The Future of the Tyndale Fellowship

At the recent triennial congregation of the Tyndale Fellowship this week, the study groups were launched by a group meeting to discuss the Tyndale Fellowship, its purposes and objectives, and how the study groups meet these goals.  John Drane and others were chosen to offer their perspectives on the past, present, and future.  Some expressed an attitude that the original intent of the TF was to bring Evangelicals to the academic table of discussion.  In their opinion, this has been quite successful (and I agree to a large degree).  Therefore, what is more important now is to have TF pool its resources and focus on bringing good research and its fruits to the church (which is Biblically illiterate and too often buys into shallow and watered-down theology, if it can be called that).  I think this is good.

On the other hand, there were some strong voices that said we need the TF to lead evangelical scholars to the cutting edge of biblical research in the academy.  TF is doing this is textual criticism and now with an interest in the canon.  P.J. Williams has often pushed students and scholars to have a better grasp of the biblical languages, Semitic languages, and an ability for NT and OT scholars to interact in each others’ fields.

So now what?  The committee must decide where to go.  There are signs that big changes (or maybe medium changes) will take place with regard to how the conferences will run and if there will be more of a push for a ‘so what’ at the end of the meeting.

Another big issue regards the small numbers involved with the TF.  Drane pointed out that many theological colleges in the UK have little or no interest in the TF.  Their principals are not members and their bible staff are not either.  Why?  One reason is that they get their ‘evangelical club’ needs elsewhere.  What can the TF offer that other societies cannot?  This is a good and important question.

Though I am moving back to America, I am very interested in the future of the TF and I hope to make it back to the conference at least every few years.  If I can get my institution to pay, even better!