“Being a Calvinist in the SBC” – September 23 – 25, 2010 – Mansfield, Texas (Dallas-Fort Worth area)

What is the Southern Baptist Founders Conference?

The purpose of the conference is to glorify God, honor His gospel, and strengthen His churches by providing encouragement to Southern Baptists in historical, Biblical, theological, practical, and ecumenical studies.

The goal is to have a balanced conference in respect to doctrine and devotion, expressed in the teaching of the Doctrines of Grace, and their experimental application to the local church, particularly in the areas of worship and witness. This goal is accomplished by engaging a variety of speakers to present papers, sermons, expositions, and devotions; and by recommending and distributing literature consistent with the nature of the conference.

The theological foundation of the conference is the Doctrines of Grace (Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace, and the Perseverance and Preservation of the Saints). These subjects will be presented doctrinally, expositionally, homiletically, and historically. Each conference will focus on the practical and pastoral use of these and respective doctrines.

Speakers:

Dr. Tom Nettles is currently Professor of Historical Theology at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, he is regarded by some as one of the foremost Baptist historians in America today. Nettles earned his M.Div. and Ph.D. degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is also a leading figure in the Southern Baptist Founders Conference and on the Board of Founders Ministries, advocating a return to theological depth in preaching and religious education through the use of catechisms. Along with numerous journal articles and scholarly papers, Dr. Nettles is the author or editor of nine books. Among his books are By His Grace and For His Glory and Baptists and the Bible, the highly influential volume which he co-authored with Dr. Russ Bush; and Why I Am a Baptist, co-edited with Russell D. Moore.

Larry Vincent is a pastor at Heritage Baptist Church, Mansfield, Texas. He pastored churches in California and Arkansas before coming to HBC in early 1995. He graduated from Bob Jones University, Greenville, South Carolina. In addition to regular preaching and teaching on Sundays, he oversees the counseling ministry of HBC.

Earl Blackburn is pastor of Heritage Baptist Church in Shreveport, LA. He served as pastor of Trinity Reformed Baptist Church in LaMirada, CA for 22 years. He is married to Debbie and they have one son, Caleb.

Jarrett Downs is a pastor at Heritage Baptist Church, Mansfield, Texas, serving since 1999. He received a B.A. from Texas A&M University and the M.Div.BL. from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary where he is currently a doctoral candidate. He has taught several Preaching classes at Southwestern in the past 2 years. Jarrett and his wife, Amy Dawn, live with their four children in Alvarado, Texas.

An extract from ‘The Conserving Power of the Doctrines of Grace’ by Dr. Tom Nettles

“No person alive understands all of divine revelation. Each of us is susceptible to error in interpretation or in doctrine. To seek to avoid error as much as possible is a stewardship that rests upon all Christian ministers, particularly in vital areas of gospel truth.

“It becomes obligatory, therefore, to think through the implications of the doctrines we believe, and to seek earnestly to understand the relationship of one part of divine truth to another. All the elements are connected, and not one part of it is inconsequential for another. God is one in being, though three in persons. Love for the Son does not at all diminish one’s love for the Father, and understanding the work of the Son contributes to our understanding of the Father; likewise with love for and knowledge of the person and work of the Holy Spirit.

“Even so, an increase in one’s understanding of justification may generate an appreciable increase in one’s understanding of the cross, or even the Spirit’s work in regeneration. These in turn will impact one’s thinking about the church and the nature of its membership. “There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism” and our goal is to lead our people into a “unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God.”

“There are no unimportant doctrines in the Word of God; a weakness in one part makes us more susceptible to error in another. That is the truth which drove the apostle Paul to tell the Galatians, “If salvation could come by the Law, then Christ died in vain [Gal 2:21]” and again to the Corinthians, “If the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.” and those who have fallen asleep with their hope in Christ have really perished under the wrath of God.”