Southwestern Seminary Sponsors Degree Program at Texas State Prison
The Houston Chronicle reported last week that Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention are sponsoring a four-year degree program at a state prison in Rosharon, Texas. Heralded as the first of its kind in Texas, long-term offenders will have an opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Science in Biblical Studies under the tutelage of Southwestern seminary professors. Benjamin Phillips, the director of the program, explains:
The idea here is that these are long-term offenders....They will have a long time to invest in the system before they leave - if they do get out. They are the people who will make a difference in the internal culture of the Texas prison system, and that then will have an effect when guys get out, so it's a longer term strategy, if you will.
This program is the brainchild of Texas state senators Dan Patrick (R-Houston) and John Whitmire (D-Houston). Based on a similar Louisiana program at Angola Prison sponsored by New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, the program is voluntary and supported by private donations. No taxpayer funds will be used.
Organizers have described the program as non-denominational with no requirement to be Baptist or to convert to participate or graduate.
According to State Sen. Patrick, Texas has religious programs at all of its 112 state prisons and has faith-based programs and initiatives involving more than 2,700 convicts at 24 prisons.
Several groups have voiced concerns over the seminary program.
The program appears to overstep the permissible bounds of religious chaplaincy programs in prisons, which are not supposed to proselytize, said Alex Luchenitser, senior litigation counsel for Americans United for Separation of Church and State.
"Imagine the public outcry that would arise if the state were to partner with Muslim institutions and train them to be imams and turn them out to minister Islam to other inmates," Luchenitser said.
Texas criminal justice reform advocate Scott Henson writes on his blog Grits for Breakfast:
On one hand I can understand the impetus. Since the invention of the penitentiary religious reformers have believed prisons should actively seek to promote spiritual transformation. On the other, I'm not sure there's evidence religious education benefits prisoners more than the educational initiatives recently gutted at the Windham School District in TDCJ, and clearly there's nobody out there beating the bushes for "private grants and donations" to keep those programs running.
Henson questions whether Southwestern Seminary is even capable running a program that is truly non-denominational. However, Henson seems to misunderstand what is meant by "non-denominational" in this context. "Non-denominational" appears to mean only that there is no denominational litmus test for admission to the program. All of the program's professors will be Baptist as Southwestern Seminary is supplying the teachers and only hires Baptists.
Also, Southwestern professors are required to teach according to the Southern Baptist Convention's confession of faith (Baptist Faith & Message 2000). So, while the program may be non-denominational in its admissions policies, the curriculum will certainly be sectarian.
I'm not arguing that prisoners should be denied this opportunity at a free four-year degree. I just wonder how prison officials would respond to a request from a non-evangelical institution to partner with the state on a similar initiative.
For more on this debate, see the blog by Alan Bean of Friends of Justice. Bean is an ordained Baptist minister.
Check out a few additional noteworthy Baptist-related reads from the past week:
- Mark Osler: Gay at Baylor - A Christian Challenge (Huffington Post)
- Former Baylor Law Professor Calls On University to Change Policy on Gays (KWTX)
- Dear Baptists: We Are All Secularists Now (www.thebigdaddyweave.com)
- Back to Ebenezer: Historic Atlanta Church Restored to Civil Rights Era (Baptists Today)
- Downgrading Dominionism (Douglas E. Baker, Union University)
- Race Relations, Affirmative Action & The Church (Ed Stetzer, Lifeway)
September 2, 2011
Reader Comments (1)
BDW:
Much as I dislike Chuck Colson's politics I think he does good job with Prison ministry. And worth your search to turn up Colin Harris good piece recently at ethicsdaily.com about a post release program.
Good friend of mine is doing time now, former student for whom my late father had lot of affection and cheer for the boys high school basketball exploits.
As for Doug Baker and Dominionism link, the deeper investigation is an exploration of my various thoughts and links at SBC Trends of Bl.com
The story for Baptists seems to me is stout conversation with SBC Frank Page in regard his hardwiring to Tea Party's Jim Demint, Charles Pickering as Posner and Butler hint at religiondispatches.
Dont want this to be short one so for bonus here is what I just left SBC Plodder conflating remarks for his mega church blog and weekly roundup from near Athens Georgia
I think my sister has a neighbor who goes to New Spring if it is off 85 near Anderson.
Had an interesting chat with a fellow yesterday, good friend of Chic Fil A's Truett Cathy who is enamored with the CO God mega Rock Springs in Jackson, Ga down toward Macon.
I wouldn't mind singing in one of their choirs if they let me pick the music, but I couldn't check my intelligence at the door.
To that CBF Marion Aldridge had a good take on Rachel Held Evans Evolving in Monkeytown, in current issue of the late Foy Valentine's Christian Ethics Today.
You ought to subscribe.
As to your weekly roundup column been interesting gettin back in touch with my Gaffney classmates for our 40th.
And Bruce Prescott has joined the discussioin on Rick Perry, Frank Page and the Recons at SBC Trends of Bl.com. Hope you and Aaron Weaver do likewise soon.
PS I thought Johnson Ferry was mega or borderline mega. Turns out some of my Furman classmates ended up there, and they are fine people though that does not justify the fundy takeover of the SBC.
Thanks for calling me a fixture at bl.com. It meant a lot.
Looking forward to your Review of The Help.
I say Bama loses at least 2 during regular season.
Mike Shula is Cam Newton's QB coach with the Carolina Panthers