Leadership Day theme of unity continues at TBC
by Amy Davis
• Annual lectureship coming up April 29 - May 1
COOKEVILLE – How much give and take is allowed in the name of Christian unity? That was the question addressed during Tennessee Bible College’s recent Leadership Day event held Feb. 26.
And that theme will carry over to TBC’s annual Spiritual Renewal Lectureship, coming up April 29-May 1 on the college campus in Cookeville.
“We’re following the theme of unity throughout the year,” said TBC President David Hill. “We are trying to call to mind things we can do to bring people together, to bring the church together, and to generate the interest that should be there in Christian unity.”
Why the intense focus on unity?
“Over the last 25 years, a lot of discussion about doctrine and individual practices has taken place, which has led to a polarization and a lot of misunderstanding,” Hill said. “It’s like a battle mentality on either side of the issues, which has caused people to choose sides, and that has created division. What we’re trying to say is, let’s look at this, understand what’s involved and unite where we can. Doctrinal things have to be upheld, which in itself causes division, but when and where we can meet in unity as Christians, we need to be finding those places.”
February’s Leadership Day event got things off to a good start, he said.
“It was a very good day,” Hill said. “We had a good crowd and a good response.”
The event began in TBC’s Carr Chapel, but the overflow crowd prompted a shift in location next door to the Northeast Church of Christ building.
Speakers included TBC faculty members Glenn B. Ramsey, vice president, who discussed women teaching children’s Bible classes and church support of orphan homes and Christian schools; Malcolm Hill, chancellor, who spoke on providence, the Holy Spirit, prayer, fellowshipping weak brethren, and eating in the church building; Kerry Duke, dean, who addressed marriage and divorce, social drinking, denominations and salvation, and singing spiritual songs with instruments; and Paul Wilmoth, assistant to the president, who discussed liberalism in the church.
“I think our faculty did very well on their respective topics. Folks were commending the way they addressed the issues. The lessons offered good, practical advice – things listeners could take home and use,” Hill said.
“Kicking off the program was Bro. Ramsey, who did an excellent job addressing what the Bible teaches on acceptable support from the church treasury for orphan homes, Christian schools and the like. This has been an issue for more than 50 years now, especially in some churches of Christ.
“Next was Bro. Hill, who dealt with providence and the Holy Spirit. That discussion has been going on for more than 200 years but has come back up in recent times and has been a real source of division in recent times, especially in the churches of Christ. Some folks are dividing on areas the Bible doesn’t even address.
“Then, Bro. Duke did a great job dealing with some current social issues facing the church, such as divorce and remarriage, social drinking and related partying, denominationalism and salvation, and the use of instrumental music in worship.
“The last session of the day was a summary session on liberalism in the church led by Paul Wilmoth, who is a longtime preacher in the Upper Cumberland area. He was excellent in dealing with the issues of liberalism and used a very practical approach. Many folks commended him.”
And now, Hill looks forward to the Spiritual Renewal Lectureship.
“We’ll be building on the foundation that was laid on Leadership Day,” Hill said. “We’ll deal further with some issues related to what’s causing division in the church and offer good, practical ways to solve some of those problems.”
The lectureship schedule is as follows:
Friday, April 29
• 10 a.m. – TBC Golf Scramble
• 7 p.m. – Congregational singing, followed by a Questions and Answers open forum led by Malcolm Hill of Cookeville
Saturday, April 30
• 9:30 a.m. – The Stone-Campbell Movement: James McGill of Nashville
• 10 a.m. – The Christian Attitude: Tim McHenry of Moss
• 10:30 a.m. – Bible Doctrine About the Weak Brother: Kerry Duke of Cookeville
• 11 a.m. – Malicious Gossip: Glenn B. Ramsey of Cookeville
• 11:30 a.m. – Causes of Division: David Hill of Cookeville
• Noon – Lunch: TBC Ladies Associates
• 1:15 p.m. – Love of the Brotherhood: Buddy Johnson of Cookeville
• 1:45 p.m. – Be Careful in Taking a Stand: Brant Stubblefield of Lindsay, Okla.
• 6:15 p.m. – Friends of TBC Dinner (provided by American Bank & Trust of the Cumberlands)
Sunday, May 1
• 9 a.m. – The Personality Problem: Paul Wilmoth of Sparta
• 10 a.m. – Fighting Sinful Things: Mac Deaver of Sheffield, Texas
• 5:45 p.m. – Chancellor’s Chicken Supper at Northeast Church of Christ
• 7 p.m. – Some Facts About the Judgment Day: Mac Deaver of Sheffield, Texas
Tennessee Bible College, located at 1616 McCulley Road in Cookeville, offers a bachelor’s degree in religious education, master’s and doctorate degrees in theology and a two-year preaching diploma. TBC’s online college is available at www.tn-biblecollege.edu. Free correspondence courses are also offered.
For more information about TBC’s annual Leadership Day and Spiritual Renewal Week Lectureship, call (931)526-2616 or email tbc@tn-biblecollege.edu.