Edward
G. Rice
9511 E. Waneta Lake Rd.
Hammondsport, NY 14840
(607) 292-6639, Cell-315-521-3466
PastorRice@GSBaptistChurch.com
09/11/09
Landmark
Baptist College
Attention Pastor, President, Dr. Carter
810 E.
Hinson Ave.
Haines City, Fl 33844
Dear Dr.
Carter,
Greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
“Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them” (Psalm 119:165) I am thinking that I have offended the dean of your college, Dr. Lewis, and request that you have someone look into my plight.
I am a directed studies student trying to pursue my doctorate degree at Landmark. I submitted the completed requirements for PT-100 on 07/17/08 and Dr. Lewis has not graded them, nor returned my calls referencing them. I have not been signed up for my next class as requested, and paid for, because he refuses to grade this work. I can only imagine what is going on there, but something is amiss. I fear I have crossed some invisible line of no return with my critiques of PT-100; it has been over a year now. Please let me know my status. My education pursuits have been set on a back burner until this matter is resolved, and I am not getting any younger.
I do have the profoundest respect for you and your tremendous efforts for our Lord at Landmark. I am a retired military officer and mean no disrespect by skipping the 'chain of command' in this matter. Any decision or recommendation you make in this matter will be honoured.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Pastor Edward G. Rice
cc Dr. Charles Brown, Dr. James Lewis, Dr. Nathan Ogden
Landmark Baptist Church
2020 East Hinson Avenue
Haines City, FL 33844-4901
(863) 422-2037
Dr, Mickey P. Carter, Pastor
16 Oct 2009
Edward G. Rice
9511 E. Waneta Lake Road
Hammondsport, NY 14840
Dear Mr. Rice,
I have decided that you will not be allowed to continue your studies and graduate from Landmark Baptist College. I believe that there are significant differences in our beliefs concerning the Bible which cannot be reconciled.
We are returning your check for you next class and have enclosed a copy of your transcript from the college.
Sincerely,
Dr M.P. Carter
Pastor
transcript copy:
Credits Transferred from Calvary Baptist Theological Seminary
Old Testament Backgrounds 2
New Testament Backgrounds 2
Hermeneutics 2
Total 6
Credits Earned from Landmark Baptist College
Spring 2007
HI5101V Baptist History A 2 2 8
GPA 4.00 Term Total 2 2 8
Fall 2007
BI5300V Inspiration of Scripture I A 2 2 8
GPA 4.00 Term Total 2 2 8
Spring 2008
BI53C1V Inspiration of Scripture II A 2 2 8
PT5100V Personal Evangelism B 2 2 6
GPA 3.5 Term Total 4 4 14
END OF RECORD
TRANSFER CREDITS 6
LBC CREDITS 8
EARNED LIFE CREDITS 0
ACCUMULATED CREDITS 14 Degree Pursuing: MA IN THEOLOGY
ACCUMULATED GPA 3.75 Date Printed 10/21/2009
Ancillary Comments About My Dismissal
This letter of dismissal comes after I submitted a very critical evaluation of the personal evangelism course material “Handbook of Personal Evangelism”, Received from Landmark Apr 2008. Therein, I presume, I offended Dr. Lewis' position as a Gaptist , and likely others at Landmark. I was also, I presume, over insulting of Dr. Stanford in this critical evaluation (this critique was asked for in the course, and it was emphasized that I be honest and straightforward. I was.) I now presume that Dr. Stanford was a a good friend, colleague or relative of Dr. Lewis or other Landmark staff. Below are the two excerpts from my Critique which likely, I presume, caused my “significant differences in our beliefs concerning the Bible which cannot be reconciled. ”
Critique of Chapter X pg 48 “Evolution” Stanford, Dr. R.A,.“Handbook of Personal Evangelism”, Landmark Baptist College, Syllabus, Directed Studies, Undated, Received from Landmark Apr 2008.
