Voddie Baucham: Difference between revisions

From ReformedWiki.org, the wiki for Reformed Christianity
ReformedMandalorian (talk | contribs)
Created blank page
 
No edit summary
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Infobox_person
| image = File:File:Voddie-Baucham.jpg
| birth_name =
| birth_date = March 11, 1969
| birth_place = [[wikipedia:Los Angeles|Los Angeles]], [[wikipedia:California|California]]
| death_date = September 25, 2025
| death_place = [[wikipedia:Florida|Florida]] (unknown)
| residency = [[wikipedia:Cape Coral, Florida|Cape Coral]], [[wikipedia:Florida|Florida]]
| occupation = Pastor, author, theologian
| education = [[wikipedia:New Mexico State University|New Mexico State University]]
| theology = [[Reformed Baptist]]
| affiliations = [[Founders Seminary]] (president)<br>[[African Christian University]] (formerly)
| spouse = [[Bridget Linette Baucham|Bridget Linette Baucham (nee Wilson)]]
| children = 9
| website = [https://voddiebaucham.org voddiebaucham.org]
}}
'''Voddie Tharon Baucham, Jr.''' (March 11, 1969 – September 25, 2025) was an  American pastor, author, and educator. He served for 9 years as [[Dean (education)|Dean]] of Theology at African Christian University in [[Lusaka, Zambia]].<ref>{{cite web |title=About ACU |url=https://acu-usa.com/about |publisher=African Christian University |access-date=June 11, 2021}}</ref>


He was the Founding President of [[Founders Seminary]] in [[Cape Coral, Florida]].
== Education and career ==
Born in Los Angeles,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Baucham |first1=Voddie |title=Fault Lines: The Social Justice Movement and Evangelicalism's Looming Catastrophe |date=2021 |publisher=[[Salem Books]] |page=9}}</ref> Baucham studied at [[New Mexico State University]] and [[Rice University]], playing football as a [[tight end]]. He then transferred to [[Houston Baptist University]], where he graduated with a [[Bachelor of Arts|B.A.]]<ref>Baucham, ''Fault Lines'', p. 25.</ref> He went on to obtain an [[M.Div.]] from [[Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary]] and a [[D.Min.]] from [[Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary]].<ref>{{cite thesis |degree=DMin |last=Baucham |first=Voddie Tharon |date=2002 |title=A Critical Analysis of the History and Theology of the Nation of Islam with a View Toward an Effective Christian Response |publisher=Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary | url=https://sebts.on.worldcat.org/oclc/52378100}}</ref> Baucham also did additional post-graduate study at the [[University of Oxford]].<ref name=About /> He founded Voddie Baucham Ministries in 1993.<ref>{{cite web |title=Voddie Baucham to join Christian Studies faculty at Union University |url=https://www.uu.edu/news/release.cfm?ID=691 |publisher=[[Union University]] |access-date=June 12, 2021 |date=April 8, 2004}}</ref>
Baucham was involved in itinerant ministry for many years, primarily in Texas, but also preaching at some of the early Passion events in the late 90’s. Baucham served as pastor of Grace Family Baptist Church in [[Spring, Texas]], (a congregation within the [[Southern Baptist Convention]]) until he moved to Zambia in 2015. He was a board member of [[Founders Ministries]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Blair |first1=Leonardo |title=How Voddie Baucham fought for years to protect his heart, health |url=https://www.christianpost.com/news/how-voddie-baucham-fought-for-years-to-protect-his-heart-health.html |access-date=June 11, 2021 |work=[[Christian Post]] |date=February 18, 2021}}</ref>
In March 2022, Baucham confirmed that he had been asked to accept a nomination for president of the Southern Baptist Convention, but noted that as an overseas missionary, he was not sure if he was eligible.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Blair |first1=Leonardo |title=Voddie Baucham says he's been asked to accept nomination for SBC president |url=https://www.christianpost.com/news/voddie-baucham-asked-to-accept-nomination-for-sbc-president.html |access-date=7 March 2022 |work=[[Christian Post]] |date=4 March 2022}}</ref> In 2024, Baucham moved back from Zambia to the United States.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Brown |first1=Jon |title=Voddie Baucham to return to native US after decade in Zambia, asks for prayer |url=https://www.christianpost.com/news/voddie-baucham-to-return-to-native-us-after-decade-in-zambia.html |access-date=22 November 2024 |work=[[Christian Post]] |date=12 November 2024}}</ref> In January 2025, it was announced that Baucham would be one of the founding faculty of [[Founders Seminary]] in Florida.<ref>{{cite web |title=Founders Seminary |url=https://www.foundersseminary.org/ |publisher=[[Founders Seminary]] |access-date=24 January 2025}}</ref>
== Beliefs ==
