Category: Uncategorized

Faculty Page Added to IRBS Seminary’s Website

I edited the following section on the IRBS Seminary, ARBCA, and Tom Chantry Page because IRBS Seminary added a faculty page to their website.

#4 IRBS Website: Faculty (formerly #4 IRBS Website: ACADEMICS/Course Information/Catalog)

On 1/15/2020 IRBS added this page to their website.  It can be found here: https://irbsseminary.org/faculty/ (if that link doesn’t load properly, try https://irbsseminary.org/faculty/?fbclid) or here: https://web.archive.org/web/20200128224704/https://irbsseminary.org/faculty/

Why is there no Dean of Students listed on this or any other page?

On 12/15/2019 Dean of Students Steve Martin spoke on behalf of IRBS Seminary at Reformed Baptist Church of Kansas City.  That presentation can be found here: https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=121819328261327 or here: https://web.archive.org/web/20200113204208/https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=121819328261327

“As Dean of Students…What do I do as the Dean of Students?  I don’t teach so much as I shepherd the souls of the students who are enrolled.”

Here is the audio clip of this quote:

“My wife and I purposely bought a house that’s too big so we can host people.  We have three spare bedrooms and two spare baths.  And, we’ve had pastors, elders, deacons, parents of students, students and their wives come stay with us as they’re checking out the school, or taking classes, or whatever.  And, uh, if you can get your body down to Mansfield, then we’ll put you up for free, and then you can take the class.

Here is the audio clip of this quote:

Here is the full audio file (quote 1 begins at about 26:34; quote 2 begins at about 35:25):

Is Steve Martin still the Dean of Students?  If so, why is he not listed as such on IRBS Seminary’s Website? 

Here is a link to Steve Martin’s page showing how he was involved with ARBCA and Tom Chantry: https://ephesians511.home.blog/steve-martin/

Here is a comparison of previous and current faculty followed by the page from IRBS Seminary’s former catalog that listed their Core Faculty, Visiting Professors, Adjunct Professors, and Staff.  Note: In the former catalog, Steve Martin is listed as the Dean of Students under both Core Faculty and Staff.  The full catalog can be downloaded here: https://ephesians511.home.blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/irbs-catlaog.pdf or here: https://web.archive.org/web/20181014215511/http://irbsseminary.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/irbs-catlaog.pdf

Professors in the former catalog but not on the current Faculty page:

  • Dr. Terry Clarke
  • Dr. Crawford Gribben
  • Dr. S.M Baugh
  • Dr. J.V. Fesko
  • Dr. David VanDrunen
  • Dr. Tom Ascol
  • Dr. Tom Hicks
  • Dr. Ishwaren Mudliar
  • Dr. Raymond Perron
  • Dr. Ken Puls

Note: Dr. Ishwaran Mudliar no longer teaches for the IRBS Seminary. He did not have any history with the leaders until the time prior to the opening of the seminary and in its first year. His last semester was in spring of 2019, and he has had no contact with anyone there since then. [verified comment on IRBS Seminary, ARBCA, and Tom Chantry Page]

Professors not in the former catalog but on the current Faculty page:

  • Stefan Lindblad
  • Dr. Samuel Waldron
  • Dr. Samuel Renihan
  • Dr. Jeffrey T. Riddle
  • Dr. Joshua Wilson
  • Timothy Decker (Lecturer)

Addition

I also added the following questions to section #1 IRBS’s Home Page:

Why did IRBS Seminary leave ARBCA yet remain at an ARBCA church…a church whose elder, Pastor Larry Vincent, was involved with ARBCA and Tom Chantry?

Why does IRBS Seminary offer discounted tuition for TAARBC…a local association that contains a church whose elder, Pastor Bob Curley, was involved with ARBCA and Tom Chantry?

Addition and Update to IRBS Seminary, ARBCA, and Tom Chantry Page

I added the following section to the IRBS Seminary, ARBCA, and Tom Chantry Page, edited some of the page content, and rearranged/renumbered the sections.

#1 IRBS’s Home Page

IRBS’s Home Page (here https://irbsseminary.org/) now states that IRBS is independent. 

Why did IRBS Seminary leave ARBCA yet remain at an ARBCA church…a church whose elder, Pastor Larry Vincent, was involved with ARBCA and Tom Chantry?

Why does IRBS Seminary offer discounted tuition for TAARBC…a local association that contains a church whose elder, Pastor Bob Curley, was involved with ARBCA and Tom Chantry?

Is IRBS no longer under the authority of any association?

How were they able to break the IRBS Project Charter that was signed by Earl M. Blackburn, James M. Renihan, Fred Pugh, and Brandon F. Smith?

“Independent

On October 1, 2019, the Trustees of IRBS Theological Seminary unanimously approved amended by-laws affirming the independence of the Seminary.”

