Dr. Allison talking with students

Advancing Evangelical Thought: Gregg Allison Reflects on Decades of Partnership with Southern Seminary and ETS

Travis Hearne — November 20, 2024

Southern Seminary (SBTS) and the Evangelical Theological Society (ETS) have cultivated a dynamic and mutually beneficial relationship for decades. At the 76th annual meeting of ETS in San Diego, California, Southern Seminary and Boyce College demonstrated this vibrant partnership, with over 45 students and faculty presenting papers.

Since its founding in 1949, ETS has been the premier academic society for conservative scholars committed to the inerrancy of Scripture. This shared commitment to biblical fidelity has fostered a natural alignment between ETS and SBTS, creating a legacy of collaboration that advances theological inquiry and shapes the next generation of evangelical leaders.

Faculty Leadership in ETS

Southern Seminary’s faculty members have played an instrumental role in the leadership and growth of ETS. Notable professors, including Bruce Ware, Thomas Schreiner, and R. Albert Mohler Jr., have each served as ETS presidents. Further, Gregg Allison has held the position of ETS meeting secretary for almost twenty years. These contributions exemplify SBTS’s influence on society and Southern’s priority of engaging in academic conversation among evangelicals.

“ETS is the premier scholarly society for evangelicals,” Allison said. “It has always impacted evangelicalism, but now, it may be stronger as a broader spectrum of evangelicals continue to contribute.”

Allison highlighted the increasing participation of SBTS students at ETS, a trend reflecting the seminary’s dedication to training scholars for meaningful academic engagement:

“More and more student papers are being accepted because the students know how to write proposals. Our students are well-trained in writing the proposals because we have coaching sessions. ETS is growing and providing more opportunities for students to receive feedback and contribute to the scholarly conversation.”

Preparing Pastor-Scholars for Kingdom Impact

Southern Seminary’s commitment to equipping pastor-scholars is evident in its approach to integrating academic excellence with ministry preparation.

“We are preparing pastor-scholars,” Allison said. “In the mind of a growing number of our students, there isn’t a clear distinction between ministry and academia. Many of our presenters desire work in the local church just as others prioritize teaching in higher education.”

This integration is evident in SBTS’s emphasis on engaging with ETS as an essential component of academic and spiritual development. Faculty members actively encourage students to present their best work at ETS, fostering a culture of scholarship that impacts not only seminaries but also the local church.

Allison noted that the conversations at ETS always find their way into the pews of evangelical churches.

“Academic papers, presentations, and books impact scholars, seminaries, and pastors in training,” Allison said. “Through the teaching and training of future leaders, these ideas we discuss get filtered down into the pews, in one way or another.”

Shaping the Future Together

As ETS grows, Southern Seminary remains at the forefront of its efforts to strengthen evangelical theology. The relationship between SBTS and ETS has brought about significant advancements in theological scholarship as both institutions sharpen one another in service to Christ and the church.

By encouraging students and faculty to engage deeply with the work of ETS, Southern Seminary ensures its scholars remain rooted in orthodoxy while contributing to the broader theological conversation.

“In a confessional institution like ours, where we emphasize core doctrines, it prevents drift from orthodoxy,” Allison said. “It’s also freeing to write knowing that we are working within a confessional framework where we know the boundaries.”

A Legacy of Faithful Scholarship

The partnership between Southern Seminary and ETS exemplifies the fruitfulness of collaboration between a confessional seminary and an evangelical academic society. As SBTS shapes ETS through the participation of its faculty and students, ETS, in turn, enriches Southern Seminary by providing a platform for rigorous scholarship and thoughtful engagement with the broader evangelical world.

“Students thinking about a PhD need to consider ETS as a prominent theme for their academic career,” Allison said. “I’ve got multiple students presenting papers this year. We encourage and train all our students to participate, which is why Southern Seminary has helped shape ETS as ETS has helped shape this institution.”

Southern Seminary and the Evangelical Theological Society continue to model a vision of academic excellence and biblical fidelity, equipping leaders to serve the church and advance the kingdom of God.

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