In the teaching of the Bible in the classroom ATS professors will always attempt to be sensitive to the denominational backgrounds of both the ATS constituency (supporting missions and churches) as well as the ATS student body (with dozens of different denominational backgrounds represented each year). In practical terms, this means that each ATS professor will:
1. Remind the students throughout the course about the professor’s and ATS’s adherence to Article I in the ATS Statement of Beliefs concerning the Bible.
2. Share all the standard evangelical approaches to the various Bible books/passages under discussion in the course, giving fair representation to each approach as well as showing both the strengths and the weaknesses of each approach. (For example, when teaching on Isaiah, the three approaches to the authorship — single, dual, trio — will each be presented along with the strengths and weaknesses of each.) The professor also has the option to bring in guest speakers who may be able to articulate a particular viewpoint better than the professor.
3. Share his/her own approach to the particular book/passage not as the only or the correct interpretative approach, but as the one that seems to make the most sense to the professor. The professor will always back up his/her position from the evidence of the Bible itself. The professor will also always share his/her approach in light of point #1 above.
4. Allow students to form their own conclusions as to which approach to a particular book/passage they are going to choose. Students will not be downgraded because of disagreement with the professor concerning a particular view/approach that is selected. However, students will need to defend their positions from the evidence of the Bible itself and failure to do this adequately may indeed result in a lower grade.
5. Help all students have an appreciation and respect for viewpoints of Scripture that differ from their own and be able to dialog with differing viewpoints with love and understanding.
