Wales Evangelical School of Theology (formerly the The Evangelical Theological College of Wales)
The evidence seems to be emerging that the Wales Evangelical School of Theology (WEST) is a leading centre of creationism amongst theological training seminaries. Young earth creationist David Anderson got his BA from there and Stuart Olyott is Pastoral Director at the college. Nick Fuller, one of the 27 signatories to the 2002 Estelle Morris letter, is a graduate of the college. It’s most famous past student is Ian Paisley who is also a YECer. It is now headed by an influential YECer, Jonathan Stephen.
The college is not part of the University of Glamorgan but its degrees are validated by that organisation. According to the information we have, the college “offers the BA (Hons) by Distance Learning; the modules are written, taught, revised and marked by WEST lecturers but validated by the University of Glamorgan. The MPhil and PhD are research degrees (i.e., by thesis only) requiring one visit per year and are validated by the University of Wales.”
If anyone is a bit confused, it appears that the college’s MPhil and PhD research degrees are either validated or external degrees of the University of Wales (Lampeter) whereas the BAs and taught masters are validated by the University of Glamorgan. (University of Glamorgan is not part of the University of Wales.)
A Fundamentalist Vote of No Confidence in the WEST
Unfortunatly for the WEST, the European Theological Seminary claims that its education is throughly unbiblical. ETS dos not approve of British educational institutions that accept accreditation from anything to do with the State.
To quote from ETS's prospectus: "The state system also provides some theological training at a higher-educational level. It is the unanimous opinion of the members of the Academic Faculty of the European Theological Seminary And College Of The Bible International however, that this training is fundamentally unbiblical, and is therefore, unsuited to the requirements of this Seminary."
"Typically it is Modernist in tendency, is influenced by the claims of the so-called Higher Critics and normally rejects outright the concepts of the Absolute Creation of the universe, the real existence of Adam, the terrible event and consequence of his Fall, the Global Flood, and the repopulation of the world only from the family of Noah, and the absolute inerrancy of the Scriptures. In order to offer students, higher education that is truly Christian, inasmuch as it is utterly Biblical, being based solely upon a literal understanding of the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments it is necessary to separate ourselves from the world and its ways. The education we offer cannot be found within any worldly systems, for it is absolutely contrary to the spirit of the world and the natural state of the men and women who control its ways."
According to WEST’s web site in December 2006, it had about 150 students and it seems that about half or more are doing correspondence courses rather than being resident. “About 150 students are registered with us. 32 of them are campus-based undergraduates with another 30 distance learning undergraduates. Of the 90 post-graduate students, half are studying at master's level. This year's master's intake attracted a fascinating range of students: 5 from the USA, 3 from the UK, 2 from Africa, 2 from South Korea, 1 from Italy and 1 from Singapore. The 45 on the research programme represents the largest number of theology research students of any academic institution in the UK! “
The web site shows that it has 14 part time teaching staff and five full time plus the principal.
WEST is thus not a diploma mill.
However, it does look to be very narrowly based, denominationally speaking. An analysis of the background of staff indicates that few if any of them are from mainstream denominations. In fact we were unable to identify any from mainstream denominations. Instead they look to be largely drawn from independent evangelical churches associated with Affinity, the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches and the GraceNet movement. Indeed, WEST is, itself, formally an associate of Affinity (see http://www.affinity.org.uk/about/article/the_director) and its principal is still head of Affinity.
Consequently we conclude that WEST is a training school for deeply conservative elements of the evangelical movements in the UK. It is also very clear that YEC elements run deep in the college, not least because the current principal is a YECer.
WEST was formed in 1985, out of the South Wales Bible College (1950-1985). The college is located just outside of Bridgend. It had been located in Barry in South Wales and before being known as the SWBC was called the Barry School of Evangelism (1936-1950). Wikipedia has described the Barry School of Evangelism as "fundamentalist".
