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Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy

2026-04-06T18:02:48Z

BrantleyRider:

The '''Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy''' is a written statement of belief formulated by more than 200 [[Evangelicalism|evangelical]] leaders at a conference convened by the [[International Council on Biblical Inerrancy]] and held in [[wikipedia:Chicago|Chicago]] in October 1978.<ref>https://library.dts.edu/Pages/TL/Special/ICBI.shtml</ref> The statement was designed to defend the position of [[biblical inerrancy]] against a trend toward [[wikipedia:Liberal Christianity|liberal Christian]] conceptions of [[Bible|Scripture]].

The subsequent November 1982 '''Chicago Statement on Biblical Hermeneutics''' recognized the need to add a [[Biblical hermeneutics|hermeneutical]] framework to the statement.

Finally the December 1986 conference adopted the '''Chicago Statement on Biblical Application'''.

==Inerrancy statement==
The Inerrancy Statement elaborates on various details in articles formed as couplets of "We affirm..." and "We deny...". Under the statement, inerrancy applies only to the ''original manuscripts'' which no longer exist, but which, its adherents claim, "can be ascertained from available manuscripts with great accuracy" (Article 10). In the statement, inerrancy does ''not'' refer to a blind [[Biblical literalism|literal]] interpretation, and that "history must be treated as history, poetry as poetry, hyperbole and metaphor as hyperbole and metaphor, generalization and approximation as what they are, and so forth." It also makes it clear that the signers deny "that [[Biblical infallibility|Biblical infallibility]] and inerrancy are limited to spiritual, religious, or redemptive themes, exclusive of assertions in the fields of history and science. We further deny that scientific hypotheses about earth history may properly be used to overturn the teaching of Scripture on creation and the flood."

Signatories to the statement came from a variety of evangelical Christian denominations, and included [[Robert Preus]], [[James Montgomery Boice]], [[Kenneth Kantzer]], [[J. I. Packer]], [[Francis Schaeffer]], [[R. C. Sproul]] and [[John F. MacArthur]].

==Hermeneutics statement==
The Hermeneutics Statement recognized that "the values of a commitment [to inerrancy] are only as real as one's understanding of the meaning of Scripture". It particularly aimed to address "the meaning of the 'grammatico-historical exegesis' mentioned in Article XIII".

==Biblical Application statement==
The foci of the summit on Biblical Application were "the Trinitarian foundations that must give shape to all the church's life and witness, and then on a number of community concerns that come under the heading of Christian social ethics. These themes were chosen partly for their intrinsic importance and partly because there is need to dispel doubts as to whether Bible believers can ever agree on how to respond to them. ... [It] offers a high degree of consensus as to how a trusted Bible directs prayer, planning and action in today's drifting society."

==Notable signers==
*[[Gleason Archer Jr.]]
*[[Greg Bahnsen]]
*[[James Montgomery Boice]]
*[[D. A. Carson]]
*[[W. A. Criswell]]
*[[John Feinberg]]
*[[Norman Geisler]]
*[[Ralph Earle Jr.]]
*[[Robert Godfrey]]
*[[Wayne Grudem]]
*[[Stanley N. Gundry]]
*[[Howard Hendricks]]
*[[D. James Kennedy]]
*[[Hal Lindsey]]
*[[Josh McDowell]]
*[[Jack MacArthur]]
*[[John F. MacArthur]]
*[[Allan MacRae]]
*[[J. P. Moreland]]
*[[Harold Ockenga]]
*[[J. I. Packer]]
*[[Luis Palau]]
*[[Paige Patterson]]
*[[Paul Pressler]]
*[[Robert Preus]]
*[[Francis Schaeffer]]
*[[Frank Schaeffer]]
*[[R. C. Sproul]]
*[[Marten Woudstra]]

==Reception==
===Criticism within evangelicalism===
Old Testament theologian [[Peter Enns]] was greatly critical of the statement, saying, "Much of what burdens CSBI can be summed up as failing to reflect adequately on the nature of inspiration. The irony is clear. In their efforts to protect biblical authority, the framers define inspiration in a way that does not account well for how the Bible actually behaves."

Theologian [[Roger Olson]] recognised the political elements of the statements: "In all such efforts, projects, there is a perceived 'enemy' to be excluded." He adds: "When I look at the Chicago Statement on inerrancy and its signatories I believe it is more a political (in the broad sense) statement than a clear, precise, statement of perfect agreement among the signatories. In other words, what was really going on there... was driven by a shared concern to establish and patrol 'evangelical boundaries'."

===Criticism of position on evolution===
The Hermeneutics statement specifically came out against what it called "evolutionism":

* Article 19: "WE DENY that Scripture should be required to fit alien preunderstandings, inconsistent with itself, such as naturalism, evolutionism, scientism, secular humanism, and relativism."
* Article 22: "WE DENY that the teachings of Genesis 1-11 are mythical and that scientific hypotheses about earth history or the origin of humanity may be invoked to overthrow what Scripture teaches about creation."

The official commentary was forthright: "...a recognition of the factual nature of the account of the creation of the universe, all living things, the special creation of man, the Fall, and the Flood. These accounts are all factual, that is, they are about space-time events which actually happened as reported in the book of Genesis. ... Likewise, the use of the term 'creation' was meant to exclude the belief in macro-evolution, whether of the atheistic or theistic varieties."

The Biblical Application statement was also forthright in its denial of evolutionary thought: "Mainstream Protestantism ... provides a cautionary tale in this regard, for it has erred in a radical way by acquiring the habit of regularly relativizing biblical teaching to current secular fashion, whether rationalist, historicist, evolutionist, existentialist, Marxist, or whatever. But this is to forget how sin darkens and misdirects the human intellect..." and "for our secular society insists on judging itself, not by the revelation of the Creator that the Bible sets forth, but by evolutionary, permissive, materialistic, hedonistic, and this-worldly yardsticks...".

The statements' rejection of the scientific consensus about evolution has been strongly criticised by thinkers within the evangelical community itself, such as Richard Wright: "the important Chicago Inerrancy statements simply miss the target when addressing the relationship between science and the bible. ... [D]iscussions on science and the bible touch upon very important and profound theological issues, which require some amount of expounding, but none was given. The statements supply a surprisingly large number of articles and other declarations that insist that all the bible is literal, historical truth, including Genesis. Those articles, combined with [[Geisler]]'s commentary to those articles, reveal contradictions, inconsistencies, and a healthy dose of lazy theology."

==External links==
* Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy: https://library.dts.edu/Pages/TL/Special/ICBI_1.pdf
** Text of the Statement: http://www.bible-researcher.com/chicago1.html
** Typed list of signers: http://library.dts.edu/Pages/TL/Special/ICBI_1_typed.pdf
* Chicago Statement on Biblical Hermeneutics: http://library.dts.edu/Pages/TL/Special/ICBI_2.pdf
* Chicago Statement on Biblical Application: http://library.dts.edu/Pages/TL/Special/ICBI_3.pdf
* Explaining Biblical Inerrancy: Official Commentary on the ICBI Statements: http://www.isca-apologetics.org/sites/default/files/Explaining%20Biblical%20Inerrancy.pdf

==References==

[[Category:Biblical criticism]]
[[Category:Christian statements of faith]]
[[Category:Evangelical theology]]
[[Category:Christian theology of the Bible]]
[[Category:1978 in Christianity]]
[[Category:1978 documents]]
[[Category:1978 in Illinois]]
[[Category:Christian fundamentalism in the United States]]
[[Category:Evangelical Christian fundamentalism]]

Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy

2026-04-06T18:01:56Z

BrantleyRider: /* Notable signers */

The '''Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy''' is a written statement of belief formulated by more than 200 [[Evangelicalism|evangelical]] leaders at a conference convened by the [[International Council on Biblical Inerrancy]] and held in [[wikipedia:Chicago|Chicago]] in October 1978. The statement was designed to defend the position of [[biblical inerrancy]] against a trend toward [[wikipedia:Liberal Christianity|liberal Christian]] conceptions of [[Bible|Scripture]].

The subsequent November 1982 '''Chicago Statement on Biblical Hermeneutics''' recognized the need to add a [[Biblical hermeneutics|hermeneutical]] framework to the statement.

Finally the December 1986 conference adopted the '''Chicago Statement on Biblical Application'''.

==Inerrancy statement==
The Inerrancy Statement elaborates on various details in articles formed as couplets of "We affirm..." and "We deny...". Under the statement, inerrancy applies only to the ''original manuscripts'' which no longer exist, but which, its adherents claim, "can be ascertained from available manuscripts with great accuracy" (Article 10). In the statement, inerrancy does ''not'' refer to a blind [[Biblical literalism|literal]] interpretation, and that "history must be treated as history, poetry as poetry, hyperbole and metaphor as hyperbole and metaphor, generalization and approximation as what they are, and so forth." It also makes it clear that the signers deny "that [[Biblical infallibility|Biblical infallibility]] and inerrancy are limited to spiritual, religious, or redemptive themes, exclusive of assertions in the fields of history and science. We further deny that scientific hypotheses about earth history may properly be used to overturn the teaching of Scripture on creation and the flood."

Signatories to the statement came from a variety of evangelical Christian denominations, and included [[Robert Preus]], [[James Montgomery Boice]], [[Kenneth Kantzer]], [[J. I. Packer]], [[Francis Schaeffer]], [[R. C. Sproul]] and [[John F. MacArthur]].

==Hermeneutics statement==
The Hermeneutics Statement recognized that "the values of a commitment [to inerrancy] are only as real as one's understanding of the meaning of Scripture". It particularly aimed to address "the meaning of the 'grammatico-historical exegesis' mentioned in Article XIII".

==Biblical Application statement==
The foci of the summit on Biblical Application were "the Trinitarian foundations that must give shape to all the church's life and witness, and then on a number of community concerns that come under the heading of Christian social ethics. These themes were chosen partly for their intrinsic importance and partly because there is need to dispel doubts as to whether Bible believers can ever agree on how to respond to them. ... [It] offers a high degree of consensus as to how a trusted Bible directs prayer, planning and action in today's drifting society."

==Notable signers==
*[[Gleason Archer Jr.]]
*[[Greg Bahnsen]]
*[[James Montgomery Boice]]
*[[D. A. Carson]]
*[[W. A. Criswell]]
*[[John Feinberg]]
*[[Norman Geisler]]
*[[Ralph Earle Jr.]]
*[[Robert Godfrey]]
*[[Wayne Grudem]]
*[[Stanley N. Gundry]]
*[[Howard Hendricks]]
*[[D. James Kennedy]]
*[[Hal Lindsey]]
*[[Josh McDowell]]
*[[Jack MacArthur]]
*[[John F. MacArthur]]
*[[Allan MacRae]]
*[[J. P. Moreland]]
*[[Harold Ockenga]]
*[[J. I. Packer]]
*[[Luis Palau]]
*[[Paige Patterson]]
*[[Paul Pressler]]
*[[Robert Preus]]
*[[Francis Schaeffer]]
*[[Frank Schaeffer]]
*[[R. C. Sproul]]
*[[Marten Woudstra]]

==Reception==
===Criticism within evangelicalism===
Old Testament theologian [[Peter Enns]] was greatly critical of the statement, saying, "Much of what burdens CSBI can be summed up as failing to reflect adequately on the nature of inspiration. The irony is clear. In their efforts to protect biblical authority, the framers define inspiration in a way that does not account well for how the Bible actually behaves."

Theologian [[Roger Olson]] recognised the political elements of the statements: "In all such efforts, projects, there is a perceived 'enemy' to be excluded." He adds: "When I look at the Chicago Statement on inerrancy and its signatories I believe it is more a political (in the broad sense) statement than a clear, precise, statement of perfect agreement among the signatories. In other words, what was really going on there... was driven by a shared concern to establish and patrol 'evangelical boundaries'."

===Criticism of position on evolution===
The Hermeneutics statement specifically came out against what it called "evolutionism":

* Article 19: "WE DENY that Scripture should be required to fit alien preunderstandings, inconsistent with itself, such as naturalism, evolutionism, scientism, secular humanism, and relativism."
* Article 22: "WE DENY that the teachings of Genesis 1-11 are mythical and that scientific hypotheses about earth history or the origin of humanity may be invoked to overthrow what Scripture teaches about creation."

The official commentary was forthright: "...a recognition of the factual nature of the account of the creation of the universe, all living things, the special creation of man, the Fall, and the Flood. These accounts are all factual, that is, they are about space-time events which actually happened as reported in the book of Genesis. ... Likewise, the use of the term 'creation' was meant to exclude the belief in macro-evolution, whether of the atheistic or theistic varieties."

The Biblical Application statement was also forthright in its denial of evolutionary thought: "Mainstream Protestantism ... provides a cautionary tale in this regard, for it has erred in a radical way by acquiring the habit of regularly relativizing biblical teaching to current secular fashion, whether rationalist, historicist, evolutionist, existentialist, Marxist, or whatever. But this is to forget how sin darkens and misdirects the human intellect..." and "for our secular society insists on judging itself, not by the revelation of the Creator that the Bible sets forth, but by evolutionary, permissive, materialistic, hedonistic, and this-worldly yardsticks...".

The statements' rejection of the scientific consensus about evolution has been strongly criticised by thinkers within the evangelical community itself, such as Richard Wright: "the important Chicago Inerrancy statements simply miss the target when addressing the relationship between science and the bible. ... [D]iscussions on science and the bible touch upon very important and profound theological issues, which require some amount of expounding, but none was given. The statements supply a surprisingly large number of articles and other declarations that insist that all the bible is literal, historical truth, including Genesis. Those articles, combined with [[Geisler]]'s commentary to those articles, reveal contradictions, inconsistencies, and a healthy dose of lazy theology."

==External links==
* Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy: https://library.dts.edu/Pages/TL/Special/ICBI_1.pdf
** Text of the Statement: http://www.bible-researcher.com/chicago1.html
** Typed list of signers: http://library.dts.edu/Pages/TL/Special/ICBI_1_typed.pdf
* Chicago Statement on Biblical Hermeneutics: http://library.dts.edu/Pages/TL/Special/ICBI_2.pdf
* Chicago Statement on Biblical Application: http://library.dts.edu/Pages/TL/Special/ICBI_3.pdf
* Explaining Biblical Inerrancy: Official Commentary on the ICBI Statements: http://www.isca-apologetics.org/sites/default/files/Explaining%20Biblical%20Inerrancy.pdf

==References==

[[Category:Biblical criticism]]
[[Category:Christian statements of faith]]
[[Category:Evangelical theology]]
[[Category:Christian theology of the Bible]]
[[Category:1978 in Christianity]]
[[Category:1978 documents]]
[[Category:1978 in Illinois]]
[[Category:Christian fundamentalism in the United States]]
[[Category:Evangelical Christian fundamentalism]]

Paul Pressler (Texas politician)

2026-04-06T18:01:50Z

BrantleyRider: Redirected page to Paul Pressler

#redirect [[Paul Pressler]]

Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy

2026-04-06T17:25:05Z

BrantleyRider: Created page with "The '''Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy''' is a written statement of belief formulated by more than 200 evangelical leaders at a conference convened by the International Council on Biblical Inerrancy and held in Chicago in October 1978. The statement was designed to defend the position of biblical inerrancy against a trend toward liberal Christian conceptions of Scripture..."

The '''Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy''' is a written statement of belief formulated by more than 200 [[Evangelicalism|evangelical]] leaders at a conference convened by the [[International Council on Biblical Inerrancy]] and held in [[wikipedia:Chicago|Chicago]] in October 1978. The statement was designed to defend the position of [[biblical inerrancy]] against a trend toward [[wikipedia:Liberal Christianity|liberal Christian]] conceptions of [[Bible|Scripture]].

The subsequent November 1982 '''Chicago Statement on Biblical Hermeneutics''' recognized the need to add a [[Biblical hermeneutics|hermeneutical]] framework to the statement.

Finally the December 1986 conference adopted the '''Chicago Statement on Biblical Application'''.

==Inerrancy statement==
The Inerrancy Statement elaborates on various details in articles formed as couplets of "We affirm..." and "We deny...". Under the statement, inerrancy applies only to the ''original manuscripts'' which no longer exist, but which, its adherents claim, "can be ascertained from available manuscripts with great accuracy" (Article 10). In the statement, inerrancy does ''not'' refer to a blind [[Biblical literalism|literal]] interpretation, and that "history must be treated as history, poetry as poetry, hyperbole and metaphor as hyperbole and metaphor, generalization and approximation as what they are, and so forth." It also makes it clear that the signers deny "that [[Biblical infallibility|Biblical infallibility]] and inerrancy are limited to spiritual, religious, or redemptive themes, exclusive of assertions in the fields of history and science. We further deny that scientific hypotheses about earth history may properly be used to overturn the teaching of Scripture on creation and the flood."

Signatories to the statement came from a variety of evangelical Christian denominations, and included [[Robert Preus]], [[James Montgomery Boice]], [[Kenneth Kantzer]], [[J. I. Packer]], [[Francis Schaeffer]], [[R. C. Sproul]] and [[John F. MacArthur]].

==Hermeneutics statement==
The Hermeneutics Statement recognized that "the values of a commitment [to inerrancy] are only as real as one's understanding of the meaning of Scripture". It particularly aimed to address "the meaning of the 'grammatico-historical exegesis' mentioned in Article XIII".