This page can be viewed here: https://web.archive.org/web/20200122173032/https://irbsseminary.org/

Audio and Video of Dr. James M. Renihan Added to the IRBS Seminary, ARBCA, and Tom Chantry Page

I added the following section to the IRBS Seminary, ARBCA, and Tom Chantry Page, added the following headings, and rearranged/renumbered the sections.

#10 Audio and Video of Dr. James M. Renihan

This was recorded on 7/14/2018 and is titled Introducing IRBS Seminary.  In following quote, Dr. James M Renihan speaks about the connection between ARBCA and IRBS Seminary:

“And, this is the project of the Association of Reformed Baptist Churches of America.  So it’s not individuals gathering together to begin a school but rather churches commissioning, or…commissioning’s not the right word, um…uh, authorizing men to come together to do this training on the behalf of those churches.  Um, there’s probably very few churches themselves in the world that have the capabilities to do what needs to be done to prepare men, where churches joining together are able to do that.  So that’s, that’s our whole justification for the fellowship here in New Zealand, for our association in the United States, and this is a task of our association of churches.  So that, for example, it was in 2017 at our General Assembly when the churches voted to move forward with this project, that finally we were able to say we’re going ahead.  We were waiting for that authorization from the churches to do that.  We didn’t do it on our own.

Here is the audio clip of the quote:

Here is the video clip of the quote:

Here is the full audio file (quote begins at about 44:26):

Here is the full video file (quote begins at about 44:24):

Here is the Sermon Audio page from which the audio and video files were downloaded: https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=715182239224

ARBCA References Removed from IRBS Seminary’s Website

I added the following sections to the IRBS Seminary, ARBCA, and Tom Chantry Page.

Note: #’s 11 and 13 have been removed from the IRBS Seminary, ARBCA, and Tom Chantry Page because the question as to why ARBCA references were disappearing has been answered.  I am leaving them for reference.  The former #12 is still on that page.  I have changed it’s number to it’s current number there (#9) and edited it so that it is as it now appears on that page.

#11 IRBS Home Page – reference to ARBCA removed

The following text was removed from IRBSTS’s Home Page.  Why was this reference to ARBCA removed when, according to the documentation, IRBSTS was founded by ARBCA, for ARBCA, is under the authority of ARBCA, and shares committee members with ARBCA (IRBSTS’s Board of Trustees is also ARBCA’s Ministerial Education Committee)?

“A SEMINARY ESTABLISHED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF REFORMED BAPTIST CHURCHES OF AMERICA”

This is a screenshot of IRBSTS’s Home Page showing the ARBCA reference.  It can be found here: https://web.archive.org/web/20190407134739/https://irbsseminary.org/

This is a screenshot of IRBSTS’s Home Page showing that the ARBCA reference is now missing.  It can be found here: https://web.archive.org/web/20191231202408/https://irbsseminary.org/ or on IRBSTS’s current Home Page here: https://irbsseminary.org/

#9 IRBS About – reference to ARBCA previously on website

The following text was removed from IRBSTS’s Home Page. 

“Associational Connection

We have a strong relationship with the Association of Reformed Baptist Churches of America and believe that an association of churches is the best method for cooperation in many areas, including ministerial training (this is at the heart of ARBCA’s convictions, directly expressed as a founding purpose).  This seminary reflects the doctrine and practice of this association as a whole, and we believe this will allow for the proper balance of unity and diversity among our churches.”

This is a screenshot of IRBSTS’s About Page with the text in question.  It can be found here: https://web.archive.org/web/20200104055058/https://irbsseminary.org/about-us/  Under “Our Principles” there are 3 sections of text that it switches between: “Associational Connection,” “Confessional Subscription,” and “Confessionally Grounded.”

This a capture of IRBSTS’s About Us page that shows that the “Associational Connection” is missing and it now only switches between “Confessional Subscription” and “Confessionally Grounded.”  It can be found here: https://web.archive.org/web/20200110203246/https://irbsseminary.org/about-us/ or on IRBSTS’s current About Us page here: https://irbsseminary.org/about-us/ A screenshot is not included because you must view the webpage to see that the “Associational Connection” section is now missing.

#13 IRBS Tuition – reference to ARBCA removed

The following text (in red) was removed from IRBSTS’s Home Page.  Why was this reference to ARBCA removed when, according to the documentation, IRBSTS was founded by ARBCA, for ARBCA, is under the authority of ARBCA, and shares committee members with ARBCA (IRBSTS’s Board of Trustees is also ARBCA’s Ministerial Education Committee)?

“ARBCA/TAARBC Church Partnership: The student must be and have been for at least the previous twelve months a member in good standing of an ARBCA and/or TAARBC (Texas Area Association of Reformed Baptist Churches) church.”