=== Theology ===
Baucham was [[Reformed tradition|Reformed]] in his theology, and subscribed to the [[1689 Baptist Confession of Faith]]. He called himself a "fire-breathing, [[Five Points of Calvinism|TULIP]] believing, five-point [[Calvinist]]."<ref>{{cite web |title=The Providence of God and the People of Promise |url=https://www.voddiebaucham.org/sermons/the-providence-of-god-and-the-people-of-promise/ |access-date=June 11, 2021 |date=April 6, 2014}}</ref> Baucham appeared in the 2019 [[Netflix]] documentary ''[[American Gospel]]: Christ Alone'' speaking in favor of [[penal substitutionary atonement]]. His statement "God killed Jesus" was criticized for "muddying the waters" on this doctrine.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wait |first1=Caleb |title='American Gospel: Christ Crucified': What Progressives Miss About the Gospel |date=April 22, 2020 |url=https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/american-gospel-christ-crucified/ |publisher=[[The Gospel Coalition]] |access-date=June 11, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Randall |first1=Joseph |title="American Gospel" Gets It Right |url=https://www.reformation21.org/blog/american-gospel-gets-it-right |website=[[Reformation21]] |access-date=June 11, 2021}}</ref>
=== Biblical patriarchy ===
Baucham was an adherent of [[biblical patriarchy]]. He outlined his views on the subject in his 2009 book ''What He Must Be: ...If He Wants to Marry My Daughter'', though preferring the phrase "gospel patriarchy".<ref>{{cite book |last1=Baucham |first1=Voddie |title=What He Must Be: ...If He Wants to Marry My Daughter |date=2009 |publisher=[[Good News Publishers|Crossway]] |page=59 |isbn=9781433520815 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8lAqvhvaEtAC&pg=PA59 |access-date=June 13, 2021}}</ref> Baucham criticized [[Sarah Palin]]'s [[Vice presidential candidacy of Sarah Palin|vice presidential candidacy]] in 2008, on the basis that women serve best at home.<ref>{{cite web |title=Voddie Baucham on Sarah Palin | date=February 15, 2010 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJFFK0o_ldc |publisher=[[YouTube]] |access-date=June 12, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Watanabe |first1=Teresa |title=Evangelicals differ on whether Palin's career fits biblical model |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-oct-01-me-evangelical1-story.html |access-date=June 12, 2021 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=October 1, 2008}}</ref>
Baucham was also a supporter of the [[Stay-at-home daughter]] movement.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Webb |first1=Madelyn |last2= Munoz|first2=Sergio|title=The Heritage Foundation's critical race theory expert is an extremist who thinks women should not hold jobs and is very concerned with virginity |url=https://www.mediamatters.org/heritage-foundation/heritage-foundations-critical-race-theory-expert-extremist-who-thinks-women |publisher=[[Media Matters for America]] |access-date=June 12, 2021 |date=June 8, 2021}}</ref> He appeared in [[Vision Forum]]'s 2007 documentary ''Return of the Daughters'', in which he said that America is suffering an "epidemic of unprotected women."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Stankorb |first1=Sarah |title=The Daughters' Great Escape |url=https://www.marieclaire.com/politics/a21345667/stay-at-home-daughters-christian-patriarchy/ |access-date=June 11, 2021 |work=[[Marie Claire]] |date=June 15, 2018}}</ref>
=== Family and church ===
Baucham and his wife [[homeschool]]ed their children, and he spoke against Christians sending their children to [[State school|public schools]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Baucham |first1=Voddie |title=Top Five Reasons NOT to Send Your Kids Back to Public School |url=https://exodusmandate.org/public-schools/top-five-reasons-not-to-send-your-kids-back-to-public-school |publisher=[[Exodus Mandate]] |access-date=June 12, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Bratcher |first1=Sharon L. |title=On public schools: evangelism is not discipleship |url=https://reformedperspective.ca/on-public-schools-evangelism-is-not-discipleship/ |publisher=Reformed Perspective |access-date=June 12, 2021 |date=March 13, 2018}}</ref> In his 2007 book, ''Family Driven Faith: Doing What It Takes to Raise Sons and Daughters Who Walk with God'', Baucham argued that parents (especially fathers) can and should disciple their children through [[family worship]] and through attending [[family integrated church]]es.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Nelson |first1=Brian |title=The Family-Integrated Model for Church Ministry: A Complete Break from Age-Segmented Structures |url=https://www.sbts.edu/family/2011/10/12/the-family-integrated-model-for-church-ministry-a-complete-break-from-age-segmented-structures-2/ |website=Family Ministry Today |date=October 12, 2011 |publisher=[[Southern Baptist Theological Seminary]] |access-date=June 12, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Brown |first1=Douglas |title=United Families Dividing Churches: An Assessment of the Family Integrated Church Movement |url=https://faith.edu/faith-news/united-families-dividing-churches-an-assessment-of-the-family-integrated-church-movement/|website=Faith Pulpit |date=January 5, 2012 |publisher=[[Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary]] |access-date=June 12, 2021}}</ref>