==Biblical Application statement==
The foci of the summit on Biblical Application were "the Trinitarian foundations that must give shape to all the church's life and witness, and then on a number of community concerns that come under the heading of Christian social ethics. These themes were chosen partly for their intrinsic importance and partly because there is need to dispel doubts as to whether Bible believers can ever agree on how to respond to them. ... [It] offers a high degree of consensus as to how a trusted Bible directs prayer, planning and action in today's drifting society."

==Notable signers==
*[[Gleason Archer Jr.]]
*[[Greg Bahnsen]]
*[[wikipedia:James Montgomery Boice|James Montgomery Boice]]
*[[wikipedia:D. A. Carson|D. A. Carson]]
*[[wikipedia:W. A. Criswell|W. A. Criswell]]
*[[wikipedia:John Feinberg|John Feinberg]]
*[[wikipedia:Norman Geisler|Norman Geisler]]
*[[wikipedia:Ralph Earle Jr.|Ralph Earle Jr.]]
*[[wikipedia:W. Robert Godfrey|Robert Godfrey]]
*[[wikipedia:Wayne Grudem|Wayne Grudem]]
*[[wikipedia:Stanley N. Gundry|Stanley N. Gundry]]
*[[wikipedia:Howard Hendricks|Howard Hendricks]]
*[[wikipedia:D. James Kennedy|D. James Kennedy]]
*[[wikipedia:Hal Lindsey|Hal Lindsey]]
*[[wikipedia:Josh McDowell|Josh McDowell]]
*[[wikipedia:Jack MacArthur|Jack MacArthur]]
*[[wikipedia:John F. MacArthur|John F. MacArthur]]
*[[wikipedia:Allan MacRae|Allan MacRae]]
*[[wikipedia:J. P. Moreland|J. P. Moreland]]
*[[wikipedia:Harold Ockenga|Harold Ockenga]]
*[[wikipedia:J. I. Packer|J. I. Packer]]
*[[wikipedia:Luis Palau|Luis Palau]]
*[[wikipedia:Paige Patterson|Paige Patterson]]
*[[wikipedia:Paul Pressler (Texas politician)|Paul Pressler]]
*[[wikipedia:Robert Preus|Robert Preus]]
*[[wikipedia:Francis Schaeffer|Francis Schaeffer]]
*[[wikipedia:Frank Schaeffer|Frank Schaeffer]]
*[[wikipedia:R. C. Sproul|R. C. Sproul]]
*[[wikipedia:Marten Woudstra|Marten Woudstra]]

==Reception==
===Criticism within evangelicalism===
Old Testament theologian [[Peter Enns]] was greatly critical of the statement, saying, "Much of what burdens CSBI can be summed up as failing to reflect adequately on the nature of inspiration. The irony is clear. In their efforts to protect biblical authority, the framers define inspiration in a way that does not account well for how the Bible actually behaves."

Theologian [[Roger Olson]] recognised the political elements of the statements: "In all such efforts, projects, there is a perceived 'enemy' to be excluded." He adds: "When I look at the Chicago Statement on inerrancy and its signatories I believe it is more a political (in the broad sense) statement than a clear, precise, statement of perfect agreement among the signatories. In other words, what was really going on there... was driven by a shared concern to establish and patrol 'evangelical boundaries'."

===Criticism of position on evolution===
The Hermeneutics statement specifically came out against what it called "evolutionism":

* Article 19: "WE DENY that Scripture should be required to fit alien preunderstandings, inconsistent with itself, such as naturalism, evolutionism, scientism, secular humanism, and relativism."
* Article 22: "WE DENY that the teachings of Genesis 1-11 are mythical and that scientific hypotheses about earth history or the origin of humanity may be invoked to overthrow what Scripture teaches about creation."

The official commentary was forthright: "...a recognition of the factual nature of the account of the creation of the universe, all living things, the special creation of man, the Fall, and the Flood. These accounts are all factual, that is, they are about space-time events which actually happened as reported in the book of Genesis. ... Likewise, the use of the term 'creation' was meant to exclude the belief in macro-evolution, whether of the atheistic or theistic varieties."

The Biblical Application statement was also forthright in its denial of evolutionary thought: "Mainstream Protestantism ... provides a cautionary tale in this regard, for it has erred in a radical way by acquiring the habit of regularly relativizing biblical teaching to current secular fashion, whether rationalist, historicist, evolutionist, existentialist, Marxist, or whatever. But this is to forget how sin darkens and misdirects the human intellect..." and "for our secular society insists on judging itself, not by the revelation of the Creator that the Bible sets forth, but by evolutionary, permissive, materialistic, hedonistic, and this-worldly yardsticks...".

The statements' rejection of the scientific consensus about evolution has been strongly criticised by thinkers within the evangelical community itself, such as Richard Wright: "the important Chicago Inerrancy statements simply miss the target when addressing the relationship between science and the bible. ... [D]iscussions on science and the bible touch upon very important and profound theological issues, which require some amount of expounding, but none was given. The statements supply a surprisingly large number of articles and other declarations that insist that all the bible is literal, historical truth, including Genesis. Those articles, combined with [[Geisler]]'s commentary to those articles, reveal contradictions, inconsistencies, and a healthy dose of lazy theology."

==External links==
* Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy: https://library.dts.edu/Pages/TL/Special/ICBI_1.pdf
** Text of the Statement: http://www.bible-researcher.com/chicago1.html
** Typed list of signers: http://library.dts.edu/Pages/TL/Special/ICBI_1_typed.pdf
* Chicago Statement on Biblical Hermeneutics: http://library.dts.edu/Pages/TL/Special/ICBI_2.pdf
* Chicago Statement on Biblical Application: http://library.dts.edu/Pages/TL/Special/ICBI_3.pdf
* Explaining Biblical Inerrancy: Official Commentary on the ICBI Statements: http://www.isca-apologetics.org/sites/default/files/Explaining%20Biblical%20Inerrancy.pdf

==References==

[[Category:Biblical criticism]]
[[Category:Christian statements of faith]]
[[Category:Evangelical theology]]
[[Category:Christian theology of the Bible]]
[[Category:1978 in Christianity]]
[[Category:1978 documents]]
[[Category:1978 in Illinois]]
[[Category:Christian fundamentalism in the United States]]
[[Category:Evangelical Christian fundamentalism]]

The N.A.R. and Christian Nationalism Statement

2026-04-04T14:22:18Z

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The N.A.R. & Christian Nationalism Statement

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The NAR & Christian Nationalism Statement

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NAR & Christian Nationalism Statement

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New Apostolic Reformation and Christian Nationalism Statement

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The New Apostolic Reformation and Christian Nationalism Statement

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NAR and Christian Nationalism Statement

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NAR and Christian Nationalism Statement

N.A.R. & Christian Nationalism Statement

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The New Apostolic Reformation and Christian Nationalism Statement

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New Apostolic Reformation and Christian Nationalism Statement

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The NAR & Christian Nationalism Statement

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NAR & Christian Nationalism Statement

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NAR & Christian Nationalism Statement

The Prophetic Standards Statement

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The Prophetic Standards Statement

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The Prophetic Standards Statement

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Statement Against Christian Nationalism

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#REDIRECT [[Statement from Christians against Christian Nationalism]]

Nashville Statement

2026-04-03T02:07:18Z

BrantleyRider:

'''The Nashville Statement''' is an [[evangelical]] [[Christian statement]] relating to [[human sexuality]] and [[gender roles]] authored by the [[Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood]] (CBMW) in [[wikipedia:Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville, Tennessee]] in 2017.<ref name="auto">[https://cbmw.org/nashville-statement/ Nashville Statement]. CBMW. Archived from the original on 24 February 2018.</ref> The Statement expresses support for marriage between one man and one woman, for faithfulness within marriage, for chastity outside marriage, and for a link between biological sex and "self-conception as male and female".<ref name="auto"/> The Statement sets forth the signatories' opposition to LGBT sexuality, same-sex marriage, polygamy, polyamory, adultery, and fornication.<ref name="auto"/> It was criticized by [[egalitarian]] and liberal Christians, and other LGBT activists,<ref name="prompts"/><ref>[https://www.christiantoday.com/news/evangelicals-and-the-nashville-statement-what-is-the-point Evangelicals and the Nashville Statement: What is the point?]. Christian Today. 31 August 2017. Archived from the original on 1 September 2017.</ref> and several conservative religious figures.

==History==
The Statement was drafted in late August 2017, during the annual conference of the [[Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission]] of the [[Southern Baptist Convention]], at the [[wikipedia:Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center|Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center]] in [[wikipedia:Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville, Tennessee]].<ref>Meyer, Holly (30 August 2017). "What is the Nashville Statement and why are people talking about it?". ''The Tennessean''.</ref> The statement was published online on August 29, 2017.<ref>Showalter, Brandon (30 August 2017). "Broad Coalition of Evangelicals Releases 'Nashville Statement' on Human Sexuality, Identity". ''The Christian Post''. Archived from the original on 2 September 2017.</ref> It was signed by more than 150 evangelical Christian leaders.<ref name="Release">Sopelsa, Brooke (31 August 2017). "'Nashville Statement': Evangelical Leaders Release Sexuality Manifesto". NBC News. Archived from the original on 2 September 2017.</ref>

==Contents==
The Statement includes a preamble and 14 articles.<ref name="Release"/> The opening paragraph begins, "Evangelical Christians at the dawn of the twenty-first century find themselves living in a period of historic transition. As Western culture has become increasingly [[post-Christian]], it has embarked upon a massive revision of what it means to be a human being."<ref>Bucher, Chris (30 August 2017). "READ: The Nashville Statement on LGBTQ & Transgender Acceptance". Heavy.com. Archived from the original on 3 September 2017.</ref> The Statement presents a [[complementarian]] view of gender and sexuality.<ref name="Why"/><ref name="Release"/>

The Nashville Statement:
:* Affirms that God designed marriage as a lifelong union between male and female, and that marriage "is meant to signify the covenant love between Christ and his bride the church";
:* Denies that differences between men and women render the sexes "unequal in dignity or worth";
:* Denies "that adopting a homosexual or transgender self-conception is consistent with God's holy purposes in creation and redemption."[https://cbmw.org/nashville-statement (art. VII b)]
:* Denies "that the approval of homosexual immorality or transgenderism is a matter of moral indifference about which otherwise faithful Christians should agree to disagree."[https://cbmw.org/nashville-statement (art. Xb)]
:* Affirms that "Christ Jesus has come into the world to save sinners and that through Christ’s death and resurrection forgiveness of sins and eternal life are available to every person who repents of sin and trusts in Christ alone as Savior, Lord, and supreme treasure".<ref name="auto"/>

==Notable signatories ==
In alphabetical order:
* [[Rosaria Butterfield]], English professor and former LGBT activist<ref>Kumar, Anugrah (2 September 2017). "Former Lesbian Explains Why She Signed the Nashville Statement". ''Christian Post''. Archived from the original on 2 September 2017.</ref>
* [[Francis Chan]], preacher and author<ref name="CP">Anderson, Rod (2 September 2017). "What Is the Nashville Statement?". ''[[The Christian Post]]''. Archived from the original on 2 September 2017.</ref>
* [[William Lane Craig]], philosopher and Christian apologist<ref>[https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/reasonable-faith-podcast/id252618197?mt=2 The Nashville Statement]. Reasonable Faith Podcast. 22 September 2017. Archived from the original on 25 September 2017.</ref>
* [[James Dobson]], psychologist, founder of [[Focus on the Family]]<ref name="What">Meyer, Holly (30 August 2017). "What is the Nashville Statement and why are people talking about it?". ''USA Today''. Archived from the original on 31 August 2017.</ref>
* [[Ligon Duncan]], [[Presbyterian Church in America|Presbyterian]] theologian, chancellor of the [[Reformed Theological Seminary]]<ref name="Signatories"/>
* [[Erick Erickson]], radio host at [[WSB (AM)|WSB]] in [[Atlanta]]<ref>[https://cbmw.org/nashville-statement/ "Nashville Statement"]. August 2017.</ref>
* [[Ronnie Floyd]], senior pastor of Cross Church, Arkansas, former president of the Southern Baptist Convention<ref name="What"/>
* [[John Frame (theologian)|John Frame]], [[Presbyterian Church in America|Presbyterian]] theologian<ref name="Signatories"/>
* [[David French (political commentator)|David French]], attorney, former ''[[National Review]]'' contributor<ref name="tenneseanwhatisthenashvillestatement">Meyer, Holly (30 August 2017). "What is the Nashville Statement and why are people talking about it?". ''The Tennessean''.</ref>
* [[Steve Gaines (pastor)|Steve Gaines]], former president of the [[Southern Baptist Convention]]<ref name="What"/>
* [[Jack Graham (pastor)|Jack Graham]], pastor of [[Prestonwood Baptist Church]], [[Plano, Texas]]<ref name="What"/>
* [[Kees van der Staaij]], [[Leader of the Reformed Political Party]]
* [[Ken Ham]], young-earth creationist and founder, CEO, and president of [[Answers in Genesis]]
* [[Jeff Iorg]], Southern Baptist pastor, president of [[Gateway Seminary]]<ref name="Signatories"/>
* [[Timothy Paul Jones]], professor of apologetics and family ministry at the [[Southern Baptist Theological Seminary]]<ref name="signers">Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. Signers. https://cbmw.org/nashville-statement-signers/.</ref>
* [[Richard Land]], president of [[Southern Evangelical Seminary]]<ref name="What"/>
* [[John MacArthur (American pastor)|John F. MacArthur Jr.]], president of The Master's Seminary & College<ref name="Signatories"/>
* [[Albert Mohler]], president of the [[Southern Baptist Theological Seminary]]<ref name="Signatories">Initial Signatories. Nashville Statement. Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. Archived from the original on 24 February 2018.</ref>
* [[J. P. Moreland]], philosopher, theologian, and Christian apologist<ref name="Signatories"/>
* [[Russell D. Moore]], theologian and preacher, president of the [[Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission]] of the Southern Baptist Convention<ref name="What"/>
* [[Raymond C. Ortlund Jr.]], president of Renewal Ministries<ref name="Signatories"/>
* [[J. I. Packer]], [[Evangelical Anglicanism|evangelical Anglican]] theologian, professor of theology, [[Regent College]]<ref name="Signatories"/>
* [[Paige Patterson]], former president of the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary<ref name="Signatories"/>
* [[Tony Perkins (politician)|Tony Perkins]], president of the [[Family Research Council]]<ref name="What"/>
* [[John Piper (theologian)|John Piper]], [[Reformed Baptist]] theologian<ref name="Signatories"/>
* [[Vaughan Roberts]], Rector of [[St Ebbe's Church, Oxford]], and Director of the Proclamation Trust<ref name="Signatories"/>
* [[James Robison (televangelist)|James Robison]], [[televangelist]]<ref name="What"/>
* [[Thomas R. Schreiner]], New Testament scholar<ref name="Signatories"/>
* [[R. C. Sproul]], [[Presbyterian Church in America|Presbyterian]] theologian, founder and chairman, Ligonier Ministries<ref name="Signatories"/>
* [[Donald W. Sweeting]], president of [[Colorado Christian University]]<ref name="Signatories"/>

==Criticism and responses==
Due to perceived [[homophobia]], [[transphobia]], and [[misogyny]], the Nashville Statement has attracted significant controversy.<ref name="Attack"/>

* An opposing statement was published on August 30, 2017, by Christians United, a group of signatories. [[Brandan Robertson]] drafted the Christians United statement, and the Rev. [[Steve Chalke]] and others edited it. Signatories included [[John C. Dorhauer]], the General Minister and President of the [[United Church of Christ]]; [[Yvette Flunder]]; and [[Jayne Ozanne]].<ref>Toumayan, Michael (31 August 2017). "Hundreds of Christian Leaders Denounce the Nashville Statement in an Open Letter". The Human Rights Campaign. Archived from the original on 1 September 2017.</ref><ref>[http://www.christiansunitedstatement.org/ The Statement]. Christians United. Archived from the original on 8 September 2017.</ref><ref name="HP">Blumberg, Antonia (30 August 2017). "Hundreds Of Christian Leaders Denounce Anti-LGBTQ 'Nashville Statement'". ''Huffington Post''. Archived from the original on 1 September 2017.</ref>
* [[Nashville]] mayor [[Megan Barry]] wrote "[the] so-called 'Nashville statement' is poorly named and does not represent the inclusive values of the city & people of Nashville".<ref name="rebuked">Schmidt, Samantha (30 August 2017). "Evangelicals' 'Nashville Statement' denouncing same-sex marriage is rebuked by city's mayor". ''The Washington Post''. Archived from the original on 2 September 2017.</ref>
* The [[Episcopal Bishop of Central Florida]], [[Gregory Brewer]], described the statement as "tone deaf to the nuances of Jesus".<ref name="prompts"/>
* Catholic priest [[James Martin (priest, born 1960)|James Martin]] {{Post-nominals|list=[[Society of Jesus|SJ]]}} replied to the Nashville Statement with his own set of affirmations and denials, beginning with "I affirm: That God loves all LGBT people".<ref name="SJ">Martin, James (30 August 2017). "Seven simple ways to respond to the Nashville Statement on sexuality". ''The Washington Post''. Archived from the original on 1 September 2017.</ref>
* Professor Jamin Andreas Hübner published the first full-length academic review of the Nashville Statement in ''Priscilla Papers'' (Winter 2019).<ref>Hübner, Jamin (January 2019). "A Critical Review of the Nashville Statement". ''Priscilla Papers''. Christians for Biblical Equality.</ref>