According to Wikipedia, “it currently graduates the most PhDs of any Evangelical bible college in the UK. The ETCW has an enrolment of approximately 100 students, as of 2Q 2006.”
WEST is, apparently quite closely lined to the Evangelical Movement of Wales, whose HQ is on the same site as the college. Indeed, it appears that a representative of WEST sits on the management committee of the Evangelical Movement of Wales as do representatives of FIEC and Affinity. Again, this indicates further the nature of WEST and its connections with non-mainstream evangelical churches.
The current head of the college is a leading creationist and deeply conservative evangelical minister, the Rev Jonathan Stephen. He was appointed head in September 2006 as a successor to Eryl Davies.
Stephen is a noted evangelical conservative. He is past President of Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC), is on the council of reference of Biblical Creation Ministries (as is Stuart Olyott). He also heads up Affinity (formerly the British Evangelical Council), a hard line evangelical organisation (as distinct from the Evangelical Alliance which is seen as more liberal). Affinity has long been linked to FIEC.
Stephen started as a cleric at the Amyand Park Chapel in Twickenham but, from 1987, was pastor for the Carey Baptist Church in Reading.
From 1998-2001, he served as President of the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches. The limited information we have is that some time in the 1990s FIEC was “converted” to support creationism. It appears that Ken Ham of Answers in Genesis was involved, possibly at the time when he was still involved in the Institute for Creation Research.
However, it is far from clear to us that all 500 or so of the churches that are affiliated with FIEC are young earth creationist. Our understanding is that yearly every member church has to vote to agree to accepting FIEC’s statement of doctrine which, on the face of it, looks to be creationist.
One section of it states thus: “God has revealed himself in the Bible, which consists of the Old and New Testaments alone. Every word was inspired by God through human authors, so that the Bible as originally given is in its entirety the Word of God, without error and fully reliable in fact and doctrine. The Bible alone speaks with final authority and is always sufficient for all matters of belief and practice.”
However, our understanding is that different churches can and do interpret this in different ways. They claim, therefore, that all 500 or so member churches of FIEC are YEC does not appear to stand up to scrutiny. Moreover, the churches tend to be very democratic and the position of the pastor (or elders/deacons) may well reflect that of a congregation split on creationism or hostile towards YEC.
Indeed, the statement appears to be as old as the hills, long pre-dating the modern YECer movement which started in the UK in the 1970s. It appears to be about 200 years old.
WEST’s statement of its doctrinal basis is “We accept the Holy Scriptures, as originally given, as the inspired, infallible and inerrant word of God. Recognizing them as our sole authority in all matters of faith and practice, we believe the doctrines taught therein.”
However, it does not explicitly say that it is a creationist (YEC or other) establishment.
Notes on Staff at WEST
Rev C Jonathan Stephen MA (hons), M Soc Sc (See notes above).
Stuart Olyott is currently Pastoral Director for the Evangelical Movement of Wales. Previous to this he was a lecturer there. He had been pastor of Belvidere Road Church (GraceNet affiliate) in Liverpool a few years back. This is very definitely a YEC church. There is also no doubt that Olyott is a YECer. He is on the Council of Reference of the Biblical Creation Society.
Rev Dr Tom Holland DipTheol, BD, PhD, Lecturer: We have no information on what this person’s position on creationism is.
Rev Iwan Rhys Jones BSc (Hons), BD (Hons), M.Phil: Iwan Rhys Jones was a pastor for 6 years. He is now an elder in Freeschool Court Evangelical Church, Bridgend. It is a member of Affinity and its web site (http://www.freeschoolcourt.org.uk) says that it is linked to WEST.
Mr John Kendall BSc (Hons), PGCE, DipTheol: He was a former science teacher and WEST student.
Dr Robert Letham BA, PGCE, MAR, ThM, PhD Robert Letham has been in pastoral ministry for 25 years and at Emmanuel Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Wilmington, Delaware since 1989. He has taught at Nottingham University, London Bible College and, most recently, was Adjunct Professor of Systematic Theology at Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia and visiting Professor of Theology at Reformed Theological Seminary, Washington/Baltimore.
