Revd. Dr. Richard Turnbull, Principal of Wycliffe Hall at Oxford, spoke briefly at Reformed Seminary (Orlando) yesterday afternoon following a lecture on John’s Gospel given by Turnbull’s associate and Vice-Principal of Wycliffe Hall, Dr. Simon Vibert.
Hamstrung Evangelicalism
Turnbull, who in the middle of 2007 became enshrouded in controversial media attention over Wycliffe Hall’s alleged anti-intellectualism and fundamentalist extremism (see Turnbull’s article, “I didn’t say you’ll all go to hell“) gave three very brief points diagnosing the current troubled state of Evangelicalism worldwide under the heading: We are hamstrung on the ever-widening definition of “evangelical.”
1. Need to recover sola Scriptura
Turnbull exhorted us that we need to reclaim the authority of the Holy Scriptures as our sole foundation of faith and life. It was encouraging to hear an Anglican brother admit heartily that the most important aspect of recovering the Word is recovering the preaching of the Word. Further, Turnbull admitted that this desire is a core value for his leadership at Wycliffe Hall.
2. Need to recover Reformed theology
Turnbull said he is not ashamed to admit that he is trying to call the Anglican church back to her Reformed heritage.
3. Need to recover spirituality
He speaks here of the “age old need to connect the head and the heart.” Again, it was encouraging to hear Turnbull’s pastoral heart for students to develop not just academic acumen, but spiritual piety as well.
Strategic Location
As the only evangelical college at Oxford, Turnbull sees Wycliffe Hall as a strategic international center for Evangelical orthodoxy. Part of the reason for his visit to Orlando is to initiate a relationship with RTS Orlando students who benefit from the graduate and post-graduate programs Wycliffe offers. (Interesting side note: Both Michael Horton and N. T. Wright did their doctoral studies at Wycliffe.)
Related Elsewhere
- Video of Turnbull’s 2006 presentation to the Reform conference. The basic gist of this ~15 min video is the same as what he shared yesterday in about 5 minutes at RTS, Orlando.
- Turnbull’s letter responding to allegations of poor academics at Wycliffe: “doing very nicely, thank you“
- Articles about Turnbull in the British news as covered by the Thinking Anglicans blog.
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Having read this article and then listened to the video address I make this comment. One can tick off the points made especially that of the place and role of Scripture in the life of authentic Christians. However, if one is to make this claim for scripture then do not use a particular time in history – period of the reformation – as the touch stone for reading scripture. I am grateful for those in the Reformation period to challenge the church tradition that had developed over 1500 years.
Two recent books virtually condemn N.T.Wright by the touch stone of Reformation historical theology rather than by Scripture and the careful reading and rereading of Scripture demanded by the claim that our authority is Scripture.
Dr Turnbull’s words may or may not appeal to you, depending on how far along the Reformed Evangelical spectrum you place yourself. But I would urge you to consider his actions as well as his words.
As a current student at Wycliffe Hall, I can tell you that he is wreaking havoc here. He has driven out tutors of real quality and ability by his bullying and heavy-handed management style. He has unfairly and illegally dismissed one who refused to go quietly. He has replaced them with some who are plainly not up to the job and who seem to have been appointed only because they have the same theological views as he does. He has re-ordered the curriculum to reflect his own obsession with the Reformation and Reformation issues. Lectures have become superficial and unacademic.
He may see Wycliffe as being a key stronghold for Evangelical Orthodoxy, but his actions are causing some in the University of Oxford to wonder if they really want to be associated with this sort of institution, and many in the Church of England to wonder if it is an appropriate place to train their priests.
(Anonymous, because I’m still a student here and I’m not interested in becoming the next victim.)
I have no way of knowing whether what your anonymous poster alleges about Richard Turnbull is true or not, but it is surely time to put an end to this constant stream of allegations. The Church of England has a means of addressing actual bullying, under the Clergy Discipline Measure. Mr Turnbull, as a clergyman, would, I am sure, be subject to this discipline and, as readers of this blog can see [a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article3238169.ece"]here[/a] it is perfectly possible for a case to be brought and proven.
Your anonymous correspondent needs to speak to someone, such as an Archdeacon or their own Director of Ordinands if they are training for ordination, present their evidence, and ask that person to take matters forward.
All things being equal John is of course correct, but unfortunately for a student at an institution where they are fearful of their views being known the imbalance of power makes bringing a charge under the Clergy Discipline Measure very hard. Not least because it means the student, who will need to rely upon the college for a reference will have to reveal themselves. The student might feel that bringing the allegation would prejudice any person in authority against them when it came to a reference. It is a serious structural weakness in the process, and means all things are not equal at all.
Simon, et al, the student need not expose him/her self other than to speak to someone ‘in authority’ who take take this on. There must, surely, be an adult out there who can bring the complaint. All it requires (if one remembers the example of Tom Butler) is someone with ’sufficient interest’ – it could be a student, a council member, a bishop who knows what is going on, a DDO, a member, or ex-member of staff (who does not have to be an academic) – anyone. All the rumours and allegations must surely lead back to someone who is in a position to bring the complaint.
Remember, in the case of Tom Butler, it was ruled that the original complainant did not have sufficient interest, but in order to show that justice was being done, the complaint was nevertheless brought by someone designated (I believe by the Archbishop’s office) to do this. The system is not that bad!
I’m very interested in following the ‘Turnbull takeover and have created a site to look at the issues. Please could you create a link to http://hrht-revisingreform.blogspot.com
Thank you so much
In Christ
hrht
NT Wright is condemned by the Holy Scriptures, not the Reformation. The Reformation is true because it is the result of studying the Holy Scriptures and not the other way around.
The problem I have with Turnbull is that he doesn’t name the 5 Solas of the Reformation as the basis of unity among Evangelicals. Substitutionary Atonement is meaningless apart from Sola Fide. Luther said the church stands or falls based on the doctrine of justification by faith alone.
Soli Deo Gloria…..
Charlie
I also find it amusing when liberals think they are of a higher caliber than Evangelicals. Liberalism is the most logically inconsistent system of theology there is. At least Evangelicals try to honor the consistency of Scripture rather than coming up with 500 theories to undermine its authority.
Charlie