The Statement has also received opposition from some same-sex marriage opponents. Catholic intellectual [[Ryan T. Anderson]] "[feared] that 'evangelical leaders either don't know what the word chastity means or don't defend its requirements in marriage.'"<ref>Aaron Taylor (11 September 2017). "Nashville and Sodom". First Things. Archived from the original on 14 February 2018.</ref> Some evangelicals were sympathetic to the statement's theology, but critical of what they saw as its pastoral insensitivity.<ref>Williams, Hattie (8 September 2017). "To sign or not: Nashville Statement on sexuality debate intensifies". ''Church Times''. Archived from the original on 24 November 2018.</ref><ref name="Why"/>

In November 2022, David French, one of the original signers of the declaration, announced that he had "changed his mind" on the legal recognition of [[Same-sex marriage in the United States|same-sex marriage]], although stating he was still morally opposed to the matter. He wrote that his "reasoning tracked my lifelong civil libertarian beliefs" and that:

<blockquote>Millions of Americans have formed families and live their lives in deep reliance on ''[[Obergefell v. Hodges|Obergefell]]'' being good law. It would be profoundly disruptive and unjust to rip out the legal superstructure around which they've ordered their lives.</blockquote><ref>French, David (21 November 2022). "Why I Changed My Mind About Law and Marriage, Again". The Dispatch.</ref>

In June 2019, the [[General Assembly (presbyterian church)|General Assembly]] of the [[Presbyterian Church in America]] voted, 803 to 541, to endorse the Nashville Statement.<ref>Gryboski, Michael (28 June 2019). "PCA endorses Nashville Statement on biblical sexuality". ''The Christian Post''. Archived from the original on 28 June 2019.</ref>

== Dutch version ==
[[File:Kees van der Staaij.jpg|thumb|right|[[Reformed Political Party|SGP]] leader [[Kees van der Staaij]] is considered the Statement's most prominent supporter.]]
[[File:Nashville wormerland.jpg|thumb|right|The Dutch municipality of [[Wormerland]] flies the [[Rainbow flag (LGBT movement)|rainbow flag]] on January 9, 2019, in solidarity with the [[LGBT]] community after the publication of the Dutch version of the Nashville Statement.]]

On January 4, 2019, a [[Dutch language|Dutch]] version of the Nashville Statement was published; its publication subsequently drew much controversy. It was signed by 200 leaders from [[Netherlands|the Netherlands]]' orthodox-Protestant communities (including Member of Parliament and [[Reformed Political Party]] leader [[Kees van der Staaij]]). Its structure and content were very similar to the original statement, but a 'pastoral chapter' had been added, stressing that LGBT individuals were entitled to pastoral care, and recognizing that in the past religious communities had failed to show sufficient compassion towards them.<ref>"Nashvilleverklaring krijgt pastoraal nawoord (Nashville Statement gets pastoral postscript)". RD - reformatorisch Dagblad. 4 January 2019. Archived from the original on 4 January 2019.</ref>

The Dutch statement received some support in orthodox Protestant circles (although even there too, objections were raised), but was widely criticized by most religious leaders, politicians and human rights organizations. It was also widely discussed in the Dutch media.<ref>De Fijter, Nico (5 January 2019). "Grote groep orthodox-protestantse predikanten spreekt zich met 'Nashville-verklaring' stevig uit tegen homoseksualiteit (Large group of orthodox-protestant ministers speak out against homosexuality in 'Nashville-Statement')". www.trouw.nl. Archived from the original on 6 January 2019.</ref> The [[Openbaar Ministerie|Public Prosecution Service]] indicated it would evaluate whether the publication was punishable under criminal law,<ref>"OM onderzoekt mogelijke strafbaarheid van Nashville-verklaring". NOS. 7 January 2019. Archived from the original on 7 January 2019.</ref> and they concluded it was not punishable, in part due to its relevance to public debate.<ref>"Nashvilleverklaring naar oordeel OM niet strafbaar". Openbaar Ministerie. 12 March 2020.</ref> In the days following the publication, numerous town halls, churches and universities throughout the Netherlands flew the [[Rainbow flag (LGBT movement)|rainbow flag]] in a show of solidarity with the LGBT community.<ref>"Op veel plekken wapperen regenboogvlaggen om Nashville-verklaring (Rainbow flags flying in many places because of Nashvillestatement)". nos.nl. 8 January 2019. Archived from the original on 8 January 2019.</ref>

==See also==
* [[Danvers Statement]]
* [[Manhattan Declaration: A Call of Christian Conscience]]
* [[Phoenix Declaration]]

==External links==
* [https://cbmw.org/nashville-statement/ Nashville Statement at CBMW website]

Nashville Statement

2026-04-03T02:06:30Z

BrantleyRider:

'''The Nashville Statement''' is an [[evangelical]] [[Christian statement]] relating to [[human sexuality]] and [[gender roles]] authored by the [[Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood]] (CBMW) in [[wikipedia:Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville, Tennessee]] in 2017.<ref name="auto">[https://cbmw.org/nashville-statement/ Nashville Statement]. CBMW. Archived from the original on 24 February 2018.</ref> The Statement expresses support for marriage between one man and one woman, for faithfulness within marriage, for chastity outside marriage, and for a link between biological sex and "self-conception as male and female".<ref name="auto"/> The Statement sets forth the signatories' opposition to LGBT sexuality, same-sex marriage, polygamy, polyamory, adultery, and fornication.<ref name="auto"/> It was criticized by [[egalitarian]] and liberal Christians, and other LGBT activists,<ref name="prompts"/><ref>[https://www.christiantoday.com/news/evangelicals-and-the-nashville-statement-what-is-the-point Evangelicals and the Nashville Statement: What is the point?]. Christian Today. 31 August 2017. Archived from the original on 1 September 2017.</ref> and several conservative religious figures.

==History==
The Statement was drafted in late August 2017, during the annual conference of the [[Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission]] of the [[Southern Baptist Convention]], at the [[Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center]] in [[Nashville, Tennessee]].<ref>Meyer, Holly (30 August 2017). "What is the Nashville Statement and why are people talking about it?". ''The Tennessean''.</ref> The statement was published online on August 29, 2017.<ref>Showalter, Brandon (30 August 2017). "Broad Coalition of Evangelicals Releases 'Nashville Statement' on Human Sexuality, Identity". ''The Christian Post''. Archived from the original on 2 September 2017.</ref> It was signed by more than 150 evangelical Christian leaders.<ref name="Release">Sopelsa, Brooke (31 August 2017). "'Nashville Statement': Evangelical Leaders Release Sexuality Manifesto". NBC News. Archived from the original on 2 September 2017.</ref>

==Contents==
The Statement includes a preamble and 14 articles.<ref name="Release"/> The opening paragraph begins, "Evangelical Christians at the dawn of the twenty-first century find themselves living in a period of historic transition. As Western culture has become increasingly [[post-Christian]], it has embarked upon a massive revision of what it means to be a human being."<ref>Bucher, Chris (30 August 2017). "READ: The Nashville Statement on LGBTQ & Transgender Acceptance". Heavy.com. Archived from the original on 3 September 2017.</ref> The Statement presents a [[complementarian]] view of gender and sexuality.<ref name="Why"/><ref name="Release"/>

The Nashville Statement:
:* Affirms that God designed marriage as a lifelong union between male and female, and that marriage "is meant to signify the covenant love between Christ and his bride the church";
:* Denies that differences between men and women render the sexes "unequal in dignity or worth";
:* Denies "that adopting a homosexual or transgender self-conception is consistent with God's holy purposes in creation and redemption."[https://cbmw.org/nashville-statement (art. VII b)]
:* Denies "that the approval of homosexual immorality or transgenderism is a matter of moral indifference about which otherwise faithful Christians should agree to disagree."[https://cbmw.org/nashville-statement (art. Xb)]
:* Affirms that "Christ Jesus has come into the world to save sinners and that through Christ’s death and resurrection forgiveness of sins and eternal life are available to every person who repents of sin and trusts in Christ alone as Savior, Lord, and supreme treasure".<ref name="auto"/>

==Notable signatories ==
In alphabetical order:
* [[Rosaria Butterfield]], English professor and former LGBT activist<ref>Kumar, Anugrah (2 September 2017). "Former Lesbian Explains Why She Signed the Nashville Statement". ''Christian Post''. Archived from the original on 2 September 2017.</ref>
* [[Francis Chan]], preacher and author<ref name="CP">Anderson, Rod (2 September 2017). "What Is the Nashville Statement?". ''The Christian Post''. Archived from the original on 2 September 2017.</ref>
* [[William Lane Craig]], philosopher and Christian apologist<ref>[https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/reasonable-faith-podcast/id252618197?mt=2 The Nashville Statement]. Reasonable Faith Podcast. 22 September 2017. Archived from the original on 25 September 2017.</ref>
* [[James Dobson]], psychologist, founder of [[Focus on the Family]]<ref name="What">Meyer, Holly (30 August 2017). "What is the Nashville Statement and why are people talking about it?". ''USA Today''. Archived from the original on 31 August 2017.</ref>
* [[Ligon Duncan]], [[Presbyterian Church in America|Presbyterian]] theologian, chancellor of the [[Reformed Theological Seminary]]<ref name="Signatories"/>
* [[Erick Erickson]], radio host at [[WSB (AM)|WSB]] in [[Atlanta]]<ref>[https://cbmw.org/nashville-statement/ "Nashville Statement"]. August 2017.</ref>
* [[Ronnie Floyd]], senior pastor of Cross Church, Arkansas, former president of the Southern Baptist Convention<ref name="What"/>
* [[John Frame (theologian)|John Frame]], [[Presbyterian Church in America|Presbyterian]] theologian<ref name="Signatories"/>
* [[David French (political commentator)|David French]], attorney, former ''[[National Review]]'' contributor<ref name="tenneseanwhatisthenashvillestatement">Meyer, Holly (30 August 2017). "What is the Nashville Statement and why are people talking about it?". ''The Tennessean''.</ref>
* [[Steve Gaines (pastor)|Steve Gaines]], former president of the [[Southern Baptist Convention]]<ref name="What"/>
* [[Jack Graham (pastor)|Jack Graham]], pastor of [[Prestonwood Baptist Church]], [[Plano, Texas]]<ref name="What"/>
* [[Kees van der Staaij]], [[Leader of the Reformed Political Party]]
* [[Ken Ham]], young-earth creationist and founder, CEO, and president of [[Answers in Genesis]]
* [[Jeff Iorg]], Southern Baptist pastor, president of [[Gateway Seminary]]<ref name="Signatories"/>
* [[Timothy Paul Jones]], professor of apologetics and family ministry at the [[Southern Baptist Theological Seminary]]<ref name="signers">Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. Signers. https://cbmw.org/nashville-statement-signers/.</ref>
* [[Richard Land]], president of [[Southern Evangelical Seminary]]<ref name="What"/>
* [[John MacArthur (American pastor)|John F. MacArthur Jr.]], president of The Master's Seminary & College<ref name="Signatories"/>
* [[Albert Mohler]], president of the [[Southern Baptist Theological Seminary]]<ref name="Signatories">Initial Signatories. Nashville Statement. Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. Archived from the original on 24 February 2018.</ref>
* [[J. P. Moreland]], philosopher, theologian, and Christian apologist<ref name="Signatories"/>
* [[Russell D. Moore]], theologian and preacher, president of the [[Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission]] of the Southern Baptist Convention<ref name="What"/>
* [[Raymond C. Ortlund Jr.]], president of Renewal Ministries<ref name="Signatories"/>
* [[J. I. Packer]], [[Evangelical Anglicanism|evangelical Anglican]] theologian, professor of theology, [[Regent College]]<ref name="Signatories"/>
* [[Paige Patterson]], former president of the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary<ref name="Signatories"/>
* [[Tony Perkins (politician)|Tony Perkins]], president of the [[Family Research Council]]<ref name="What"/>
* [[John Piper (theologian)|John Piper]], [[Reformed Baptist]] theologian<ref name="Signatories"/>
* [[Vaughan Roberts]], Rector of [[St Ebbe's Church, Oxford]], and Director of the Proclamation Trust<ref name="Signatories"/>
* [[James Robison (televangelist)|James Robison]], [[televangelist]]<ref name="What"/>
* [[Thomas R. Schreiner]], New Testament scholar<ref name="Signatories"/>
* [[R. C. Sproul]], [[Presbyterian Church in America|Presbyterian]] theologian, founder and chairman, Ligonier Ministries<ref name="Signatories"/>
* [[Donald W. Sweeting]], president of [[Colorado Christian University]]<ref name="Signatories"/>

==Criticism and responses==
Due to perceived [[homophobia]], [[transphobia]], and [[misogyny]], the Nashville Statement has attracted significant controversy.<ref name="Attack"/>

* An opposing statement was published on August 30, 2017, by Christians United, a group of signatories. [[Brandan Robertson]] drafted the Christians United statement, and the Rev. [[Steve Chalke]] and others edited it. Signatories included [[John C. Dorhauer]], the General Minister and President of the [[United Church of Christ]]; [[Yvette Flunder]]; and [[Jayne Ozanne]].<ref>Toumayan, Michael (31 August 2017). "Hundreds of Christian Leaders Denounce the Nashville Statement in an Open Letter". The Human Rights Campaign. Archived from the original on 1 September 2017.</ref><ref>[http://www.christiansunitedstatement.org/ The Statement]. Christians United. Archived from the original on 8 September 2017.</ref><ref name="HP">Blumberg, Antonia (30 August 2017). "Hundreds Of Christian Leaders Denounce Anti-LGBTQ 'Nashville Statement'". ''Huffington Post''. Archived from the original on 1 September 2017.</ref>
* [[Nashville]] mayor [[Megan Barry]] wrote "[the] so-called 'Nashville statement' is poorly named and does not represent the inclusive values of the city & people of Nashville".<ref name="rebuked">Schmidt, Samantha (30 August 2017). "Evangelicals' 'Nashville Statement' denouncing same-sex marriage is rebuked by city's mayor". ''The Washington Post''. Archived from the original on 2 September 2017.</ref>
* The [[Episcopal Bishop of Central Florida]], [[Gregory Brewer]], described the statement as "tone deaf to the nuances of Jesus".<ref name="prompts"/>
* Catholic priest [[James Martin (priest, born 1960)|James Martin]] {{Post-nominals|list=[[Society of Jesus|SJ]]}} replied to the Nashville Statement with his own set of affirmations and denials, beginning with "I affirm: That God loves all LGBT people".<ref name="SJ">Martin, James (30 August 2017). "Seven simple ways to respond to the Nashville Statement on sexuality". ''The Washington Post''. Archived from the original on 1 September 2017.</ref>
* Professor Jamin Andreas Hübner published the first full-length academic review of the Nashville Statement in ''Priscilla Papers'' (Winter 2019).<ref>Hübner, Jamin (January 2019). "A Critical Review of the Nashville Statement". ''Priscilla Papers''. Christians for Biblical Equality.</ref>

The Statement has also received opposition from some same-sex marriage opponents. Catholic intellectual [[Ryan T. Anderson]] "[feared] that 'evangelical leaders either don't know what the word chastity means or don't defend its requirements in marriage.'"<ref>Aaron Taylor (11 September 2017). "Nashville and Sodom". First Things. Archived from the original on 14 February 2018.</ref> Some evangelicals were sympathetic to the statement's theology, but critical of what they saw as its pastoral insensitivity.<ref>Williams, Hattie (8 September 2017). "To sign or not: Nashville Statement on sexuality debate intensifies". ''Church Times''. Archived from the original on 24 November 2018.</ref><ref name="Why"/>

In November 2022, David French, one of the original signers of the declaration, announced that he had "changed his mind" on the legal recognition of [[Same-sex marriage in the United States|same-sex marriage]], although stating he was still morally opposed to the matter. He wrote that his "reasoning tracked my lifelong civil libertarian beliefs" and that:

<blockquote>Millions of Americans have formed families and live their lives in deep reliance on ''[[Obergefell v. Hodges|Obergefell]]'' being good law. It would be profoundly disruptive and unjust to rip out the legal superstructure around which they've ordered their lives.</blockquote><ref>French, David (21 November 2022). "Why I Changed My Mind About Law and Marriage, Again". The Dispatch.</ref>

In June 2019, the [[General Assembly (presbyterian church)|General Assembly]] of the [[Presbyterian Church in America]] voted, 803 to 541, to endorse the Nashville Statement.<ref>Gryboski, Michael (28 June 2019). "PCA endorses Nashville Statement on biblical sexuality". ''The Christian Post''. Archived from the original on 28 June 2019.</ref>

== Dutch version ==
[[File:Kees van der Staaij.jpg|thumb|right|[[Reformed Political Party|SGP]] leader [[Kees van der Staaij]] is considered the Statement's most prominent supporter.]]
[[File:Nashville wormerland.jpg|thumb|right|The Dutch municipality of [[Wormerland]] flies the [[Rainbow flag (LGBT movement)|rainbow flag]] on January 9, 2019, in solidarity with the [[LGBT]] community after the publication of the Dutch version of the Nashville Statement.]]

