Louisiana College Law School Controversy

The recent announcement by Louisiana College to name its planned law school after a conservative SBC leader has sparked some concern. Wilmer Fields, a Louisiana College graduate and former director of Baptist Press, is quoted to have told EthicsDaily.com that this announcement of the Judge Paul Pressler School of Law has caused him to question the school's "sanity."

From EthicsDaily.com:

"Along with Paige Patterson, today president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Pressler is generally credited as a co-founder of the "resurgence" movement that transformed the nation's largest Protestant denomination into one of the most conservative."

The article goes on to say that,

"The symbolic naming of the law school after Pressler is the latest in a series of moves that have alienated many alumni and friends of Louisiana College, once known for its tradition of academic freedom and open inquiry."

The focus of my attention for the remainder of this post is a commentary on the seemingly fallacious ideology that a moderate or liberal institution is the only means to "academic freedom and open inquiry." I am not aware of all the details in the Louisiana College situation so I can't properly agree or disagree with that specific situation, but on the whole there seems to be an attitude among moderates and liberals that true and valued education only stems from a foundation laid by moderates or liberals. My suspicion with the reaction against Pressler is his strong conservative beliefs that led to the "resurgence", a movement from which the aftershocks are still being endured.

I am deeply thankful for the education I received from Belmont University, my undergraduate Alma Mater. Belmont was and is a school that would probably best be labeled as "moderate" in their philosophy, at least that was my experience, especially in the school of religion. During my time during and after Belmont, I have remained somewhat to the right of my moderate brothers and sisters. Nevertheless, I received a grand education and still believe that Belmont is a fine institution for higher learning. I would recommend the school. Having said that, Belmont is kidding itself if they think that because of its moderate roots they are somehow more "open" in the educational process. They bring with their philosophies and practices the same kinds of boundaries that an extremely liberal or conservative institution will bring. For example, if I walked into the dean of religion's office with a resume boasting of my M.div, M.Th, PH.D, all of which I was summa cum laude, a long list of teaching experience, references that praise my work and teaching, and other qualifications that are well suited to such a position, one would think I would be a prime candidate. Until they ask me what I think about women being pastors, my position on inerrancy vs. infallibility, and my position on homosexuality in the church. Then, regardless of my other qualifications, I would more than likely not make it to the next level of their consideration. Is that bad? I would argue no, they are desiring to hire teachers who fit in nicely with their structure of thought and are confident of the kinds of things they will be teaching in the classroom. Does that make Belmont guilty of violating "academic freedom?" No.

But the same rule must consistently be followed with conservative or more liberal institutions. It is one thing to recognize that a particular school is not the right choice for you. It is quite another to accuse it of being "closed" and losing "open inquiry." Professors and others with positions of authority and respect, to whom students will listen, need to think twice before not recommending a school. More often than not, they will discredit the school for reasons tied to their own convictions about the program and not so much about the excellence of teaching and education that such a school might possess.

As a famous band once said, "don't believe the hype." Their are schools who are conservative, moderate, and liberal who all offer educational freedom and open inquiry.