Southern Baptist Theological Seminary professor Michael A.G. Haykin and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary professor Malcom Yarnell will discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the Reformed and Anabaptist traditions in conjunction with the Andrew Fuller Conference on Baptist Spirituality at Southern, Aug. 24-25.
The dialogue will take place at 9 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 25, following the conclusion of the conference. The idea for the dialogue arose following a Twitter discussion Haykin and Yarnell had on the topic.
Steve Weaver, research and administrative assistant to the director of the Andrew Fuller Center for Baptist Studies, said he hopes the dialogue will serve as a good model to follow for theological and historical discussion.
“It is hoped that the dialogue between Drs. Yarnell and Haykin can demonstrate to others how to disagree agreeably and to recognize both the strengths of those with whom we might agree less, as well as the weaknesses of those with whom we might agree more,” he said.
In a post on the Andrew Fuller Center website, Weaver said he was encouraged by Haykin and Yarnell’s dialogue on Twitter.
“I believe it exemplified the kind of frank and humble dialogue that needs to take place between those Baptists who might identify more with either the Reformed or the Anabaptist traditions,” he said.
Haykin serves as professor of church history and biblical spirituality and director of the Andrew Fuller Center for Baptist Studies at Southern, while Yarnell fills the roles of associate professor of systematic theology, director of the Oxford Study Program and director of the Center for Theological Research at Southwestern. Yarnell also edits Southwestern’s Journal of Theology.
The dialogue, which will be free and open to the public, will follow the Baptist Spiritualiy: Historical Perspectives conference hosted by the Andrew Fuller Center.
The conference will feature presentations by Southern professors Tom Nettles, Greg Wills and Kevin Smith and historians Crawford Gribben, Robert Strivens, Greg Thornbury, Gerald Priest and Yarnell.
Weaver said other established Baptist history scholars, as well as several Ph.D. students, will present papers on the conference theme during the event.
Registration for the event is currently open. There is a student rate for Boyce College and Southern Seminary students. Several books, currently seven, will be given away to all registered attendees.