On January 4, 2019, a [[Dutch language|Dutch]] version of the Nashville Statement was published; its publication subsequently drew much controversy. It was signed by 200 leaders from [[Netherlands|the Netherlands]]' orthodox-Protestant communities (including Member of Parliament and [[Reformed Political Party]] leader [[Kees van der Staaij]]). Its structure and content were very similar to the original statement, but a 'pastoral chapter' had been added, stressing that LGBT individuals were entitled to pastoral care, and recognizing that in the past religious communities had failed to show sufficient compassion towards them.<ref>"Nashvilleverklaring krijgt pastoraal nawoord (Nashville Statement gets pastoral postscript)". RD - reformatorisch Dagblad. 4 January 2019. Archived from the original on 4 January 2019.</ref>

The Dutch statement received some support in orthodox Protestant circles (although even there too, objections were raised), but was widely criticized by most religious leaders, politicians and human rights organizations. It was also widely discussed in the Dutch media.<ref>De Fijter, Nico (5 January 2019). "Grote groep orthodox-protestantse predikanten spreekt zich met 'Nashville-verklaring' stevig uit tegen homoseksualiteit (Large group of orthodox-protestant ministers speak out against homosexuality in 'Nashville-Statement')". www.trouw.nl. Archived from the original on 6 January 2019.</ref> The [[Openbaar Ministerie|Public Prosecution Service]] indicated it would evaluate whether the publication was punishable under criminal law,<ref>"OM onderzoekt mogelijke strafbaarheid van Nashville-verklaring". NOS. 7 January 2019. Archived from the original on 7 January 2019.</ref> and they concluded it was not punishable, in part due to its relevance to public debate.<ref>"Nashvilleverklaring naar oordeel OM niet strafbaar". Openbaar Ministerie. 12 March 2020.</ref> In the days following the publication, numerous town halls, churches and universities throughout the Netherlands flew the [[Rainbow flag (LGBT movement)|rainbow flag]] in a show of solidarity with the LGBT community.<ref>"Op veel plekken wapperen regenboogvlaggen om Nashville-verklaring (Rainbow flags flying in many places because of Nashvillestatement)". nos.nl. 8 January 2019. Archived from the original on 8 January 2019.</ref>

==See also==
* [[Danvers Statement]]
* [[Manhattan Declaration: A Call of Christian Conscience]]
* [[Phoenix Declaration]]

==External links==
* [https://cbmw.org/nashville-statement/ Nashville Statement at CBMW website]

Benita Cooper

2026-04-03T01:33:29Z

BrantleyRider: Created page with "'''Benita Cooper''' is the wife of Douglas Cooper a Reformed Baptist pastor."

'''Benita Cooper''' is the wife of [[Douglas Cooper]] a [[Reformed Baptist]] pastor.

Douglas Cooper

2026-04-03T01:33:05Z

BrantleyRider:

{{Infobox_person
| image = File:Douglas-Cooper-Reformed-Baptist-pastor.jpg
| birth_name =
| birth_date = January 24, 1980
| birth_date =
| hometown = [[wikipedia:Kings Mountain, North Carolina|Kings Mountain]], [[wikipedia:North Carolina|North Carolina]]
| residency = [[wikipedia:Gastonia, North Carolina|Gastonia]], [[wikipedia:North Carolina|North Carolina]]
| occupation = [[Elders|Elder]]
| affiliations = [[Antioch Baptist Church (Lincolnton, North Carolina)|Antioch Baptist Church]] (pastor) [[Macedonia Baptist Church (Gastonia, North Carolina)|Macedonia Baptist Church]] (former pastor)
| spouse = [[Benita Cooper]] (October 2, 2004)
| children =
| website =
}}

'''Douglas Cooper''' is an American [[Reformed Baptist]] and pastor of [[Antioch Baptist Church (Lincolnton, North Carolina)|Antioch Baptist Church]] in [[wikipedia:Lincolnton, North Carolina|Lincolnton]], [[wikipedia:North Carolina|North Carolina]].<ref>https://www.facebook.com/douglas.cooper.98</ref>

==References==

[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Baptist elders]]
[[Category:Calvinist and Reformed elders]]
[[Category:People from the United States]]
[[Category:People from North Carolina]]
[[Category:People from Gaston County, North Carolina]]
[[Category:People from Gastonia, North Carolina]]
[[Category:People from Lincoln County, North Carolina]]
[[Category:People from Lincolnton, North Carolina]]
[[Category:Reformed Baptists]]
[[Category:Baptists]]

Douglas Cooper

2026-04-03T01:32:53Z

BrantleyRider:

{{Infobox_person
| image = File:Douglas-Cooper-Reformed-Baptist-pastor.jpg
| birth_name =
| birth_date = January 24, 1980
| birth_date =
| hometown = [[wikipedia:Kings Mountain, North Carolina|Kings Mountain]], [[wikipedia:North Carolina|North Carolina]]
| residency = [[wikipedia:Gastonia, North Carolina|Gastonia]], [[wikipedia:North Carolina|North Carolina]]
| occupation = [[Elders|Elder]]
| affiliations = [[Antioch Baptist Church (Lincolnton, North Carolina)|Antioch Baptist Church]] (pastor) [[Macedonia Baptist Church (Gastonia, North Carolina)|Macedonia Baptist Church]] (former pastor)
| spouse = [[Benita Cooper]] (October 2, 2004)
| children =
| website =
}}

'''Douglas Cooper''' is an American [[Reformed Baptist]] and pastor of [[Antioch Baptist Church (Lincolnton, North Carolina)|Antioch Baptist Church]] in [[wikipedia:Lincolnton, North Carolina|Lincolnton]], [[wikipedia:North Carolina|North Carolina]].

==References==

[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Baptist elders]]
[[Category:Calvinist and Reformed elders]]
[[Category:People from the United States]]
[[Category:People from North Carolina]]
[[Category:People from Gaston County, North Carolina]]
[[Category:People from Gastonia, North Carolina]]
[[Category:People from Lincoln County, North Carolina]]
[[Category:People from Lincolnton, North Carolina]]
[[Category:Reformed Baptists]]
[[Category:Baptists]]

File:Douglas-Cooper-Reformed-Baptist-pastor.jpg

2026-04-03T01:32:36Z

BrantleyRider:

== Licensing ==
{{FU}}

Douglas Cooper

2026-04-03T01:32:00Z

BrantleyRider: Created page with "{{Infobox_person | image = Joshua-Huggins.jpg | birth_name = | birth_date = January 24, 1980 | birth_date = | hometown = Kings Mountain, North Carolina | residency = Gastonia, North Carolina | occupation = Elder | affiliations = Antioch Baptist Church (pastor) ..."

{{Infobox_person
| image = Joshua-Huggins.jpg
| birth_name =
| birth_date = January 24, 1980
| birth_date =
| hometown = [[wikipedia:Kings Mountain, North Carolina|Kings Mountain]], [[wikipedia:North Carolina|North Carolina]]
| residency = [[wikipedia:Gastonia, North Carolina|Gastonia]], [[wikipedia:North Carolina|North Carolina]]
| occupation = [[Elders|Elder]]
| affiliations = [[Antioch Baptist Church (Lincolnton, North Carolina)|Antioch Baptist Church]] (pastor) [[Macedonia Baptist Church (Gastonia, North Carolina)|Macedonia Baptist Church]] (former pastor)
| spouse = [[Benita Cooper]] (October 2, 2004)
| children =
| website =
}}

'''Douglas Cooper''' is an American [[Reformed Baptist]] and pastor of [[Antioch Baptist Church (Lincolnton, North Carolina)|Antioch Baptist Church]] in [[wikipedia:Lincolnton, North Carolina|Lincolnton]], [[wikipedia:North Carolina|North Carolina]].

==References==

[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Baptist elders]]
[[Category:Calvinist and Reformed elders]]
[[Category:People from the United States]]
[[Category:People from North Carolina]]
[[Category:People from Gaston County, North Carolina]]
[[Category:People from Gastonia, North Carolina]]
[[Category:People from Lincoln County, North Carolina]]
[[Category:People from Lincolnton, North Carolina]]
[[Category:Reformed Baptists]]
[[Category:Baptists]]

Joshua Huggins

2026-04-03T01:29:14Z

BrantleyRider:

{{Infobox_person
| image = Joshua-Huggins.jpg
| birth_name = Joshua Huggins
| birth_date = 1987
| birth_place = [[wikipedia:Gastonia, North Carolina|Gastonia]], [[wikipedia:North Carolina|North Carolina]]
| residency = [[wikipedia:Stanley, North Carolina|Stanley]], [[wikipedia:North Carolina|North Carolina]]
| occupation = [[Elders|Elder]], Small Business owner
| affiliations = [[Coram Deo Reformed Baptist Church (Stanley, North Carolina)|Coram Deo Reformed Baptist Church]] [[The Wandering Pilgrims]]
| spouse = [[Courtney Cox Huggins]]
| children = 1
| website = [https://thewanderingpilgrims.com TheWanderingPilgrims.com] [https://CoramDeoRBC.com CoramDeoRBC.com]
}}

'''Joshua (Josh) Huggins''' (born 1987) is an American [[Reformed Baptist]] who subscribes to the [[Second London Baptist Confession (1689)|2nd London Baptist Confession (1689)]]. Huggins is a member of [[Coram Deo Reformed Baptist Church (Stanley, North Carolina)|Coram Deo Reformed Baptist Church]] in [[wikipedia:Stanley, North Carolina|Stanley]], [[wikipedia:North Carolina|North Carolina]] where he serves as a [[Elders|Elder]].<ref>https://coramdeorbc.com</ref>

==References==

[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Baptist elders]]
[[Category:Calvinist and Reformed elders]]
[[Category:People from the United States]]
[[Category:People from North Carolina]]
[[Category:People from Gaston County, North Carolina]]
[[Category:People from Stanley, North Carolina]]
[[Category:Reformed Baptists]]
[[Category:Baptists]]

Antioch Baptist Church (Lincolnton, North Carolina)

2026-04-03T01:23:37Z

BrantleyRider:

{{Infobox_church
| image =
| church_location = [[wikipedia:Lincolnton, North Carolina|Lincolnton]], [[wikipedia:North Carolina|North Carolina]]
| theological_tradition = [[Southern Baptist]]
| date_founded = unknown
| affiliations = unknown
| notable_figures =
| elders = [[Douglas Cooper]]
| deacons = unknown
| membership = unknown
| website = [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563239663498 Facebook page]
}}

'''Antioch Baptist Church''' is a [[Baptist]] church located in [[wikipedia:Stanley, North Carolina|Stanley]], [[wikipedia:North Carolina|North Carolina]]. It is pastored by [[Douglas Cooper]] an American [[Reformed Baptist]].
[[Image:Antioch-Baptist-Church-Lincolnton-NC.jpg|thumb|upright|The church building of Antioch Baptist Church in Lincolnton, NC.]]

==External links==
*[https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563239663498 Facebook page]

==References==

[[Category:Churches]]
[[Category:Baptist churches]]

File:Antioch-Baptist-Church-Lincolnton-NC.jpg

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BrantleyRider:

== Licensing ==
{{FU}}

Southern Baptist

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BrantleyRider: Redirected page to Southern Baptist Convention

#redirect [[Southern Baptist Convention]]

Theological statement

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BrantleyRider:

A '''theological statement''' is a kind of statement that states particular theological positions (pertaining to the character, nature, or essence of God), usually in the form of affirmations and denials.

The Statement on Spiritual Gifts

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BrantleyRider: Redirected page to Statement on Spiritual Gifts

#redirect [[Statement on Spiritual Gifts]]

The Dallas Statement on Social Justice and the Gospel

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BrantleyRider: Redirected page to Statement on Social Justice and the Gospel

#redirect [[Statement on Social Justice and the Gospel]]

The Statement on Social Justice and the Gospel

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BrantleyRider: Redirected page to Statement on Social Justice and the Gospel

#redirect [[Statement on Social Justice and the Gospel]]

Danvers Statement

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BrantleyRider:

'''The Danvers Statement''' is a [[Christian statements|statement]] of the [[complementarianism|complementarian]] Christian view of gender roles.<ref>https://cbmw.org/about/the-danvers-statement/</ref> It is not the product of any particular Christian denomination, but has been cited by the [[Southwestern Baptist Seminary]], the [[Presbyterian Church in America]], the [[International Council for Gender Studies]], and numerous individual local churches. It was first published by the [[Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood]] (CBMW) in [[wikipedia:Wheaton, Illinois|Wheaton, Illinois]] in November 1988. Work on the statement began with "several evangelical leaders" at a CBMW meeting in [[wikipedia:Danvers, Massachusetts|Danvers, Massachusetts]] in December 1987. In 1989, a paid advertisement center-spread appeared in the January 13 issue of [[Christianity Today]] accompanied with the Danvers Statement.

In February 1989, [[R.K. McGregor Wright]] put out "[[A Response to the Danvers Statement]]", an unpublished paper delivered to the [[Christians for Biblical Equality International|Christians for Biblical Equality Conference]], which was later revised and republished. In 1990 [[Christians for Biblical Equality International|Christians for Biblical Equality]] published a statement "Men, Women, & Biblical Equality" in [[Christianity Today]].

[[Randall Balmer]] says that the Statement was an attempt to "staunch the spread of biblical feminism in evangelical circles." [[Seth Dowland]] suggests that the authors of the statement "framed their position as a clear and accessible reading of scripture.

The Danvers Statement is included in readers such as ''Evangelicalism and Fundamentalism: A Documentary Reader'' ([[wikipedia:New York University Press|NYU Press]], 2008) and ''Eve and Adam: Jewish, Christian, and Muslim readings on Genesis and gender'' ([[wikipedia:Indiana University Press|Indiana University Press]], 2009).

==References==

[[Category:Christian statements]]

Danvers Statement

2026-04-03T00:40:52Z

BrantleyRider:

'''The Danvers Statement''' is a [[Christian statements|statement]] of the [[complementarianism|complementarian]] Christian view of gender roles. It is not the product of any particular Christian denomination, but has been cited by the [[Southwestern Baptist Seminary]], the [[Presbyterian Church in America]], the [[International Council for Gender Studies]], and numerous individual local churches. It was first published by the [[Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood]] (CBMW) in [[wikipedia:Wheaton, Illinois|Wheaton, Illinois]] in November 1988. Work on the statement began with "several evangelical leaders" at a CBMW meeting in [[wikipedia:Danvers, Massachusetts|Danvers, Massachusetts]] in December 1987. In 1989, a paid advertisement center-spread appeared in the January 13 issue of [[Christianity Today]] accompanied with the Danvers Statement.

In February 1989, [[R.K. McGregor Wright]] put out "[[A Response to the Danvers Statement]]", an unpublished paper delivered to the [[Christians for Biblical Equality International|Christians for Biblical Equality Conference]], which was later revised and republished. In 1990 [[Christians for Biblical Equality International|Christians for Biblical Equality]] published a statement "Men, Women, & Biblical Equality" in [[Christianity Today]].

[[Randall Balmer]] says that the Statement was an attempt to "staunch the spread of biblical feminism in evangelical circles." [[Seth Dowland]] suggests that the authors of the statement "framed their position as a clear and accessible reading of scripture.

The Danvers Statement is included in readers such as ''Evangelicalism and Fundamentalism: A Documentary Reader'' ([[wikipedia:New York University Press|NYU Press]], 2008) and ''Eve and Adam: Jewish, Christian, and Muslim readings on Genesis and gender'' ([[wikipedia:Indiana University Press|Indiana University Press]], 2009).

==References==

[[Category:Christian statements]]

Danvers Statement

2026-04-03T00:40:47Z

BrantleyRider:

''The Danvers Statement''' is a [[Christian statements|statement]] of the [[complementarianism|complementarian]] Christian view of gender roles. It is not the product of any particular Christian denomination, but has been cited by the [[Southwestern Baptist Seminary]], the [[Presbyterian Church in America]], the [[International Council for Gender Studies]], and numerous individual local churches. It was first published by the [[Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood]] (CBMW) in [[wikipedia:Wheaton, Illinois|Wheaton, Illinois]] in November 1988. Work on the statement began with "several evangelical leaders" at a CBMW meeting in [[wikipedia:Danvers, Massachusetts|Danvers, Massachusetts]] in December 1987. In 1989, a paid advertisement center-spread appeared in the January 13 issue of [[Christianity Today]] accompanied with the Danvers Statement.

In February 1989, [[R.K. McGregor Wright]] put out "[[A Response to the Danvers Statement]]", an unpublished paper delivered to the [[Christians for Biblical Equality International|Christians for Biblical Equality Conference]], which was later revised and republished. In 1990 [[Christians for Biblical Equality International|Christians for Biblical Equality]] published a statement "Men, Women, & Biblical Equality" in [[Christianity Today]].

