NIU has entered into a “strategic partnership” with The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

While I think this certainly constitutes a change in direction from what NBBC was say 15 years ago, I view it as moderately positive. I will say I would prefer the former position of the school, but Mohler is a smart, solid guy. Not surprisingly, I have some separation problems with him, but he is clearly and firmly conservative. This should provide an anchor for Northland to keep them from sliding off into doctrinal oblivion as they settle into their new identity. What I am wondering is how it will benefit Northland. I just don’t see Southern Baptists sending their kids there for undergrad work when there are so many other, seemingly more attractive choices available - i.e. accredited, broader selections of majors, more students, better weather, bigger cities (for recreation and jobs). I am still not sure what the draw will be.

I dont Understand why Southern is doing this……I thought they had a Bible college on their campus already?

I think it is always a PR mistake to “make an announcement” when you have nothing ready to announce.

On a substantive level, I think this will cement NIU’s need to find a completely new constituency. This will take them out of the world not only of IFB, but officially from GARBC and likely from IFCA. Had the partnership been with The Master’s Seminary, I think that leaders of sister schools might be losing some sleep tonight. Partnering with SBTS? My guess is not so much…

Back in April NIU acknowledged they needed to restructure their program but have yet to define the reality of that will look like. Now there is this big announcement about a “Strategic Partnership” with Southern but with few details. Apparently the details will be forthcoming.

Partnership in what way? What does this partnership mean? What will that look like? I am echoing Paul J. Scharf’s comment about announcing something when you have nothing ready to announce.

We keep waiting for NIU’s freefall to stop, wondering if/when it will finally settle and define itself. This at a time when parents & students are deciding on where they should go to college in the fall.

NIU is an organization that couldn’t stop itself from flushing $10,000,000 down the toilet within the last 4-6 years. Is SBTS going to financially enable NIU next year?

I don’t see this “Strategic Partnership” changing anything that is fait accompli about NIU’s future.

NIU will be renamed to North Boyce College. Also, this will hurt the alleged IFB seminaries as well (ie, Central), as where would they be encouraged to go now? SBTS. I like it.

We all know about SBTS already… Will having a branch campus in the woods of northern Wisconsin make it more convenient to attend there? For all those hard-core SBC Packer fans??

And what is “alleged” (note spelling) about “IFB seminaries”? Sort of a backhanded compliment, don’t you think?!

means to me is Northland has ceased to be a Northern Baptist school.

Of course they know about them Paul. However, a partnership will encourage a continued education at SBTS.

Uh… no. Central if anything would be a GARBC seminary. and they are not harmed by this at all. In fact no one will be harmed except Northland. Why would any southern baptist want to go their? they have plenty of better options in their pocket. And they are continually losing their previous consistency. If anything this will help FBBC&TS and to some extent MBU.

Central has much more favor of late with GARBC constituents, especially with Bauder’s influence, but I don’t think it would be precisely accurate at all to describe them as GARBC. I know there are plenty of MBA men who are also Central grads who would not do so.

Northland was somewhat of a feeder school for Central, as Maranatha was to some extent before the started their seminary. Faith has its own seminary, so doesn’t really feed prospects to Minnesota, either. Central won’t be hurt specifically by the partnership with SBTS, but the Northland’s change in direction didn’t do them any favors.

But since Bauder has influenced them they definitely seem to be more GARBC and have very close relationship to Faith. The Seminaries almost combined a few years back, but due to one professor who couldn’t sign Faith doctrinal statement (I believe he is gone now) and Faith’s inability to lift Central out of some of their financial hardships the merger fell through. Perhaps soon some of these recent developments will open up that possibility again.

Greg, IIRC, MBU has always had a graduate school. Remember there was bad blood between, Dr. Clearwaters and Dr. Cedarholm and MBBC (it was a one way dislike mind you). So, after Dr. Clearwater’s home going MBBC men were welcome at Central, but not before.

[Greg Linscott]

Central has much more favor of late with GARBC constituents, especially with Bauder’s influence, but I don’t think it would be precisely accurate at all to describe them as GARBC. I know there are plenty of MBA men who are also Central grads who would not do so.

Northland was somewhat of a feeder school for Central, as Maranatha was to some extent before the started their seminary. Faith has its own seminary, so doesn’t really feed prospects to Minnesota, either. Central won’t be hurt specifically by the partnership with SBTS, but the Northland’s change in direction didn’t do them any favors.

My understanding from people who would know is that Maranatha students come less frequently to Central since they formally established a seminary (as opposed to “graduate school”) than they had of late.

Several GARBC churches, particularly in Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana, still maintain good relationships with Cedarville, even with their SBC influence. NIU would be another option for them, especially since NIU is moving to a more conservative evangelical direction from its IFB roots. To several of the people in these GARBC churches (as well as thelr leadership) a school like Faith would be too conservative for them. My point is that the GARBC has alot of type C fundamentalists that move freely among both the GARBC circles and the conservative evangelical circles.

it’s a situation that developed after 1981 when I graduated.

[Greg Linscott]

My understanding from people who would know is that Maranatha students come less frequently to Central since they formally established a seminary (as opposed to “graduate school”) than they had of late.