The Orthodox Presbyterian movement in the USA is deeply conservative, anti-modernist and deeply creationist (see http://www.opc.org/qa.html?question_id=194). Amongst its founders was Cornelius Van Til who deeply influenced Rousas Rushdoony (Howard Ahmanson’s pal). The Westminster Theological Seminary in the USA is seen by some as deeply fundamentalist. However, it is technically not a creationist organisation as, according to wikipedia, for instance, “it allows for non-literal views of the Biblical creation account.” That is a comment which, no doubt, makes many anti-creationists feel deeply uneasy. Wikipedia states that it has also rejected theocracy and dominionism.
This is what Emmanuel Orthodox Presbyterian Church has to say about its pastor, Robert Lathan: “Born in London, England, Dr. Letham received a BA (Honors) in Politics from the University of Exeter in 1969, qualified as a teacher at the University of Nottingham in 1971, obtained an MA in Religion in 1975 and ThM in 1976 from Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, and a PhD from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland in 1980.
Before coming to Emmanuel, he taught Politics in Nottingham, England, pastored churches in England and New Jersey, and also served as Lecturer in Systematic Theology at Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia from 1981-86 and Professor of Christian Doctrine at London Bible College: Centre for Undergraduate and Postgraduate Theological Study from 1986-89. Currently, he is Adjunct Professor of Systematic Theology at Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia and Visiting Professor of Theology at Reformed Theological Seminary, Washington / Baltimore.”
Dr Mark A Pickett BSc, MA, PhD: We have no information on this person’s position on creationism.
Rev Dr D Eryl Davies DipTheol, BA (Hons), BD, MA, PhD is now a lecturer at ETCW and was until the Summer of 2006, its principal. He is an elder in Heath Evangelical Church, Cardiff. It’s an independent evangelical church and affiliated to GraceNet. However, we are unaware what its precise position on creationism is.
Rev John Billingham BA, MTh, Dip Theol: John Billingham is the minister of Acomb Baptist Church, York. Again we have no information regarding creationism in the church. It is not a member of Affinity or FIEC or GraceNet.
Rev Gordon Cooke BA: Minister of New Inn Congregational Church, Pontypool (http://www.newinncongs.org.uk) near Newport. This is a GraceNet affiliate.
Dr J Gwyn Davies BA (Hons), DipBibStuds, PGCE, PhD: Dr Davies is an Elder in the Welsh Evangelical Church, Aberystwyth.
Rev Richard Holst: BA, Mphil: Holst is minister of Bethel Presbyterian Church, Cardiff West. Whilst there is nothing on this church’s web site that suggests it is creationist, it endorses a number of denominations which are including the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing). It looks to be a pretty fundamentalist organisation. It’s affiliated to GraceNet.
Philip Jenkins MA (Wales), MA (Oxon), PGCE: Until 2002, Jenkins was AIM Field Leader in Namibia, S Africa. He now serves on the leadership team of Highfields Church in Cardiff. This is affiliated to FIEC but its web site says nothing about creationism.
Rev John Legg BA, BD: No details of any significance re creationism. He is retired minister of Shrewsbury Evangelical Church.
Rev Geraint Lloyd: He is the minister of the Welsh Evangelical Church in Carmarthen
Rev Keith Walker BA (Oxon): He was a pastor and UCCF’s World Mission Coordinator. UCCF is short for the Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship. It is an umbrella group for some 250 Christian Unions. It’s been around for a very long time. He is the Director of SIM-UK/Northern Europe.
Rev Richard Wigham Dip Theol: He is the minister of Tabor Baptist Church, Llantrisant. This is an independent Baptist church.
Gareth Williams BSc (Hons), PGCE, DipHE, Mphil: Williams is pastor of Bala Evangelical Church in North Wales since 2006. However, we can find no details out about this church.