[[Randall Balmer]] says that the Statement was an attempt to "staunch the spread of biblical feminism in evangelical circles." [[Seth Dowland]] suggests that the authors of the statement "framed their position as a clear and accessible reading of scripture.

The Danvers Statement is included in readers such as ''Evangelicalism and Fundamentalism: A Documentary Reader'' ([[wikipedia:New York University Press|NYU Press]], 2008) and ''Eve and Adam: Jewish, Christian, and Muslim readings on Genesis and gender'' ([[wikipedia:Indiana University Press|Indiana University Press]], 2009).

==References==

[[Category:Christian statements]]

The Nashville Statement

2026-04-03T00:40:24Z

BrantleyRider: BrantleyRider moved page The Nashville Statement to Nashville Statement over redirect

#REDIRECT [[Nashville Statement]]

Nashville Statement

2026-04-03T00:40:24Z

BrantleyRider: BrantleyRider moved page The Nashville Statement to Nashville Statement over redirect

'''The Nashville Statement''' is an [[evangelical]] [[Christianity|Christian]] [[statement of faith]] relating to [[human sexuality]] and [[gender roles]] authored by the [[Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood]] (CBMW) in [[Nashville, Tennessee]] in 2017.<ref name="Why">Beaty, Katelyn (31 August 2017). "Why even conservative evangelicals are unhappy with the anti-LGBT Nashville Statement". ''The Washington Post''. Archived from the original on 2 September 2017.</ref><ref name="Attack">Cruz, Eliel (1 September 2017). "The Nashville Statement Is an Attack on L.G.B.T. Christians". ''New York Times''. Archived from the original on 2 September 2017.</ref><ref name="prompts">Williams, Hattie (1 September 2017). "Nashville statement on sexuality prompts response from LGBT-supporting Christians". ''Church Times''. Archived from the original on 2 September 2017.</ref> The Statement expresses support for marriage between one man and one woman, for faithfulness within marriage, for chastity outside marriage, and for a link between biological sex and "self-conception as male and female".<ref name="auto">[https://cbmw.org/nashville-statement/ Nashville Statement]. CBMW. Archived from the original on 24 February 2018.</ref> The Statement sets forth the signatories' opposition to [[LGBT]] sexuality, [[same-sex marriage]],<ref name="Why"/> [[polygamy]], [[polyamory]], [[adultery]], and [[fornication]].<ref name="auto"/> It was criticized by [[egalitarian Christians]] and LGBT activists,<ref name="prompts"/><ref>[https://www.christiantoday.com/article/evangelicals.and.the.nashville.statement.what.is.the.point/112827.htm Evangelicals and the Nashville Statement: What is the point?]. Christian Today. 31 August 2017. Archived from the original on 1 September 2017.</ref> and several conservative religious figures.<ref name="Why"/>

==History==
The Statement was drafted in late August 2017, during the annual conference of the [[Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission]] of the [[Southern Baptist Convention]], at the [[Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center]] in [[Nashville, Tennessee]].<ref>Meyer, Holly (30 August 2017). "What is the Nashville Statement and why are people talking about it?". ''The Tennessean''.</ref> The statement was published online on August 29, 2017.<ref>Showalter, Brandon (30 August 2017). "Broad Coalition of Evangelicals Releases 'Nashville Statement' on Human Sexuality, Identity". ''The Christian Post''. Archived from the original on 2 September 2017.</ref> It was signed by more than 150 evangelical Christian leaders.<ref name="Release">Sopelsa, Brooke (31 August 2017). "'Nashville Statement': Evangelical Leaders Release Sexuality Manifesto". NBC News. Archived from the original on 2 September 2017.</ref>

==Contents==
The Statement includes a preamble and 14 articles.<ref name="Release"/> The opening paragraph begins, "Evangelical Christians at the dawn of the twenty-first century find themselves living in a period of historic transition. As Western culture has become increasingly [[post-Christian]], it has embarked upon a massive revision of what it means to be a human being."<ref>Bucher, Chris (30 August 2017). "READ: The Nashville Statement on LGBTQ & Transgender Acceptance". Heavy.com. Archived from the original on 3 September 2017.</ref> The Statement presents a [[complementarian]] view of gender and sexuality.<ref name="Why"/><ref name="Release"/>

The Nashville Statement:
:* Affirms that God designed marriage as a lifelong union between male and female, and that marriage "is meant to signify the covenant love between Christ and his bride the church";
:* Denies that differences between men and women render the sexes "unequal in dignity or worth";
:* Denies "that adopting a homosexual or transgender self-conception is consistent with God's holy purposes in creation and redemption."[https://cbmw.org/nashville-statement (art. VII b)]
:* Denies "that the approval of homosexual immorality or transgenderism is a matter of moral indifference about which otherwise faithful Christians should agree to disagree."[https://cbmw.org/nashville-statement (art. Xb)]
:* Affirms that "Christ Jesus has come into the world to save sinners and that through Christ’s death and resurrection forgiveness of sins and eternal life are available to every person who repents of sin and trusts in Christ alone as Savior, Lord, and supreme treasure".<ref name="auto"/>

==Notable signatories ==
In alphabetical order:
* [[Rosaria Butterfield]], English professor and former LGBT activist<ref>Kumar, Anugrah (2 September 2017). "Former Lesbian Explains Why She Signed the Nashville Statement". ''Christian Post''. Archived from the original on 2 September 2017.</ref>
* [[Francis Chan]], preacher and author<ref name="CP">Anderson, Rod (2 September 2017). "What Is the Nashville Statement?". ''The Christian Post''. Archived from the original on 2 September 2017.</ref>
* [[William Lane Craig]], philosopher and Christian apologist<ref>[https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/reasonable-faith-podcast/id252618197?mt=2 The Nashville Statement]. Reasonable Faith Podcast. 22 September 2017. Archived from the original on 25 September 2017.</ref>
* [[James Dobson]], psychologist, founder of [[Focus on the Family]]<ref name="What">Meyer, Holly (30 August 2017). "What is the Nashville Statement and why are people talking about it?". ''USA Today''. Archived from the original on 31 August 2017.</ref>
* [[Ligon Duncan]], [[Presbyterian Church in America|Presbyterian]] theologian, chancellor of the [[Reformed Theological Seminary]]<ref name="Signatories"/>
* [[Erick Erickson]], radio host at [[WSB (AM)|WSB]] in [[Atlanta]]<ref>[https://cbmw.org/nashville-statement/ "Nashville Statement"]. August 2017.</ref>
* [[Ronnie Floyd]], senior pastor of Cross Church, Arkansas, former president of the Southern Baptist Convention<ref name="What"/>
* [[John Frame (theologian)|John Frame]], [[Presbyterian Church in America|Presbyterian]] theologian<ref name="Signatories"/>
* [[David French (political commentator)|David French]], attorney, former ''[[National Review]]'' contributor<ref name="tenneseanwhatisthenashvillestatement">Meyer, Holly (30 August 2017). "What is the Nashville Statement and why are people talking about it?". ''The Tennessean''.</ref>
* [[Steve Gaines (pastor)|Steve Gaines]], former president of the [[Southern Baptist Convention]]<ref name="What"/>
* [[Jack Graham (pastor)|Jack Graham]], pastor of [[Prestonwood Baptist Church]], [[Plano, Texas]]<ref name="What"/>
* [[Kees van der Staaij]], [[Leader of the Reformed Political Party]]
* [[Ken Ham]], young-earth creationist and founder, CEO, and president of [[Answers in Genesis]]
* [[Jeff Iorg]], Southern Baptist pastor, president of [[Gateway Seminary]]<ref name="Signatories"/>
* [[Timothy Paul Jones]], professor of apologetics and family ministry at the [[Southern Baptist Theological Seminary]]<ref name="signers">Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. Signers. https://cbmw.org/nashville-statement-signers/.</ref>
* [[Richard Land]], president of [[Southern Evangelical Seminary]]<ref name="What"/>
* [[John MacArthur (American pastor)|John F. MacArthur Jr.]], president of The Master's Seminary & College<ref name="Signatories"/>
* [[Albert Mohler]], president of the [[Southern Baptist Theological Seminary]]<ref name="Signatories">Initial Signatories. Nashville Statement. Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. Archived from the original on 24 February 2018.</ref>
* [[J. P. Moreland]], philosopher, theologian, and Christian apologist<ref name="Signatories"/>
* [[Russell D. Moore]], theologian and preacher, president of the [[Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission]] of the Southern Baptist Convention<ref name="What"/>
* [[Raymond C. Ortlund Jr.]], president of Renewal Ministries<ref name="Signatories"/>
* [[J. I. Packer]], [[Evangelical Anglicanism|evangelical Anglican]] theologian, professor of theology, [[Regent College]]<ref name="Signatories"/>
* [[Paige Patterson]], former president of the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary<ref name="Signatories"/>
* [[Tony Perkins (politician)|Tony Perkins]], president of the [[Family Research Council]]<ref name="What"/>
* [[John Piper (theologian)|John Piper]], [[Reformed Baptist]] theologian<ref name="Signatories"/>
* [[Vaughan Roberts]], Rector of [[St Ebbe's Church, Oxford]], and Director of the Proclamation Trust<ref name="Signatories"/>
* [[James Robison (televangelist)|James Robison]], [[televangelist]]<ref name="What"/>
* [[Thomas R. Schreiner]], New Testament scholar<ref name="Signatories"/>
* [[R. C. Sproul]], [[Presbyterian Church in America|Presbyterian]] theologian, founder and chairman, Ligonier Ministries<ref name="Signatories"/>
* [[Donald W. Sweeting]], president of [[Colorado Christian University]]<ref name="Signatories"/>

==Criticism and responses==
Due to perceived [[homophobia]], [[transphobia]], and [[misogyny]], the Nashville Statement has attracted significant controversy.<ref name="Attack"/>

* An opposing statement was published on August 30, 2017, by Christians United, a group of signatories. [[Brandan Robertson]] drafted the Christians United statement, and the Rev. [[Steve Chalke]] and others edited it. Signatories included [[John C. Dorhauer]], the General Minister and President of the [[United Church of Christ]]; [[Yvette Flunder]]; and [[Jayne Ozanne]].<ref>Toumayan, Michael (31 August 2017). "Hundreds of Christian Leaders Denounce the Nashville Statement in an Open Letter". The Human Rights Campaign. Archived from the original on 1 September 2017.</ref><ref>[http://www.christiansunitedstatement.org/ The Statement]. Christians United. Archived from the original on 8 September 2017.</ref><ref name="HP">Blumberg, Antonia (30 August 2017). "Hundreds Of Christian Leaders Denounce Anti-LGBTQ 'Nashville Statement'". ''Huffington Post''. Archived from the original on 1 September 2017.</ref>
* [[Nashville]] mayor [[Megan Barry]] wrote "[the] so-called 'Nashville statement' is poorly named and does not represent the inclusive values of the city & people of Nashville".<ref name="rebuked">Schmidt, Samantha (30 August 2017). "Evangelicals' 'Nashville Statement' denouncing same-sex marriage is rebuked by city's mayor". ''The Washington Post''. Archived from the original on 2 September 2017.</ref>
* The [[Episcopal Bishop of Central Florida]], [[Gregory Brewer]], described the statement as "tone deaf to the nuances of Jesus".<ref name="prompts"/>
* Catholic priest [[James Martin (priest, born 1960)|James Martin]] {{Post-nominals|list=[[Society of Jesus|SJ]]}} replied to the Nashville Statement with his own set of affirmations and denials, beginning with "I affirm: That God loves all LGBT people".<ref name="SJ">Martin, James (30 August 2017). "Seven simple ways to respond to the Nashville Statement on sexuality". ''The Washington Post''. Archived from the original on 1 September 2017.</ref>
* Professor Jamin Andreas Hübner published the first full-length academic review of the Nashville Statement in ''Priscilla Papers'' (Winter 2019).<ref>Hübner, Jamin (January 2019). "A Critical Review of the Nashville Statement". ''Priscilla Papers''. Christians for Biblical Equality.</ref>

The Statement has also received opposition from some same-sex marriage opponents. Catholic intellectual [[Ryan T. Anderson]] "[feared] that 'evangelical leaders either don't know what the word chastity means or don't defend its requirements in marriage.'"<ref>Aaron Taylor (11 September 2017). "Nashville and Sodom". First Things. Archived from the original on 14 February 2018.</ref> Some evangelicals were sympathetic to the statement's theology, but critical of what they saw as its pastoral insensitivity.<ref>Williams, Hattie (8 September 2017). "To sign or not: Nashville Statement on sexuality debate intensifies". ''Church Times''. Archived from the original on 24 November 2018.</ref><ref name="Why"/>

In November 2022, David French, one of the original signers of the declaration, announced that he had "changed his mind" on the legal recognition of [[Same-sex marriage in the United States|same-sex marriage]], although stating he was still morally opposed to the matter. He wrote that his "reasoning tracked my lifelong civil libertarian beliefs" and that:

<blockquote>Millions of Americans have formed families and live their lives in deep reliance on ''[[Obergefell v. Hodges|Obergefell]]'' being good law. It would be profoundly disruptive and unjust to rip out the legal superstructure around which they've ordered their lives.</blockquote><ref>French, David (21 November 2022). "Why I Changed My Mind About Law and Marriage, Again". The Dispatch.</ref>

In June 2019, the [[General Assembly (presbyterian church)|General Assembly]] of the [[Presbyterian Church in America]] voted, 803 to 541, to endorse the Nashville Statement.<ref>Gryboski, Michael (28 June 2019). "PCA endorses Nashville Statement on biblical sexuality". ''The Christian Post''. Archived from the original on 28 June 2019.</ref>

== Dutch version ==
[[File:Kees van der Staaij.jpg|thumb|right|[[Reformed Political Party|SGP]] leader [[Kees van der Staaij]] is considered the Statement's most prominent supporter.]]
[[File:Nashville wormerland.jpg|thumb|right|The Dutch municipality of [[Wormerland]] flies the [[Rainbow flag (LGBT movement)|rainbow flag]] on January 9, 2019, in solidarity with the [[LGBT]] community after the publication of the Dutch version of the Nashville Statement.]]

On January 4, 2019, a [[Dutch language|Dutch]] version of the Nashville Statement was published; its publication subsequently drew much controversy. It was signed by 200 leaders from [[Netherlands|the Netherlands]]' orthodox-Protestant communities (including Member of Parliament and [[Reformed Political Party]] leader [[Kees van der Staaij]]). Its structure and content were very similar to the original statement, but a 'pastoral chapter' had been added, stressing that LGBT individuals were entitled to pastoral care, and recognizing that in the past religious communities had failed to show sufficient compassion towards them.<ref>"Nashvilleverklaring krijgt pastoraal nawoord (Nashville Statement gets pastoral postscript)". RD - reformatorisch Dagblad. 4 January 2019. Archived from the original on 4 January 2019.</ref>

The Dutch statement received some support in orthodox Protestant circles (although even there too, objections were raised), but was widely criticized by most religious leaders, politicians and human rights organizations. It was also widely discussed in the Dutch media.<ref>De Fijter, Nico (5 January 2019). "Grote groep orthodox-protestantse predikanten spreekt zich met 'Nashville-verklaring' stevig uit tegen homoseksualiteit (Large group of orthodox-protestant ministers speak out against homosexuality in 'Nashville-Statement')". www.trouw.nl. Archived from the original on 6 January 2019.</ref> The [[Openbaar Ministerie|Public Prosecution Service]] indicated it would evaluate whether the publication was punishable under criminal law,<ref>"OM onderzoekt mogelijke strafbaarheid van Nashville-verklaring". NOS. 7 January 2019. Archived from the original on 7 January 2019.</ref> and they concluded it was not punishable, in part due to its relevance to public debate.<ref>"Nashvilleverklaring naar oordeel OM niet strafbaar". Openbaar Ministerie. 12 March 2020.</ref> In the days following the publication, numerous town halls, churches and universities throughout the Netherlands flew the [[Rainbow flag (LGBT movement)|rainbow flag]] in a show of solidarity with the LGBT community.<ref>"Op veel plekken wapperen regenboogvlaggen om Nashville-verklaring (Rainbow flags flying in many places because of Nashvillestatement)". nos.nl. 8 January 2019. Archived from the original on 8 January 2019.</ref>

==See also==
* [[Danvers Statement]]
* [[Manhattan Declaration: A Call of Christian Conscience]]
* [[Phoenix Declaration]]

==External links==
* [https://cbmw.org/nashville-statement/ Nashville Statement at CBMW website]

The Nashville Statement on Biblical Sexuality

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BrantleyRider: Changed redirect target from Nasville Statement to Nashville Statement

#redirect [[Nashville Statement]]

The Nashville Statement on Biblical Sexuality

2026-04-03T00:40:02Z

BrantleyRider: Redirected page to Nasville Statement

#redirect [[Nasville Statement]]

Nashville Statement

2026-04-03T00:39:05Z

BrantleyRider:

The Gospel Coalition Network

2026-04-03T00:38:34Z

BrantleyRider: Created page with "'''The Gospel Coalition Network''' was a broadly Reformed evangelical, digital-first ministry launched in 2009 by The Gospel Coalition (TGC) to connect pastors, churches, and ministry leaders. ==See also== *The Gospel Coalition ==References== Category:Organizations"

'''The Gospel Coalition Network''' was a broadly Reformed evangelical, digital-first ministry launched in 2009 by [[The Gospel Coalition]] (TGC) to connect pastors, churches, and ministry leaders.

