2008 Woodie Awards
Women disagree with conference speaker
Round table discussion held to answer theological questions
AmyRose Tomlinson
Issue date: 2/23/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
A round table discussion was held Friday, Feb. 16 in the coffee shop outside Mellers Dining Commons in order to discuss unanswered questions that arose following the Southwest Baptist University Women's Conference.
The conference, held Feb. 9-10, concentrated on the theme "Raising Up Strong Women."
Senior Amy Butts, this year's women's conference coordinator, invited Karen Rigler to speak at the conference. Rigler is sister to SBU alumni Quinn Kreihbl, and had previously spoken at a First Baptist Church in Springfield's college retreat that Butts attended.
While Rigler spoke with certainty and authority, some of what she said did not sit well with the women's conference attendees.
Although some did not agree with her theology, most disagreed silently.
Saturday night's session, however, turned into a discussion. One student's question soon spurred several others to question the speaker as well, until, eventually, Rigler ended the discussion.
In order to clear up inconsistencies and unanswered questions that arose during the conference, Butts decided to hold a round table discussion with the women who attended the conference. Eight students attended the discussion.
"We had it to clarify some doctrinal beliefs that the speaker presented that we as a women's conference committee do not agree with," said Butts. "We wanted an opportunity to seek out what we truly do believe and offer discussion."
Although the conference did not go exactly as planned, Butts was pleased with the final outcome.
"There is danger when someone comes in and teaches the text because there is always the possibility they will misinterpret it," said Butts. "But I would rather experience that and find out what it is really saying on my own than just hear some fuzzy-warm message on how I am a princess and child of God."
Butts was also pleased with the turnout at the round table discussion.
"Truth was revealed, so I expect that people benefited from that," said Butts.
Although some questions and concerns were answered, some were left unrequited. The students that attended this meeting decided they would like to hold the same sort of discussion every Friday morning, at the same time and same location.
The conference, held Feb. 9-10, concentrated on the theme "Raising Up Strong Women."
Senior Amy Butts, this year's women's conference coordinator, invited Karen Rigler to speak at the conference. Rigler is sister to SBU alumni Quinn Kreihbl, and had previously spoken at a First Baptist Church in Springfield's college retreat that Butts attended.
While Rigler spoke with certainty and authority, some of what she said did not sit well with the women's conference attendees.
Although some did not agree with her theology, most disagreed silently.
Saturday night's session, however, turned into a discussion. One student's question soon spurred several others to question the speaker as well, until, eventually, Rigler ended the discussion.
In order to clear up inconsistencies and unanswered questions that arose during the conference, Butts decided to hold a round table discussion with the women who attended the conference. Eight students attended the discussion.
"We had it to clarify some doctrinal beliefs that the speaker presented that we as a women's conference committee do not agree with," said Butts. "We wanted an opportunity to seek out what we truly do believe and offer discussion."
Although the conference did not go exactly as planned, Butts was pleased with the final outcome.
"There is danger when someone comes in and teaches the text because there is always the possibility they will misinterpret it," said Butts. "But I would rather experience that and find out what it is really saying on my own than just hear some fuzzy-warm message on how I am a princess and child of God."
Butts was also pleased with the turnout at the round table discussion.
"Truth was revealed, so I expect that people benefited from that," said Butts.
Although some questions and concerns were answered, some were left unrequited. The students that attended this meeting decided they would like to hold the same sort of discussion every Friday morning, at the same time and same location.
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