Journal: Journal of the Institute of Reformed Baptist Studies
Volume: JIRBS 05:1 (NA 2018)
Article: The Five C’s of IRBS Theological Seminary:
Author: James M. Renihan

JIRBS 5 (2018) p. 5

The Five C’s of IRBS Theological Seminary:

Presidential Inauguration Address delivered on September 11, 2018

James M. Renihan*

* James M. Renihan, Ph.D., is President of IRBS Theological Seminary. He is a graduate of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Seminary of the East, Trinity Ministerial Academy, and Liberty University.

Those of us involved in the beginnings of IRBS Theological Seminary have come to realize that almost everything we do sets a precedent for the future. From the trivial—how labels are to be placed on the spines of library books, to the profound—the words we use in our faculty vows (and everything in between), we establish patterns which are blueprints for the years to come. In some ways, this address is intended to do this. It is not meant to state our distinctives boastfully, for there are other very fine schools which follow the same principles, and we hope to emulate them. Rather, it is an attempt to reinforce in our own minds some, though not all, of the axioms at the foundation of our identity. This list could and perhaps ought to be supplemented. We might add other essential norms, such as Christlikeness, which is conscientious holiness, to our discussion. Our first-year students will take a course primarily devoted to matters of piety—because we believe that progress in sanctification is essential to a God-blessed ministry, and we will expect our faculty to exemplify and emphasize godliness in everything. This is only an example.

I have five core values I will present to you this evening; conveniently, they all begin with the letter C.

The Five C’s of IRBS Theological Seminary

1. Confessionalism

To emphasize confessionalism is certainly no surprise, but it needs to be identified and reinforced. Confessionalism refers to our adoption of and commitment to a lengthy doctrinal summary of the cardinal tenets of the Christian faith. For us, this is the Second London Baptist

JIRBS 5 (2018) p. 6

Confession of 1677,1 which because of its public acceptance at the 1689 London Particular Baptist General Assembly, is often called the 1689 Confession. This Confession became the most important Baptist document in England, and in its American versions (Philadelphia; Charleston; Warren, RI; etc.), was most influential among early American Baptists.

We adopt the Confession because we believe that it is a faithful summary of the doctrines of Holy Scripture. Recognizing that it is a man-made document and thus always subordinate to the Word of God, we have found it to be an accurate summary of the foundational truth...