==See also==
*[[The Gospel Coalition]]

==References==

[[Category:Organizations]]

Gospel Coalition Network

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BrantleyRider: Redirected page to The Gospel Coalition Network

#redirect [[The Gospel Coalition Network]]

Nashville Statement

2026-04-03T00:30:33Z

BrantleyRider: Created page with "''The Nashville Statement''' is an evangelical Christian statement of faith relating to human sexuality and gender roles authored by the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (CBMW) in Nashville, Tennessee in 2017.<ref name="Why">Beaty, Katelyn (31 August 2017). "Why even conservative evangelicals are unhappy with the anti-LGBT Nashville Statement". ''The Washington Post''. Archived from the original on 2 September 2017.</ref>..."

''The Nashville Statement''' is an [[evangelical]] [[Christianity|Christian]] [[statement of faith]] relating to [[human sexuality]] and [[gender roles]] authored by the [[Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood]] (CBMW) in [[Nashville, Tennessee]] in 2017.<ref name="Why">Beaty, Katelyn (31 August 2017). "Why even conservative evangelicals are unhappy with the anti-LGBT Nashville Statement". ''The Washington Post''. Archived from the original on 2 September 2017.</ref><ref name="Attack">Cruz, Eliel (1 September 2017). "The Nashville Statement Is an Attack on L.G.B.T. Christians". ''New York Times''. Archived from the original on 2 September 2017.</ref><ref name="prompts">Williams, Hattie (1 September 2017). "Nashville statement on sexuality prompts response from LGBT-supporting Christians". ''Church Times''. Archived from the original on 2 September 2017.</ref> The Statement expresses support for marriage between one man and one woman, for faithfulness within marriage, for chastity outside marriage, and for a link between biological sex and "self-conception as male and female".<ref name="auto">[https://cbmw.org/nashville-statement/ Nashville Statement]. CBMW. Archived from the original on 24 February 2018.</ref> The Statement sets forth the signatories' opposition to [[LGBT]] sexuality, [[same-sex marriage]],<ref name="Why"/> [[polygamy]], [[polyamory]], [[adultery]], and [[fornication]].<ref name="auto"/> It was criticized by [[egalitarian Christians]] and LGBT activists,<ref name="prompts"/><ref>[https://www.christiantoday.com/article/evangelicals.and.the.nashville.statement.what.is.the.point/112827.htm Evangelicals and the Nashville Statement: What is the point?]. Christian Today. 31 August 2017. Archived from the original on 1 September 2017.</ref> and several conservative religious figures.<ref name="Why"/>

==History==
The Statement was drafted in late August 2017, during the annual conference of the [[Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission]] of the [[Southern Baptist Convention]], at the [[Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center]] in [[Nashville, Tennessee]].<ref>Meyer, Holly (30 August 2017). "What is the Nashville Statement and why are people talking about it?". ''The Tennessean''.</ref> The statement was published online on August 29, 2017.<ref>Showalter, Brandon (30 August 2017). "Broad Coalition of Evangelicals Releases 'Nashville Statement' on Human Sexuality, Identity". ''The Christian Post''. Archived from the original on 2 September 2017.</ref> It was signed by more than 150 evangelical Christian leaders.<ref name="Release">Sopelsa, Brooke (31 August 2017). "'Nashville Statement': Evangelical Leaders Release Sexuality Manifesto". NBC News. Archived from the original on 2 September 2017.</ref>

==Contents==
The Statement includes a preamble and 14 articles.<ref name="Release"/> The opening paragraph begins, "Evangelical Christians at the dawn of the twenty-first century find themselves living in a period of historic transition. As Western culture has become increasingly [[post-Christian]], it has embarked upon a massive revision of what it means to be a human being."<ref>Bucher, Chris (30 August 2017). "READ: The Nashville Statement on LGBTQ & Transgender Acceptance". Heavy.com. Archived from the original on 3 September 2017.</ref> The Statement presents a [[complementarian]] view of gender and sexuality.<ref name="Why"/><ref name="Release"/>

The Nashville Statement:
:* Affirms that God designed marriage as a lifelong union between male and female, and that marriage "is meant to signify the covenant love between Christ and his bride the church";
:* Denies that differences between men and women render the sexes "unequal in dignity or worth";
:* Denies "that adopting a homosexual or transgender self-conception is consistent with God's holy purposes in creation and redemption."[https://cbmw.org/nashville-statement (art. VII b)]
:* Denies "that the approval of homosexual immorality or transgenderism is a matter of moral indifference about which otherwise faithful Christians should agree to disagree."[https://cbmw.org/nashville-statement (art. Xb)]
:* Affirms that "Christ Jesus has come into the world to save sinners and that through Christ’s death and resurrection forgiveness of sins and eternal life are available to every person who repents of sin and trusts in Christ alone as Savior, Lord, and supreme treasure".<ref name="auto"/>

==Notable signatories ==
In alphabetical order:
* [[Rosaria Butterfield]], English professor and former LGBT activist<ref>Kumar, Anugrah (2 September 2017). "Former Lesbian Explains Why She Signed the Nashville Statement". ''Christian Post''. Archived from the original on 2 September 2017.</ref>
* [[Francis Chan]], preacher and author<ref name="CP">Anderson, Rod (2 September 2017). "What Is the Nashville Statement?". ''The Christian Post''. Archived from the original on 2 September 2017.</ref>
* [[William Lane Craig]], philosopher and Christian apologist<ref>[https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/reasonable-faith-podcast/id252618197?mt=2 The Nashville Statement]. Reasonable Faith Podcast. 22 September 2017. Archived from the original on 25 September 2017.</ref>
* [[James Dobson]], psychologist, founder of [[Focus on the Family]]<ref name="What">Meyer, Holly (30 August 2017). "What is the Nashville Statement and why are people talking about it?". ''USA Today''. Archived from the original on 31 August 2017.</ref>
* [[Ligon Duncan]], [[Presbyterian Church in America|Presbyterian]] theologian, chancellor of the [[Reformed Theological Seminary]]<ref name="Signatories"/>
* [[Erick Erickson]], radio host at [[WSB (AM)|WSB]] in [[Atlanta]]<ref>[https://cbmw.org/nashville-statement/ "Nashville Statement"]. August 2017.</ref>
* [[Ronnie Floyd]], senior pastor of Cross Church, Arkansas, former president of the Southern Baptist Convention<ref name="What"/>
* [[John Frame (theologian)|John Frame]], [[Presbyterian Church in America|Presbyterian]] theologian<ref name="Signatories"/>
* [[David French (political commentator)|David French]], attorney, former ''[[National Review]]'' contributor<ref name="tenneseanwhatisthenashvillestatement">Meyer, Holly (30 August 2017). "What is the Nashville Statement and why are people talking about it?". ''The Tennessean''.</ref>
* [[Steve Gaines (pastor)|Steve Gaines]], former president of the [[Southern Baptist Convention]]<ref name="What"/>
* [[Jack Graham (pastor)|Jack Graham]], pastor of [[Prestonwood Baptist Church]], [[Plano, Texas]]<ref name="What"/>
* [[Kees van der Staaij]], [[Leader of the Reformed Political Party]]
* [[Ken Ham]], young-earth creationist and founder, CEO, and president of [[Answers in Genesis]]
* [[Jeff Iorg]], Southern Baptist pastor, president of [[Gateway Seminary]]<ref name="Signatories"/>
* [[Timothy Paul Jones]], professor of apologetics and family ministry at the [[Southern Baptist Theological Seminary]]<ref name="signers">Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. Signers. https://cbmw.org/nashville-statement-signers/.</ref>
* [[Richard Land]], president of [[Southern Evangelical Seminary]]<ref name="What"/>
* [[John MacArthur (American pastor)|John F. MacArthur Jr.]], president of The Master's Seminary & College<ref name="Signatories"/>
* [[Albert Mohler]], president of the [[Southern Baptist Theological Seminary]]<ref name="Signatories">Initial Signatories. Nashville Statement. Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. Archived from the original on 24 February 2018.</ref>
* [[J. P. Moreland]], philosopher, theologian, and Christian apologist<ref name="Signatories"/>
* [[Russell D. Moore]], theologian and preacher, president of the [[Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission]] of the Southern Baptist Convention<ref name="What"/>
* [[Raymond C. Ortlund Jr.]], president of Renewal Ministries<ref name="Signatories"/>
* [[J. I. Packer]], [[Evangelical Anglicanism|evangelical Anglican]] theologian, professor of theology, [[Regent College]]<ref name="Signatories"/>
* [[Paige Patterson]], former president of the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary<ref name="Signatories"/>
* [[Tony Perkins (politician)|Tony Perkins]], president of the [[Family Research Council]]<ref name="What"/>
* [[John Piper (theologian)|John Piper]], [[Reformed Baptist]] theologian<ref name="Signatories"/>
* [[Vaughan Roberts]], Rector of [[St Ebbe's Church, Oxford]], and Director of the Proclamation Trust<ref name="Signatories"/>
* [[James Robison (televangelist)|James Robison]], [[televangelist]]<ref name="What"/>
* [[Thomas R. Schreiner]], New Testament scholar<ref name="Signatories"/>
* [[R. C. Sproul]], [[Presbyterian Church in America|Presbyterian]] theologian, founder and chairman, Ligonier Ministries<ref name="Signatories"/>
* [[Donald W. Sweeting]], president of [[Colorado Christian University]]<ref name="Signatories"/>

==Criticism and responses==
Due to perceived [[homophobia]], [[transphobia]], and [[misogyny]], the Nashville Statement has attracted significant controversy.<ref name="Attack"/>

* An opposing statement was published on August 30, 2017, by Christians United, a group of signatories. [[Brandan Robertson]] drafted the Christians United statement, and the Rev. [[Steve Chalke]] and others edited it. Signatories included [[John C. Dorhauer]], the General Minister and President of the [[United Church of Christ]]; [[Yvette Flunder]]; and [[Jayne Ozanne]].<ref>Toumayan, Michael (31 August 2017). "Hundreds of Christian Leaders Denounce the Nashville Statement in an Open Letter". The Human Rights Campaign. Archived from the original on 1 September 2017.</ref><ref>[http://www.christiansunitedstatement.org/ The Statement]. Christians United. Archived from the original on 8 September 2017.</ref><ref name="HP">Blumberg, Antonia (30 August 2017). "Hundreds Of Christian Leaders Denounce Anti-LGBTQ 'Nashville Statement'". ''Huffington Post''. Archived from the original on 1 September 2017.</ref>
* [[Nashville]] mayor [[Megan Barry]] wrote "[the] so-called 'Nashville statement' is poorly named and does not represent the inclusive values of the city & people of Nashville".<ref name="rebuked">Schmidt, Samantha (30 August 2017). "Evangelicals' 'Nashville Statement' denouncing same-sex marriage is rebuked by city's mayor". ''The Washington Post''. Archived from the original on 2 September 2017.</ref>
* The [[Episcopal Bishop of Central Florida]], [[Gregory Brewer]], described the statement as "tone deaf to the nuances of Jesus".<ref name="prompts"/>
* Catholic priest [[James Martin (priest, born 1960)|James Martin]] {{Post-nominals|list=[[Society of Jesus|SJ]]}} replied to the Nashville Statement with his own set of affirmations and denials, beginning with "I affirm: That God loves all LGBT people".<ref name="SJ">Martin, James (30 August 2017). "Seven simple ways to respond to the Nashville Statement on sexuality". ''The Washington Post''. Archived from the original on 1 September 2017.</ref>
* Professor Jamin Andreas Hübner published the first full-length academic review of the Nashville Statement in ''Priscilla Papers'' (Winter 2019).<ref>Hübner, Jamin (January 2019). "A Critical Review of the Nashville Statement". ''Priscilla Papers''. Christians for Biblical Equality.</ref>

The Statement has also received opposition from some same-sex marriage opponents. Catholic intellectual [[Ryan T. Anderson]] "[feared] that 'evangelical leaders either don't know what the word chastity means or don't defend its requirements in marriage.'"<ref>Aaron Taylor (11 September 2017). "Nashville and Sodom". First Things. Archived from the original on 14 February 2018.</ref> Some evangelicals were sympathetic to the statement's theology, but critical of what they saw as its pastoral insensitivity.<ref>Williams, Hattie (8 September 2017). "To sign or not: Nashville Statement on sexuality debate intensifies". ''Church Times''. Archived from the original on 24 November 2018.</ref><ref name="Why"/>

In November 2022, David French, one of the original signers of the declaration, announced that he had "changed his mind" on the legal recognition of [[Same-sex marriage in the United States|same-sex marriage]], although stating he was still morally opposed to the matter. He wrote that his "reasoning tracked my lifelong civil libertarian beliefs" and that:

<blockquote>Millions of Americans have formed families and live their lives in deep reliance on ''[[Obergefell v. Hodges|Obergefell]]'' being good law. It would be profoundly disruptive and unjust to rip out the legal superstructure around which they've ordered their lives.</blockquote><ref>French, David (21 November 2022). "Why I Changed My Mind About Law and Marriage, Again". The Dispatch.</ref>

In June 2019, the [[General Assembly (presbyterian church)|General Assembly]] of the [[Presbyterian Church in America]] voted, 803 to 541, to endorse the Nashville Statement.<ref>Gryboski, Michael (28 June 2019). "PCA endorses Nashville Statement on biblical sexuality". ''The Christian Post''. Archived from the original on 28 June 2019.</ref>

== Dutch version ==
[[File:Kees van der Staaij.jpg|thumb|right|[[Reformed Political Party|SGP]] leader [[Kees van der Staaij]] is considered the Statement's most prominent supporter.]]
[[File:Nashville wormerland.jpg|thumb|right|The Dutch municipality of [[Wormerland]] flies the [[Rainbow flag (LGBT movement)|rainbow flag]] on January 9, 2019, in solidarity with the [[LGBT]] community after the publication of the Dutch version of the Nashville Statement.]]

On January 4, 2019, a [[Dutch language|Dutch]] version of the Nashville Statement was published; its publication subsequently drew much controversy. It was signed by 200 leaders from [[Netherlands|the Netherlands]]' orthodox-Protestant communities (including Member of Parliament and [[Reformed Political Party]] leader [[Kees van der Staaij]]). Its structure and content were very similar to the original statement, but a 'pastoral chapter' had been added, stressing that LGBT individuals were entitled to pastoral care, and recognizing that in the past religious communities had failed to show sufficient compassion towards them.<ref>"Nashvilleverklaring krijgt pastoraal nawoord (Nashville Statement gets pastoral postscript)". RD - reformatorisch Dagblad. 4 January 2019. Archived from the original on 4 January 2019.</ref>

The Dutch statement received some support in orthodox Protestant circles (although even there too, objections were raised), but was widely criticized by most religious leaders, politicians and human rights organizations. It was also widely discussed in the Dutch media.<ref>De Fijter, Nico (5 January 2019). "Grote groep orthodox-protestantse predikanten spreekt zich met 'Nashville-verklaring' stevig uit tegen homoseksualiteit (Large group of orthodox-protestant ministers speak out against homosexuality in 'Nashville-Statement')". www.trouw.nl. Archived from the original on 6 January 2019.</ref> The [[Openbaar Ministerie|Public Prosecution Service]] indicated it would evaluate whether the publication was punishable under criminal law,<ref>"OM onderzoekt mogelijke strafbaarheid van Nashville-verklaring". NOS. 7 January 2019. Archived from the original on 7 January 2019.</ref> and they concluded it was not punishable, in part due to its relevance to public debate.<ref>"Nashvilleverklaring naar oordeel OM niet strafbaar". Openbaar Ministerie. 12 March 2020.</ref> In the days following the publication, numerous town halls, churches and universities throughout the Netherlands flew the [[Rainbow flag (LGBT movement)|rainbow flag]] in a show of solidarity with the LGBT community.<ref>"Op veel plekken wapperen regenboogvlaggen om Nashville-verklaring (Rainbow flags flying in many places because of Nashvillestatement)". nos.nl. 8 January 2019. Archived from the original on 8 January 2019.</ref>

==See also==
* [[Danvers Statement]]
* [[Manhattan Declaration: A Call of Christian Conscience]]
* [[Phoenix Declaration]]

==External links==
* [https://cbmw.org/nashville-statement/ Nashville Statement at CBMW website]

The Phoenix Declaration

2026-04-03T00:05:42Z

BrantleyRider: Redirected page to Phoenix Declaration

#redirect [[Phoenix Declaration]]

Phoenix Declaration

2026-04-03T00:05:09Z

BrantleyRider: Created page with "'''The Phoenix Declaration''' is a document prepared by a liberal/progressive clergy group "No Longer Silent: Clergy for Justice" in late 2002 working towards full acceptance and inclusion of LGBT people within Christianity and the world at large. It was released in conjunction with a keynote address by Bishop John Shelby Spong in January 2003.<ref>Spong, John Shelby (19 February 2003). "No Longer Silent! The Phoenix Declaration". nolonger..."

