a lot more trees with a sharp ax than a dull one. Someone else reminded me that Billy Graham said that if he had ten years to live, he would spend nine in school learning how to do it better. For me the goal is ministry and the education process is how to do it better. However, along the way I have learned that education is not merely a means to an end. Lifelong learning is also part of ministry itself. Carroll has always helped me in achieving a good balance between knowledge and ministry. Partly this has happened serendipitously through encounters with the Senior Fellows and other Fellows of the Institute. Not long after I started at Carroll, I knew the time was fast approaching for me to take on a much larger ministry assignment than the one I had at the time in Ft. Worth. The good folks at Carroll helped me find and obtain the current position I have through their warm recommendations and their good reputations around the state. Simply put: these guys are connected!
Q: What has influenced you the most about your educational experience at Carroll Institute?
A: Several things come to mind but most importantly are the relationships I have built with the people at Carroll. I consider the Senior Fellows my mentors. They are men I greatly admire for the breadth of their faith and the depth of their understanding. The wisdom I have gleaned has not come simply through a distillation or downloading of knowledge but it has been filtered through the lens of faith from men (and women) who are supremely guided by the Spirit of God.
Q: Describe briefly your supervised ministry experience.
A: I actually began working with my supervisor, Dr. Bruce Corley, before I enrolled in any classes. In fact, I completed almost an entire year of work with Dr. Corley for which I actually did not receive academic credit other than my supervising experience. However, that period of time was tremendously engaging. I regard the supervisor model as the penultimate example of what made my experience so rewarding and achievable. This was the time of real academic development. I read through the critical primary works for studying the New Testament background. I then spent time reading, discussing, praying, and working through this material with the guidance of my supervisor. His probing questions and conversational approach always made me wish those times would never come to an end. After two or three hours of conversation, I felt myself starving for more. I left with a greater passion and interest. Whenever I would get stumped in my research, my wife would say, “You need to set a meeting with Dr. Corley!” She knew that meeting with my supervisor was all the motivation necessary to accomplish what I needed to do. I highly recommend this experience.
Q: What has given you the highest satisfaction from your academic experience here?
A: Graduating! Okay, I suppose that is what everyone says, but in a real sense I think that is true. When I started at Carroll, the PhD program was just beginning. In fact, you couldn’t say that it was in its infancy, because it wasn’t even born yet. It was a bit premature. However, for the Senior Fellows (with their many years of experience in this field), I did not feel the least bit cheated by the program being brand new; I felt exhilarated about being a part of something exciting and innovative. Being one of the first people to complete the entire PhD at Carroll gives me tremendous satisfaction and pride.
Q: How has BHCTI contributed to your spiritual formation?
A: It has contributed in many helpful ways. One of the most spiritually rewarding experiences was traveling with students and Fellows over to Oxford, England. The pilgrimage back to our Baptist homeland and being able to see where Andrew Fuller preached and William Carey restarted modern missions was a watershed moment spiritually. Not to mention the fact that we saw where John Bunyan preached, John Wesley was buried, and then traveled the English countryside to churches, cathedrals, castles, and more—all along the way stopping to pray and to sing hymns of the great faith. How wondrous it was to stand and sing in the church of John Newton the hymn “Amazing Grace.” My church will never forget my two weeks in England because the experience illuminates my preaching and prayers still today. I cannot sing Isaac Watts without remembering that I stood before his grave in a dissenter’s cemetery.
Q: Why would you recommend BHCTI to other students?
A: Well, what they say is true: it is affordable, accessible, and achievable! I finished the PhD program only a few months ago, after over seven years in the program, and I can honestly say we are debt free. That is remarkable when you consider the fact that many PhD grads have over $100k in college debt and then go on to make only $40k a year (or less). I don’t know if BHCTI is the right program for everyone, but it was exactly the program I needed. When I started, we lived in Ft Worth, and when we finished we lived over 200 miles away. In an ordinary residential program, I would likely have had to abandon my PhD hopes. However, at Carroll I was able to continue on with little or no delay.
Q: What do you plan to do now that you have your PhD degree?
A: I plan to continue to teach for Carroll (as needed). I hope to rewrite my dissertation for publication. I would like to maintain involvement in the guild. I have many writing projects I want to pursue, as well. I will spend more time with my family and work more in the church. I will improve my preaching and teaching and be able to guide people into deeper spiritual truths.
Q: How do you see Carroll Institute helping the ministry of your church?
A: I would like to begin a Teaching Church in Austin at our church. I would also like to see our people take classes either for continuing education or degrees. In the future, I hope to get more of Carroll's Fellows to come to speak to our church on matters including Baptist History, Missions, Worship, Theology, and Biblical Studies.
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Phone: (817) 274-4284; Fax: (817) 274-2226; Toll free: (866) 942-4284
301 S. Center St., Suite 100 - Arlington, TX 76010
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