Dr. Standford's abstract of major ideas in chapter X include that ... For the sake of the evolutionist's Jurassic period theory, we can twist around and compromise our interpretation of a six day creation to pretend that the evolutionist are at least right about the millions and millions of years that they purport to invent their theory. After all we do not want to offend their scientific thinking, just because the Bible says all things that were created, were created in SIX days!
And my Critical Evaluation begins: ... Points argued with good reasoning? The author stays on course, keeps the main thing soul winning and presents excellent disarming arguments. The horrid exception comes when he twists and denies Scripture to reject the six day creation and appease the evolutionists need for a Jurassic period. Shame on him for abandoning the six day creation and bowing to their pressure on one foolish point, just because C.I. Schofield and Peter Ruckman bowed that way.
... Agree with ideas presented? These are excellently presented ideas that have my full agreement,... except for his 'gapping' folly on the Jurassic period.
... Implications of major ideas: Relationship/Application of ideas to today. Since this generation has been indoctrinated into evolution since kindergarten, this chapter presents very applicable and necessary presentation techniques,... except for the compromise in the Jurassic period stuff.
I also presume that I insulted Dr. Stanford, a friend, colleague or relative of Landmark with these pointed comments:
Negative Critique of Chapter VIII pg39 “Faith Without Works” ... Abstract or Major Ideas: Dr. Stanford argues that James 2:14-24 Seems to contradict what we believe about justification and works. ... Thus James 2:14-24 can be dismissed with a verse by verse consideration of what we want it to say. ... If a person refuses this dismissal of the literal rendering of James, keep them in Romans 4 and Ephesians 2:8 and 9 until they ignore what James says.
... Critical Evaluation: The author continually approaches James 2:14-24 to explain what James could not be saying because we refuse to believe it.
1. A cardinal rule of exegesis whereby the literal sense is preferred is continually rejected.
2. In James 2:17 the author even stoops to saying that in the Greek the word “dead” does not really mean “dead.” This is pathetic, subversive, and apostate.
3. In James 2:20 the author rationalizes that James' address to the vain believers (obviously pretenders who are actually unsaved) is a reference to their service being vain, not their salvation being vain. This brazen stretch is necessary because the author fails to distinguish between a declarative justification of Romans, and a demonstrative justification here in James.
4. In James 2:24 the denial of the literal reaches a climax of bizarre rationalization. Someone needs to help this doctor out of such denial and dismissal of Scripture's literal statements. When we stoop to dismissing Scripture because we cannot understand it we should not be writing a handbook.
... Conclusions follow the arguments? These arguments are so mislead and shallow the only conclusion is that this author should not be addressing this subject in a handbook on personal evangelism.
... Agree with ideas presented? Obviously I disagree with the authors approach to dismissing what James is literally saying because it does not seem to fit into his belief system. A dictionary opened to the word 'justify' would easily avoid this whole tom foolery. There is a declared justification as used by Paul in Romans, who obviously parroted James' previous discourse; and there is a demonstrated justification as used by James to divide 'pretend believers' from real believers as he pastored the First Baptist Church of Jerusalem.
... Implications of major ideas: Relationship/Application of ideas to today. This author is not capable of explaining away what James is teaching and his attempt is audacious. Please do not include this chapter in a handbook of personal evangelism without major revisions.
... How will material help? I can hope that the inept dismissal of Scripture exemplified in this chapter will open the eyes of thoughtful students critiquing this chapter. Other than that, the material of this chapter should be jettisoned as soon as possible.
... ...
It is evidenced in my dismissal from landmark that I do not cross my 't's nor dot my 'i's just like they do at Landmark Baptist College, and their intent for graduate students is that they do. This is their prerogative. I rejected Calvary Baptist Theological Seminary because of their acceptance and hallowing of Westcott and Hort's gross errors. Now Landmark rejects me because I believe in a 6 day creation and the literal interpretation of Scriptures. (or perhaps for my bluntness, satire, and callous in so doing.) I fear, O Lord, that there is no seminary where I may pursue my second masters degree or a doctorate of divinity degree for your glory.
Sincerely
Ed Rice