'''The Phoenix Declaration''' is a document prepared by a liberal/progressive clergy group "No Longer Silent: Clergy for Justice" in late 2002 working towards full acceptance and inclusion of LGBT people within Christianity and the world at large. It was released in conjunction with a keynote address by Bishop [[wikipedia:John Shelby Spong|John Shelby Spong]] in January 2003.<ref>Spong, John Shelby (19 February 2003). "No Longer Silent! The Phoenix Declaration". nolongersilent.org. http://nolongersilent.org/SpongArticle.html.</ref> Collecting signatures online, and in public, ecumenical gatherings,<ref>"Pastors gather to decry intolerance". ''East Valley Tribune''. 30 January 2003. http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/article_2e9b38c0-092a-5d5a-8d7f-fefee289ada5.html?mode=story.</ref><ref>"A blow dealt to religious intolerance of gay people". ''East Valley Tribune''. 2 February 2003. http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/article_2a95e2b5-008e-53de-a784-6c5a9b5f6457.html.</ref> over 160 Arizona clergy signed on in solidarity.<ref>"Signers of the No Longer Silent Phoenix Declaration". nolongersilent.org. http://nolongersilent.org/PhoenixDeclarationSigners.html.</ref>

Almost immediately, an opposition group posted the counter-statement, "Courage, Clarity, and Charity: A Phoenix Declaration,"<ref>"Courage, Clarity, and Charity: A Phoenix Declaration". phoenixdeclaration.org. Archived from the original on 27 July 2011. http://www.phoenixdeclaration.org/declaration.htm.</ref><ref>Griffiths, Lawn (16 February 2003). "Gay issue polarizes Valley pastors". ''East Valley Tribune''. http://nolongersilent.org/TribuneArticleFeb2003.html.</ref> aimed at defending "the integrity of God's word" and opposed to "those people and groups who are attempting to subvert the Bible's clear teaching on sexual ethics, particularly homosexuality."<ref>"A Phoenix Declaration". phoenixdeclaration.org. Archived from the original on 27 July 2011. http://www.phoenixdeclaration.org/index.htm.</ref> The Declaration continued to create controversy through 2008 in the [[Diocese of Phoenix|Phoenix Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church]], in part because of Bishop [[Thomas J. Olmsted]]'s order for nine priests to remove their names from the document.<ref>"Faith leaders urge tolerance of gays". ''East Valley Tribune''. 9 June 2004. http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/article_223aa8b1-6907-51f8-ac20-ae183856fa0e.html?mode=story.</ref><ref>Clancy, Michael (10 July 2005). "Priests say they were forced out of ministry". ''The Arizona Republic''. http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/0710priests10.html.</ref><ref>Clancy, Michael (29 November 2005). "Anti-gay edict stirs priest to step aside". ''The Arizona Republic''. http://www.azcentral.com/community/mesa/articles/1129priestquit29.html.</ref><ref>Clancy, Michael (18 January 2006). "Mesa pastor taking extended leave of absence". ''The Arizona Republic''. http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/0118priest18.html.</ref><ref>"Bishop of Phoenix excommunicates schismatic priest now living in Southern California". ''California Catholic Daily''. 11 May 2009. http://www.calcatholic.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?id=60da4faa-0614-4aa4-b5ef-4b3db407f8a9.</ref>

==Excerpt from the document==
<blockquote>
As Christian clergy we believe it is time to share our perspective concerning Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual and Transgendered (GLBT) persons. We celebrate the end of the debate. The verdict is in. Homosexuality is not a sickness, not a choice, and not a sin. We affirm that GLBT persons are distinctive, holy, and precious gifts to all who struggle to become the family of God.

We stand in solidarity as those who are committed to work and pray for full acceptance and inclusion of GLBT persons in our churches and in our world. GLBT persons are condemned and excluded by individuals and institutions, political and religious, who claim to be speaking the truth of Christian teaching. This leads directly and indirectly to intolerance, discrimination, suffering, and even death. Political and religious rhetoric has monopolized the public perception of the stance of Christian persons on this issue. This stance continues to cripple the spirit of innocent people. The Christian faith compels us to be part of the healing for the souls wounded by this tragic, violent, and destructive hatred.

...

And so we call for an end to all religious and civil discrimination against any person based on sexual orientation. All laws must protect the freedoms, rights, and equal legal standing of all persons. We will continue to work for and promote the dignity of GLBT persons and their inclusion in our socio-political, cultural and economic life.<ref>"No Longer Silent Phoenix Declaration". nolongersilent.org. http://nolongersilent.org/PhoenixDeclaration.html.</ref>
</blockquote>

==See also==
* "[[Manhattan Declaration: A Call of Christian Conscience]]"

== External links ==
* [http://nolongersilent.org/ No Longer Silent: Clergy for Justice website]
* [http://nolongersilent.org/PhoenixDeclaration.html Complete text of the document]

==References==

Ligon Duncan

2026-04-02T23:56:52Z

BrantleyRider:

{{Infobox theologian
| name = Ligon Duncan
| image = J Ligon Duncan.jpg
| birth_name = Jennings Ligon Duncan III
| birth_date = November 29, 1960
| birth_place = [[wikipedia:Greenville, South Carolina|Greenville, South Carolina]]
| death_date =
| death_place =
| school_tradition = [[Presbyterianism]], [[Calvinism]]
| education = [[wikipedia:Furman University|Furman University]] ([[wikipedia:Bachelor of Arts|BA]]) [[Covenant Theological Seminary]] ([[wikipedia:Master of Divinity|MDiv]]) [[wikipedia:University of Edinburgh|University of Edinburgh]] ([[wikipedia:Doctor of Philosophy|PhD]])
| main_interests = [[Calvinism]], [[Covenant Theology]], [[Biblical Inerrancy]], [[gender roles]]
| notable_ideas = [[Covenant theology]], [[Complementarianism]]
}}

'''Jennings Ligon Duncan III''' (born November 29, 1960) is an American [[Presbyterian]] scholar and pastor. He is the current [[wikipedia:Chancellor (education)|chancellor]] of [[Reformed Theological Seminary]].

==Early life and education==
Duncan is native to [[wikipedia:Greenville, South Carolina|Greenville, South Carolina]]. His father was an eighth-generation Southern Presbyterian ruling elder.<ref name="FPC">[http://www.fpcjackson.org/staff/duncan.htm Reverend J. Ligon Duncan III], First Presbyterian Church of Jackson, Mississippi. Accessed 9 December 2011. Archived from the original on 1 January 2012.</ref> Duncan graduated from Greenville Senior High School in 1979 and [[wikipedia:Furman University|Furman University]] in 1983 (B.A., History).<ref name="FPC" /> He continued his studies at [[Covenant Theological Seminary]] with an M.Div. in 1986 and an MA in historical theology in 1987. He completed doctoral studies in theology at the [[wikipedia:University of Edinburgh|University of Edinburgh]], [[New College, Edinburgh|New College]] in 1995.<ref>Jennings Ligon Duncan (1995). "Covenant idea in ante-Nicene theology". [https://www.era.lib.ed.ac.uk/handle/1842/10618 https://www.era.lib.ed.ac.uk/handle/1842/10618].</ref>

He served on the staff of [[Covenant Presbyterian Church (St. Louis, Missouri)|Covenant Presbyterian Church]] in [[wikipedia:St. Louis|St. Louis, MO]], (1984–1987). He was licensed to preach in 1985 by the [[Calvary Presbytery]] (in the [[PCA]]) in [[wikipedia:South Carolina|South Carolina]] and was ordained in 1990.<ref name="FPC" />

==Institutional and organizational involvement==
===Reformed Theological Seminary===
In the Summer of 1990, Duncan joined the faculty of [[Reformed Theological Seminary]] (RTS) in [[wikipedia:Jackson, Mississippi|Jackson, Mississippi]], as the [[John R. Richardson]] Chair of Systematic Theology. At the same time he served as assistant pastor of [[Trinity Presbyterian Church (Jackson, Mississippi)|Trinity Presbyterian Church]] in [[wikipedia:Jackson, Mississippi|Jackson, Mississippi]] (1990–1995), and interim pastor at [[First Presbyterian Church (Yazoo City, Mississippi)|First Presbyterian Church]], Yazoo City, Mississippi (1993).<ref name="rts.edu">[http://www.rts.edu/faculty/StaffDetails.aspx?id=265 Reformed Theological Seminary faculty page]. Accessed 22 August 2008. Archived from the original on 22 September 2008.</ref>

Effective January 1, 2014, Duncan resigned his position as Sr. Minister at [[First Presbyterian Church]], Jackson, MS, and assumed the role of Chancellor of [[Reformed Theological Seminary]].<ref name="rts.edu-a">[https://www.rts.edu/chancellor/newsevents/NewsDetails.aspx?id=1857 RTS Appoints Pastor-Theologian as New Chancellor: Duncan has a longtime connection with RTS.]. rts.edu. Accessed 6 June 2014. Archived from the original on 3 July 2014.</ref> He continues to teach in the department of Systematic Theology while serving in this role.

===First Presbyterian Church and the PCA===
Duncan was named senior pastor at [[First Presbyterian Church (Jackson, Mississippi)|First Presbyterian Church of Jackson, Mississippi]] ([[Presbyterian Church in America|PCA]]) in 1996, and served in that capacity until early 2014. An active churchman, he has been involved in the courts of the [[Presbyterian Church in America]] (PCA) in various ways: General Assembly's Committee on Psalmody; Committees of Commissioners for [[Covenant Theological Seminary]], Mission to North America, and Bills and Overtures; member and chair of the Credentials Committee of the Presbytery of the Mississippi Valley (1996–2002); vice-chair of the General Assembly's Creation Study Committee (1998–2000); member of the search committee for a Coordinator of Reformed University Ministries; chair of the General Assembly's Theological Examination Committee; member of the PCA's Strategic Planning Committee; moderator of the Presbytery of the Mississippi Valley (2001); moderator of the PCA General Assembly (2004), making him the youngest elected to this position in the denomination's history.<ref name="monergism.com">[http://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/articles/bio/duncan.html Ligon Duncan bio]. Monergism.com. Accessed 22 August 2008.</ref>

===Other Organizations===
He is the former president of the [[Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals]],<ref>[http://www.alliancenet.org/cc/article/0,,PTID307086_CHID559376_CIID1920896,00.html Ligon Duncan], Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals.</ref> a broad coalition of evangelical Christians from various denominations. It aims to call the church to repent of what it see as its worldliness, and to take up the mantle of the Protestant reformers in recovering the centrality of worship and doctrine in the life of the church. In his capacity as president, Duncan regularly spoke at the Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology, an Alliance-related forum that offers quarterly conferences on Reformed doctrine and history. He also contributes to the Alliance's online magazine and blog, Reformation21.<ref>[http://www.reformation21.org/ Reformation21]. Accessed 22 August 2008.</ref>

He is also a council member of [[The Gospel Coalition]], a "group of (mostly) pastors and churches in the Reformed heritage who delight in the truth and power of the gospel, and who want the gospel of Christ crucified and resurrected to lie at the center of all we cherish, preach, and teach." They have created [[The Gospel Coalition Network]], which is a consortium of "Christian pastors and other leaders who stimulate one another to faithfulness and fruitfulness in life and ministry in this rapidly-changing, increasingly urbanized, and spiritually hungry world."<ref name="The Gospel Coalition">[http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/about/council-members/ligon_duncan The Gospel Coalition council members: Ligon Duncan]. Accessed 22 August 2008. Archived from the original on 21 September 2008.</ref>

==Pastoral History==
Ligon Duncan is the Chancellor/CEO of [[Reformed Theological Seminary]] and the John E. Richards Professor of Systematic and Historical Theology. Ligon was born in Greenville, SC, and reared in the home of an eighth generation Presbyterian ruling elder. A 1983 graduate of Furman University (B.A. History), he received the M.Div. and M.A. (Historical Theology) from Covenant Theological Seminary. He earned the Ph.D. from the University of Edinburgh, New College, Scotland, in 1995 (under the supervision of renowned Reformation and Patristics scholar, David F. Wright). While in Scotland he also studied Systematic Theology at the Free Church of Scotland College (now Edinburgh Theological Seminary) with Professor Donald Macleod.

Ligon’s pastoral experience began in his twenties, while in seminary. At the age of 24, he was licensed to preach by Calvary Presbytery (PCA) and since then he has preached in Presbyterian, Dutch Reformed, Baptist, Congregational, Anglican, Methodist, and Independent churches (including PCA, ARP, EPC, OPC, RPCNA, PC(USA), ECO, CRC, RCA, URCNA congregations, churches affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention as well as various Reformed Baptist and evangelical Anglican groups). While in Britain, Duncan supplied pulpits in Church of Scotland and Free Church of Scotland congregations, as well as Presbyterian Association of England churches (now called The Evangelical Presbyterian Church of England and Wales). His pastoral ministry now spans four decades and four congregations: The Covenant Presbyterian Church of St. Louis, Missouri; Trinity Presbyterian Church, Jackson, Miss.; First Presbyterian Church, Yazoo City, Miss.; and historic First Presbyterian Church, Jackson, Miss., where he served almost 18 years.

At 28, Ligon was elected to the faculty of Reformed Theological Seminary (RTS). In 1990, Duncan was ordained in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) and began to teach at RTS, Jackson, Miss., where he eventually became chairman of the department of systematic theology, and the John R. Richardson Professor of Theology. Over his thirty-plus years at RTS he has lectured regularly at all of the campuses of (especially Jackson, Charlotte, Orlando, Washington, and New York) and he has taught all of the core Systematic Theology courses, Pastoral/Social Ethics, Apologetics, History of Philosophy and Christian Thought, Covenant Theology, Patristics, Evangelism, Worship, Church History, Philosophical Theology, Scottish Theology, Contemporary Theology, and Theology of the Westminster Standards. He left his full-time position at RTS to become Senior Minister of the historic First Presbyterian Church (1837) in Jackson, Miss., in 1996 and served until 2013, while continuing to teach at RTS as adjunct. He returned to the regular faculty of RTS in 2012 and became Chancellor/CEO of RTS.<ref>[https://ligonduncan.com/about-ligon-duncan/ About Ligon Duncan]. ligonduncan.com.</ref>

==Theological and Social Positions==
In 2017, Duncan signed the [[Nashville Statement]].<ref name="Signatories">[https://cbmw.org/nashville-statement/#signers Initial Signatories]. Nashville Statement. Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. Accessed 2 September 2017.</ref>

===Gender Roles===
Duncan holds to a [[complementarianism|complementarian]] view of gender roles.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/19980208022753/http://www.leaderu.com/orgs/cbmw/rbmw/chapter2.html Recovering: Chapter 2]</ref> He believes that 1 Corinthians 14:34, which says 'women should keep silent in the churches', refers to women teaching men (like found in 1Timothy 2:12),<ref>[http://www.cbmw.org/Resources/Sermons/Women-in-the-Church-and-Silence-in-the-Church Women in the Church and Silence in the Church]. CBMW. 15 December 2004.</ref> This puts him at odds with the popular view espoused by [[Wayne Grudem]] and [[D. A. Carson|Don Carson]] who insist that the context shows that Paul is prohibiting women from publicly judging prophecy in the church.<ref>See Question 25, also see footnote on p144 in Wayne Grudem's book ''Countering the Claims of Evangelical Feminism'' (or the footnote on p233 in the full length version ''Evangelical Feminism and Biblical Truth'') for references to more detailed treatments of this question. [http://www.cbmw.org/Online-Books/Fifty-Crucial-Questions/Fifty-Crucial-Questions http://www.cbmw.org/Online-Books/Fifty-Crucial-Questions/Fifty-Crucial-Questions]. Accessed 2 August 2009. Archived from the original on 29 July 2018.</ref> In the church he serves, men teach mixed adult Sunday school classes, occasionally husband/wife teams teach on issues such as parenting and marriage.<ref>[http://www.cbmw.org/Conferences/Different-by-Design-2008/Question-and-Answer-Session Question and Answer Session]. CBMW. Accessed 3 August 2009. Archived from the original on 25 October 2009.</ref>

Duncan wrote the introduction to Dr. Eric Mason's book "Woke Church," which argues Christian churches should support [[Black Lives Matter]] and that the [[Nation of Islam]] promotes black pride.[https://www.moodypublishers.com/woke-church/]

==Publications==
===Authored/co-authored===
*''Does Grace Grow Best in Winter?'' (co-author with J. Nicholas Reid). [[P & R Publishing]], 2009.
*''Fear Not!'' (foreword by [[Jerry Bridges]]). [[Christian Focus Publications|Christian Focus]], 2008.
*''The Westminster Assembly: A Guide to Basic Bibliography'' (co-author with [[David W. Hall]]). [[Reformed Academic Press]], 1993.
*''A Short History of the Westminster Assembly''(co-author/editor with William Beveridge). [[Reformed Academic Press]], 1993.
*''The Genesis Debate: Three Views of the Days of Creation'' (co-author with [[David W. Hall]], Meredith Kline, Lee Irons, Hugh Ross, and Gleason Archer). [[Crux Press]], 2000.
*''Should We Leave Our Churches?'' (co-author with [[Mark Talbot]]). P&R, 2004.
*''Women’s Ministry in the Local Church'' (co-author). [[Crossway Books|Crossway]], 2006.

