Thread: Premillennialism as a Requirement to be on staff at L'Abri

I didn't notice this when I read Crossed Fingers, but I caught it this time:

No one who would not sign a premillennial statement of faith could become a staff member at L'Abri.

I was unaware of this. Anyone here have any experience with L'Abri? Did others know about this already and I'm just getting on the same page?

I'm not sure what you are referencing, but it doesn't ring quite true from my experience with L'Abri (in the late 80s).

Crossed Fingers is a book by Gary North on the history of the Presbyterian Church.

I wouldnt doubt that it was a requirement at its founding, but perhaps they have eased up on that requirement since. Check this out.

Originally Posted by sastark

I didn't notice this when I read Crossed Fingers, but I caught it this time:

No one who would not sign a premillennial statement of faith could become a staff member at L'Abri.

I was unaware of this. Anyone here have any experience with L'Abri? Did others know about this already and I'm just getting on the same page?

Well, that would be a complete 180 from the RCUS (Reformed Church in the United States) where you cannot be a minister in that denomination if you are premil (or postmil, too, I think).

Originally Posted by bookslover

Originally Posted by sastark

I didn't notice this when I read Crossed Fingers, but I caught it this time:

No one who would not sign a premillennial statement of faith could become a staff member at L'Abri.

I was unaware of this. Anyone here have any experience with L'Abri? Did others know about this already and I'm just getting on the same page?

Well, that would be a complete 180 from the RCUS (Reformed Church in the United States) where you cannot be a minister in that denomination if you are premil (or postmil, too, I think).

What makes this very interesting, to me, is that I know of at least one (and I can only imagine there are many more) Pastor in the PCA who studied at L'Abri. Now, study and being on staff are two different things, but it makes me wonder if there are premillennial pastors in the PCA, especially since the RPCES (Schaeffer's group) merged into the PCA many years ago.

Any PCA-ers care to comment on the number of premillennial pastors in your denomination?

I was on the staff at L'Abri in the 1970s. I never signed such a statement.

Originally Posted by Curt

I was on the staff at L'Abri in the 1970s. I never signed such a statement.

<Gasp!> You mean Gary North might have been making an unfounded accusation?

Pardon me, but I'm all verklempt!

Originally Posted by toddpedlar

Originally Posted by Curt

I was on the staff at L'Abri in the 1970s. I never signed such a statement.

<Gasp!> You mean Gary North might have been making an unfounded accusation?

Pardon me, but I'm all verklempt!

In looking over the L'Abri documents linked above (quickly) I didn't see any pre-mil assertions, just a very orthodox belief in an end to time and a coming judgment. In my experience at L'Abri, they were very careful not to be associated with a particular creed and avoided making divisions within the community on matters outside of dogma (as reflected in the historic creeds). I know at least one of the current (and long time central figures) was trained at Westminster which has pretty strong a-mil leanings. My mostly post-mil views were not challenged at all while I was there, unless it came up during a discussion. Almost anything was open to be discussed in the light of God's truth.

Originally Posted by toddpedlar

Originally Posted by Curt

I was on the staff at L'Abri in the 1970s. I never signed such a statement.

<Gasp!> You mean Gary North might have been making an unfounded accusation?

Pardon me, but I'm all verklempt!

North states that he himself applied to be on staff at L'Abri in 1970 but could not sign the statement of faith due to its premillennial requirement. He wrote:

"I applied in 1970; I was sent a copy of this statement of faith. I could not sign it." (That is footnote #8, Appendix D of Crossed Fingers.)

I don't think it's correct to call his accusation unfounded. L'Abri may have changed there requirements since 1970. It would be interesting to see a copy of the requirements from 1970 to verify/falsify North's claim.

-----Added 3/31/2009 at 02:19:58 EST-----

Originally Posted by Curt

I was on the staff at L'Abri in the 1970s. I never signed such a statement.

What year did you apply? I'm not at all doubting what you say, I'm only curious if there was a revision of the requirements some time in the 1970s. I am wondering if the requirements were revised, if it had anything to do with the then upcoming merger with the PCA (which merger occurred in 1983).

What year did you apply? I'm not at all doubting what you say, I'm only curious if there was a revision of the requirements some time in the 1970s. I am wondering if the requirements were revised, if it had anything to do with the then upcoming merger with the PCA (which merger occurred in 1983).

This was well before the RPC,ES/PCA Joining and Receiving. I became a worker at L'abri in 1976.