This is a screenshot of IRBSTS’s Tuition Page showing the ARBCA reference.  It can be found here: https://web.archive.org/web/20181014215429/https://irbsseminary.org/admissions/tuition/

This is a screenshot of IRBSTS’s Tuition Page showing that the ARBCA references are now missing.  It can be found here: https://web.archive.org/web/20200110215501/https://irbsseminary.org/admissions/tuition/  or on IRBSTS’s current Tuition page here: https://irbsseminary.org/admissions/tuition/

IRBS Seminary Project Charter added to the IRBS Seminary, ARBCA, and Tom Chantry Page

I added the IRBS Seminary Project Charter to the IRBS Seminary, ARBCA, and Tom Chantry Page.

#7 IRBS Seminary Project Charter

This is the IRBS Seminary Project Charter that was signed on April 26, 2017 at the ARBCA 2017 General Assembly by Earl M. Blackburn, James M. Renihan, Fred Pugh, and Brandon F. Smith.

It can be found here: https://irbsseminary.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Charter-Signed-Edit.jpg or here: https://web.archive.org/web/20200104002145/https://irbsseminary.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Charter-Signed-Edit.jpg

““After nineteen fruitful years of training men for the Christian ministry in cooperation with Westminster Seminary California, the Trustees of IRBS believe that it is time in God’s providence to present to the General Assembly of ARBCA a formal charter for the IRBS Seminary Project.” [Introduction] 

“In addition, ARBCA has numerous men who have the experience and qualifications to serve in and assist with the IRBS Seminary Project at various levels.” [Justification for the IRBS Seminary Project]

“The General Assembly of ARBCA votes to approve or to disapprove this project charter.  If approved by the vote of the General Assembly, the charter is signed by the officers designated below.  Once signed, “The General Assembly of ARBCA votes to approve or to disapprove this project charter.  If approved by the vote of the General Assembly, the charter is signed by the officers designated below.  Once signed, this project charter authorizes the tasks described therein and funds the IRBS Seminary Project.  The General Assembly of ARBCA will serve as the sponsor for the IRBS Seminary Project and the Trustees of IRBS will supervise the project under the General Assembly’s oversight.  The Trustees of the IRBS will present a report on the progress of the IRBS Seminary Project at the General Assembly of ARBCA each year.” [Approval of the Charter]

This is a picture of the IRBS Seminary Project Charter being signed.  It was taken from the Spring 2017 ARBCA Update [Page 4], which can be downloaded from ARBCA here: https://www.csmedia1.com/arbca.com/sp-2017-arbca-update-final.pdf or from WordPress here: https://ephesians511.home.blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/sp-2017-arbca-update-final.pdf

Addition to the IRBS Seminary, ARBCA, and Tom Chantry Page

I added the following section to the IRBS Seminary, ARBCA, and Tom Chantry Page.

#11 IRBS Website: DONATE/Case for Support

The web page can be found here (https://web.archive.org/web/20181014215434/http://irbsseminary.org/case/).

The Case for Support PDF on that web page can be downloaded from this link on that web page (https://web.archive.org/web/20181014215434/http://irbsseminary.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/2-online-case.pdf) or from WordPress (https://ephesians511.home.blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/2-online-case.pdf) .

“In April 2007 the ARBCA General Assembly took the historic step of approving the establishment of a full residential seminary to train men in the work of spreading the Gospel around the world.” [Page 3, left side of page]

“Since its inauguration in 1997, ARBCA has declared training to be one of its main missions; until now it has partnered with Westminster Seminary California to prepare pastors in Reformed Baptist traditions.” [Page 3, 2nd paragraph]

“The vital work of spreading the Gospel compels ARBCA to train men who will pastor sound Biblical churches.  The teachings of the 17th century English Particular Baptists are the traditions to which the seminary will adhere, seeking to train pastors to proclaim the Gospel in its purest form.” [Page 3, 3rd paragraph]

“‘It is an urgent time for America, not just for our group of people, to have a confessional seminary that is overseen by the Association.’ – Walt Chantry” [page 4, left side of page]

“ARBCA can claim the world’s foremost expert in confessional Reformed Baptist doctrine and history in the newly named President of IRBS Theological Seminary, Dr. James M. Renihan.” [Page 4, 1st paragraph]

“In response to God’s providences, ARBCA is committed to establishing a seminary designed to meet the unique requirements of preparing Reformed Baptist pastors, missionaries, church planters and theologians for the continued advancement of Gospel work among the nations.” [Page 4, 3rd paragraph]

The link for the Case for Support page is at the bottom of the Donations page: https://irbsseminary.org/donate/ (if that page doesn’t load properly, try https://irbsseminary.org/donate/?fbclid). However, the page to which the link directs you (https://irbsseminary.org/case) to is gone.