===Edited===
*''Matthew Henry’s Method for Prayer'' (editor). [[Christian Focus Publications]]/[[Christian Heritage]], 1994.
*''The Westminster Confession in the 21st Century: Essays in Remembrance of the 350th Anniversary of the Westminster Assembly'', (general editor and contributor) Mentor, Vol. 1, 2003; Vol. 2, 2004; Vol. 3, 2008.
*''Give Praise to God: A Vision for Reforming Worship'', (editor and contributor) [[P&R Publishing]], 2003.

===Contributor===
*''The Practice of Confessional Subscription'' (contributor). [[University Press of America]], 1995.
*''Reclaiming the Gospel and Reforming Churches'', (contributor) [[Founders Press]], 2003.
*''Letters to Timothy'', (contributor) Founders Press, 2004.
*''Confessing Our Hope'', (contributor) GPTS Press, 2004.
*''The Devoted Life: An Invitation to the Puritan Classics'', (contributor) IVP, 2004.
*''Preaching the Cross ''(contributor), Crossway, 2007.
*''Fear Not: Death and the Afterlife from a Christian Perspective'' (contributor), Christian Focus, 2008.
*''In My Place Condemned He Stood'' (contributor), Crossway, 2008.

==External links==
*[http://ligonduncan.com/ LigonDuncan.com - official website of J. Ligon Duncan III]
*[http://rts.edu/Chancellor/bio.aspx?id=177 Ligon Duncan's Complete Bibliography]
*[http://www.fpcjackson.org First Presbyterian Church, Jackson, MS]
*[http://www.reformation21.org/ Alliance's reformation21 online magazine]
*[http://www.alliancenet.org/ Alliance Homepage]
*[http://www.cbmw.org Council of Biblical Manhood and Womanhood]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120722204847/http://www.sovereigngraceministries.org/blogs/cj-mahaney/post/patristics-for-busy-pastors-interview-with-dr-j-ligon-duncan-iii-patrology.aspx “Patristics for Busy Pastors”: An Interview with Dr. Ligon Duncan]
*[http://www.t4g.org/ Together for the Gospel]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20071114213425/http://www.fpcjackson.org/general/Twin%20Lakes%20Fellowship/index_twin_lakes_fellowship.htm Twin Lakes Fellowship]
*[http://www.twinlakescamp.org/ Twin Lakes Camp and Conference Center]

== References ==

Ligon Duncan

2026-04-02T23:56:05Z

BrantleyRider:

{{Infobox theologian
| name = Ligon Duncan
| image = J Ligon Duncan.jpg
| birth_name = Jennings Ligon Duncan III
| birth_date = November 29, 1960
| birth_place = [[wikipedia:Greenville, South Carolina|Greenville, South Carolina]]
| death_date =
| death_place =
| school_tradition = [[Presbyterianism]], [[Calvinism]]
| education = [[Furman University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]]) [[Covenant Theological Seminary]] ([[Master of Divinity|MDiv]]) [[University of Edinburgh]] ([[Doctor of Philosophy|PhD]])
| main_interests = Calvinism, [[Covenant Theology]], [[Biblical Inerrancy]], [[gender roles]]
| notable_ideas = [[Covenant theology]], [[Complementarianism]]
}}

'''Jennings Ligon Duncan III''' (born November 29, 1960) is an American [[Presbyterian]] scholar and pastor. He is the current [[wikipedia:Chancellor (education)|chancellor]] of [[Reformed Theological Seminary]].

==Early life and education==
Duncan is native to [[wikipedia:Greenville, South Carolina|Greenville, South Carolina]]. His father was an eighth-generation Southern Presbyterian ruling elder.<ref name="FPC">[http://www.fpcjackson.org/staff/duncan.htm Reverend J. Ligon Duncan III], First Presbyterian Church of Jackson, Mississippi. Accessed 9 December 2011. Archived from the original on 1 January 2012.</ref> Duncan graduated from Greenville Senior High School in 1979 and [[wikipedia:Furman University|Furman University]] in 1983 (B.A., History).<ref name="FPC" /> He continued his studies at [[Covenant Theological Seminary]] with an M.Div. in 1986 and an MA in historical theology in 1987. He completed doctoral studies in theology at the [[wikipedia:University of Edinburgh|University of Edinburgh]], [[New College, Edinburgh|New College]] in 1995.<ref>Jennings Ligon Duncan (1995). "Covenant idea in ante-Nicene theology". [https://www.era.lib.ed.ac.uk/handle/1842/10618 https://www.era.lib.ed.ac.uk/handle/1842/10618].</ref>

He served on the staff of [[Covenant Presbyterian Church (St. Louis, Missouri)|Covenant Presbyterian Church]] in [[wikipedia:St. Louis|St. Louis, MO]], (1984–1987). He was licensed to preach in 1985 by the [[Calvary Presbytery]] (in the [[PCA]]) in [[wikipedia:South Carolina|South Carolina]] and was ordained in 1990.<ref name="FPC" />

==Institutional and organizational involvement==
===Reformed Theological Seminary===
In the Summer of 1990, Duncan joined the faculty of [[Reformed Theological Seminary]] (RTS) in [[wikipedia:Jackson, Mississippi|Jackson, Mississippi]], as the [[John R. Richardson]] Chair of Systematic Theology. At the same time he served as assistant pastor of [[Trinity Presbyterian Church (Jackson, Mississippi)|Trinity Presbyterian Church]] in [[wikipedia:Jackson, Mississippi|Jackson, Mississippi]] (1990–1995), and interim pastor at [[First Presbyterian Church (Yazoo City, Mississippi)|First Presbyterian Church]], Yazoo City, Mississippi (1993).<ref name="rts.edu">[http://www.rts.edu/faculty/StaffDetails.aspx?id=265 Reformed Theological Seminary faculty page]. Accessed 22 August 2008. Archived from the original on 22 September 2008.</ref>

Effective January 1, 2014, Duncan resigned his position as Sr. Minister at [[First Presbyterian Church]], Jackson, MS, and assumed the role of Chancellor of [[Reformed Theological Seminary]].<ref name="rts.edu-a">[https://www.rts.edu/chancellor/newsevents/NewsDetails.aspx?id=1857 RTS Appoints Pastor-Theologian as New Chancellor: Duncan has a longtime connection with RTS.]. rts.edu. Accessed 6 June 2014. Archived from the original on 3 July 2014.</ref> He continues to teach in the department of Systematic Theology while serving in this role.

===First Presbyterian Church and the PCA===
Duncan was named senior pastor at [[First Presbyterian Church (Jackson, Mississippi)|First Presbyterian Church of Jackson, Mississippi]] ([[Presbyterian Church in America|PCA]]) in 1996, and served in that capacity until early 2014. An active churchman, he has been involved in the courts of the [[Presbyterian Church in America]] (PCA) in various ways: General Assembly's Committee on Psalmody; Committees of Commissioners for [[Covenant Theological Seminary]], Mission to North America, and Bills and Overtures; member and chair of the Credentials Committee of the Presbytery of the Mississippi Valley (1996–2002); vice-chair of the General Assembly's Creation Study Committee (1998–2000); member of the search committee for a Coordinator of Reformed University Ministries; chair of the General Assembly's Theological Examination Committee; member of the PCA's Strategic Planning Committee; moderator of the Presbytery of the Mississippi Valley (2001); moderator of the PCA General Assembly (2004), making him the youngest elected to this position in the denomination's history.<ref name="monergism.com">[http://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/articles/bio/duncan.html Ligon Duncan bio]. Monergism.com. Accessed 22 August 2008.</ref>

===Other Organizations===
He is the former president of the [[Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals]],<ref>[http://www.alliancenet.org/cc/article/0,,PTID307086_CHID559376_CIID1920896,00.html Ligon Duncan], Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals.</ref> a broad coalition of evangelical Christians from various denominations. It aims to call the church to repent of what it see as its worldliness, and to take up the mantle of the Protestant reformers in recovering the centrality of worship and doctrine in the life of the church. In his capacity as president, Duncan regularly spoke at the Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology, an Alliance-related forum that offers quarterly conferences on Reformed doctrine and history. He also contributes to the Alliance's online magazine and blog, Reformation21.<ref>[http://www.reformation21.org/ Reformation21]. Accessed 22 August 2008.</ref>

He is also a council member of [[The Gospel Coalition]], a "group of (mostly) pastors and churches in the Reformed heritage who delight in the truth and power of the gospel, and who want the gospel of Christ crucified and resurrected to lie at the center of all we cherish, preach, and teach." They have created [[The Gospel Coalition Network]], which is a consortium of "Christian pastors and other leaders who stimulate one another to faithfulness and fruitfulness in life and ministry in this rapidly-changing, increasingly urbanized, and spiritually hungry world."<ref name="The Gospel Coalition">[http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/about/council-members/ligon_duncan The Gospel Coalition council members: Ligon Duncan]. Accessed 22 August 2008. Archived from the original on 21 September 2008.</ref>

==Pastoral History==
Ligon Duncan is the Chancellor/CEO of [[Reformed Theological Seminary]] and the John E. Richards Professor of Systematic and Historical Theology. Ligon was born in Greenville, SC, and reared in the home of an eighth generation Presbyterian ruling elder. A 1983 graduate of Furman University (B.A. History), he received the M.Div. and M.A. (Historical Theology) from Covenant Theological Seminary. He earned the Ph.D. from the University of Edinburgh, New College, Scotland, in 1995 (under the supervision of renowned Reformation and Patristics scholar, David F. Wright). While in Scotland he also studied Systematic Theology at the Free Church of Scotland College (now Edinburgh Theological Seminary) with Professor Donald Macleod.

Ligon’s pastoral experience began in his twenties, while in seminary. At the age of 24, he was licensed to preach by Calvary Presbytery (PCA) and since then he has preached in Presbyterian, Dutch Reformed, Baptist, Congregational, Anglican, Methodist, and Independent churches (including PCA, ARP, EPC, OPC, RPCNA, PC(USA), ECO, CRC, RCA, URCNA congregations, churches affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention as well as various Reformed Baptist and evangelical Anglican groups). While in Britain, Duncan supplied pulpits in Church of Scotland and Free Church of Scotland congregations, as well as Presbyterian Association of England churches (now called The Evangelical Presbyterian Church of England and Wales). His pastoral ministry now spans four decades and four congregations: The Covenant Presbyterian Church of St. Louis, Missouri; Trinity Presbyterian Church, Jackson, Miss.; First Presbyterian Church, Yazoo City, Miss.; and historic First Presbyterian Church, Jackson, Miss., where he served almost 18 years.

At 28, Ligon was elected to the faculty of Reformed Theological Seminary (RTS). In 1990, Duncan was ordained in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) and began to teach at RTS, Jackson, Miss., where he eventually became chairman of the department of systematic theology, and the John R. Richardson Professor of Theology. Over his thirty-plus years at RTS he has lectured regularly at all of the campuses of (especially Jackson, Charlotte, Orlando, Washington, and New York) and he has taught all of the core Systematic Theology courses, Pastoral/Social Ethics, Apologetics, History of Philosophy and Christian Thought, Covenant Theology, Patristics, Evangelism, Worship, Church History, Philosophical Theology, Scottish Theology, Contemporary Theology, and Theology of the Westminster Standards. He left his full-time position at RTS to become Senior Minister of the historic First Presbyterian Church (1837) in Jackson, Miss., in 1996 and served until 2013, while continuing to teach at RTS as adjunct. He returned to the regular faculty of RTS in 2012 and became Chancellor/CEO of RTS.<ref>[https://ligonduncan.com/about-ligon-duncan/ About Ligon Duncan]. ligonduncan.com.</ref>

==Theological and Social Positions==
In 2017, Duncan signed the [[Nashville Statement]].<ref name="Signatories">[https://cbmw.org/nashville-statement/#signers Initial Signatories]. Nashville Statement. Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. Accessed 2 September 2017.</ref>

===Gender Roles===
Duncan holds to a [[complementarianism|complementarian]] view of gender roles.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/19980208022753/http://www.leaderu.com/orgs/cbmw/rbmw/chapter2.html Recovering: Chapter 2]</ref> He believes that 1 Corinthians 14:34, which says 'women should keep silent in the churches', refers to women teaching men (like found in 1Timothy 2:12),<ref>[http://www.cbmw.org/Resources/Sermons/Women-in-the-Church-and-Silence-in-the-Church Women in the Church and Silence in the Church]. CBMW. 15 December 2004.</ref> This puts him at odds with the popular view espoused by [[Wayne Grudem]] and [[D. A. Carson|Don Carson]] who insist that the context shows that Paul is prohibiting women from publicly judging prophecy in the church.<ref>See Question 25, also see footnote on p144 in Wayne Grudem's book ''Countering the Claims of Evangelical Feminism'' (or the footnote on p233 in the full length version ''Evangelical Feminism and Biblical Truth'') for references to more detailed treatments of this question. [http://www.cbmw.org/Online-Books/Fifty-Crucial-Questions/Fifty-Crucial-Questions http://www.cbmw.org/Online-Books/Fifty-Crucial-Questions/Fifty-Crucial-Questions]. Accessed 2 August 2009. Archived from the original on 29 July 2018.</ref> In the church he serves, men teach mixed adult Sunday school classes, occasionally husband/wife teams teach on issues such as parenting and marriage.<ref>[http://www.cbmw.org/Conferences/Different-by-Design-2008/Question-and-Answer-Session Question and Answer Session]. CBMW. Accessed 3 August 2009. Archived from the original on 25 October 2009.</ref>

Duncan wrote the introduction to Dr. Eric Mason's book "Woke Church," which argues Christian churches should support [[Black Lives Matter]] and that the [[Nation of Islam]] promotes black pride.[https://www.moodypublishers.com/woke-church/]

==Publications==
===Authored/co-authored===
*''Does Grace Grow Best in Winter?'' (co-author with J. Nicholas Reid). [[P & R Publishing]], 2009.
*''Fear Not!'' (foreword by [[Jerry Bridges]]). [[Christian Focus Publications|Christian Focus]], 2008.
*''The Westminster Assembly: A Guide to Basic Bibliography'' (co-author with [[David W. Hall]]). [[Reformed Academic Press]], 1993.
*''A Short History of the Westminster Assembly''(co-author/editor with William Beveridge). [[Reformed Academic Press]], 1993.
*''The Genesis Debate: Three Views of the Days of Creation'' (co-author with [[David W. Hall]], Meredith Kline, Lee Irons, Hugh Ross, and Gleason Archer). [[Crux Press]], 2000.
*''Should We Leave Our Churches?'' (co-author with [[Mark Talbot]]). P&R, 2004.
*''Women’s Ministry in the Local Church'' (co-author). [[Crossway Books|Crossway]], 2006.

===Edited===
*''Matthew Henry’s Method for Prayer'' (editor). [[Christian Focus Publications]]/[[Christian Heritage]], 1994.
*''The Westminster Confession in the 21st Century: Essays in Remembrance of the 350th Anniversary of the Westminster Assembly'', (general editor and contributor) Mentor, Vol. 1, 2003; Vol. 2, 2004; Vol. 3, 2008.
*''Give Praise to God: A Vision for Reforming Worship'', (editor and contributor) [[P&R Publishing]], 2003.

===Contributor===
*''The Practice of Confessional Subscription'' (contributor). [[University Press of America]], 1995.
*''Reclaiming the Gospel and Reforming Churches'', (contributor) [[Founders Press]], 2003.
*''Letters to Timothy'', (contributor) Founders Press, 2004.
*''Confessing Our Hope'', (contributor) GPTS Press, 2004.
*''The Devoted Life: An Invitation to the Puritan Classics'', (contributor) IVP, 2004.
*''Preaching the Cross ''(contributor), Crossway, 2007.
*''Fear Not: Death and the Afterlife from a Christian Perspective'' (contributor), Christian Focus, 2008.
*''In My Place Condemned He Stood'' (contributor), Crossway, 2008.

==External links==
*[http://ligonduncan.com/ LigonDuncan.com - official website of J. Ligon Duncan III]
*[http://rts.edu/Chancellor/bio.aspx?id=177 Ligon Duncan's Complete Bibliography]
*[http://www.fpcjackson.org First Presbyterian Church, Jackson, MS]
*[http://www.reformation21.org/ Alliance's reformation21 online magazine]
*[http://www.alliancenet.org/ Alliance Homepage]
*[http://www.cbmw.org Council of Biblical Manhood and Womanhood]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120722204847/http://www.sovereigngraceministries.org/blogs/cj-mahaney/post/patristics-for-busy-pastors-interview-with-dr-j-ligon-duncan-iii-patrology.aspx “Patristics for Busy Pastors”: An Interview with Dr. Ligon Duncan]
*[http://www.t4g.org/ Together for the Gospel]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20071114213425/http://www.fpcjackson.org/general/Twin%20Lakes%20Fellowship/index_twin_lakes_fellowship.htm Twin Lakes Fellowship]
*[http://www.twinlakescamp.org/ Twin Lakes Camp and Conference Center]

== References ==