Is it biblical for women to attend seminary? If it is, what kinds of classes and degree programs should be open to women? Michelle and Amy discuss what Scripture has to say on whether it is biblical for women to attend and/or teach in seminaries.
Correction from Michelle: I misspoke in this episode. It was Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS), not Southern Seminary (SBTS) that recently conferred a pastoral ministry degree upon a woman. My apologies.
Resources:
The Mailbag: Should I attend seminary?– Michelle Lesley- Discipleship for Christian Women
The Mailbag: …Female seminary profs… (3rd section)– Michelle Lesley- Discipleship for Christian Women
Seeing Jesus Clearly – with Elizabeth Prata – A Word Fitly Spoken Podcast
Guest Post: A Woman in Seminary Training: A Personal Story– Michelle Lesley- Discipleship for Christian Women
Institute for Christian Leadership: Christian Living track
Thank you, bless you and Walk Worthy!
Hey there! I listened to your Womenary episode recently and wanted to ask your thoughts and guidance.
I am starting seminary at Southern in the fall. My goal is mainly to grow in the knowledge of the Word, learn to disciple younger girls well, and to challenge my natural apathetic heart.
I’m not incredibly informed about the politics of it all, but when I attended the seminary, with CRT and other issues in mind, I was greatly impressed by Albert Mohler’s commitment to the truth of scripture and the school’s and teacher’s overall humility. (I didn’t know about the woman graduating Pastoral school).
I wanted to know your thoughts and warnings for someone attending this specific seminary. How can I remain unstained and faithful in this school? What should I watch out for specifically? Any advice is appreciated!
Hi Susannah-
I’ll let Amy add her own thoughts if she likes, but just speaking for myself, as I said in the episode, I would not recommend anyone attend any SBC seminary, including Southern. If you’re attending because you feel like your knowledge of the Word is lacking, how will you be able to discern whether or not what you’re being taught is true to Scripture?
With as much respect to Al Mohler as I can muster, he has had many moments when he has told people what they want to hear, and I’m sure he’s prone to do that with prospective students considering the bad press SBTS has gotten regarding CRT and wokeness. If he were truly committed to the truth of Scripture, he wouldn’t allow that kind of thing to go on at Southern.
The woman who graduated in the pastoral ministry program was actually at Southeastern Seminary (I apologize for accidentally saying that was at Southern during the episode), but I have no doubt egalitarianism is being endorsed or taught outright in various ways, shapes, and forms at all SBC seminaries, including Southern.
If someone said to me, “There are a few drops of poison in this pan of brownies. What’s the best way for me to stay safe while eating them?” I would say that the best way to stay safe is not to eat them at all. And that’s the best advice I can give you here: don’t eat the Southern brownies at all. Take the advice we gave in the episode: The Master’s University, a good, doctrinally sound Bible college, Ligonier, or Founders Ministries’ Institute of Public Theology. It’s really great that you want to learn Scripture better, but you need to learn it from a trustworthy source, or what’s the point?