=== Critical race theory ===
Baucham rejected [[critical race theory]] in favor of what he called "biblical justice", and saw it as a [[religious movement]], with its own [[cosmology]], [[saint]]s, [[liturgy]], and law.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Saliong |first1=Sarah Mae |title=Dr. Voddie Baucham Hits Critical Race Theory, Says 'The Gospel Is The Answer And The Solution' To Racism |url=http://www.christianitydaily.com/articles/11406/20210407/dr-voddie-baucham-hits-critical-race-theory-says-the-gospel-is-the-answer-and-the-solution-to-racism.htm |access-date=June 11, 2021 |work=Christianity Daily |date=April 7, 2021}}</ref> Baucham's 2021 book ''Fault Lines: The Social Justice Movement and Evangelicalism's Looming Catastrophe'' outlined his criticisms of the movement.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Green |first1=Lauren|author-link=Lauren Green |title=Critical race theory and the Bible don't mix, theologian tells Fox News |url=https://www.foxnews.com/faith-values/critical-race-theory-bible-dont-mix-theologian |access-date=June 11, 2021 |work=[[Fox News]] |date=May 25, 2021}}</ref> In ''Fault Lines'' he argued that [[Critical theory (Frankfurt School)|Critical Theory]] and its subsets, Critical Race Theory-Intersectionality and Critical Social Justice are grounded in [[Western Marxism]], the public social justice conversation is perpetuating misinformation, and is incompatible with Christianity as a competing worldview.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Tennies|first=Tyler|date=2021|title=Book Review: Fault Lines: The Social Justice Movement and Evangelicalism's Looming Catastrophe|url=https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/jspp/vol2/iss1/8/|journal=Journal of Statesmanship & Public Policy|volume=2|issue=1|article-number=8|via=American Politics Commons}}</ref> In August 2021, Baucham was accused of plagiarizing parts of the book and falsifying a quote he attributed to [[Richard Delgado]], an early researcher of critical race theory.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Smietana |first1=Bob |title=Voddie Baucham's publisher defends Fault Lines against plagiarism claims |url=https://religionnews.com/2021/08/03/voddie-bauchams-publisher-defends-fault-lines-against-plagiarism-claims/ |website=[[Religion News Service]] |date=August 3, 2021 |access-date=August 4, 2021}}</ref> The publisher, [[Salem Books]], rejected the plagiarism claim, saying it was merely a matter of style, while Delgado denied making such a quotation.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Menzie |first1=Nicola |title='Fault Lines' Author Voddie Baucham Confused or Making Things Up, Richard Delgado Says in Response to Misquote on 'Righteous Actions' of Whites |url=https://faithfullymagazine.com/fault-lines-voddie-baucham-crt-richard-delgado/ |website=Faithfully Magazine |date=August 3, 2021 |access-date=August 4, 2021}}</ref>
== Personal life ==
Baucham was [[African-American]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Green |first1=Lauren |author1-link=Lauren Green |title=Critical race theory and the Bible don't mix, theologian tells Fox News |url=https://www.foxnews.com/faith-values/critical-race-theory-bible-dont-mix-theologian |access-date=28 April 2023 |work=[[Fox News]] |date=25 May 2021}}</ref> He became a Christian in 1987.<ref>Baucham, ''Fault Lines'', p. 24.</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Noel |first1=Brooklyn |title='Jock with a brain' writes as an act of stewardship |url=https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/jock-with-a-brain-writes-as-an-act-of-stewardship/ |access-date=June 12, 2021 |work=[[Baptist Press]] |date=July 26, 2004}}</ref> He and his wife Bridget had nine children. He was a practitioner of [[Brazilian jiu-jitsu]].<ref name=About>{{cite web |title=About |url=https://www.voddiebaucham.org/about/ |publisher=Voddie Baucham Ministries |access-date=June 11, 2021}}</ref>
In February 2021, Baucham experienced [[wikipedia:heart failure|heart failure]] and had to travel to the [[wikipedia:Mayo Clinic Florida|Mayo Clinic Florida]] for treatment. A [[wikipedia:GoFundMe|GoFundMe]] campaign for his medical expenses raised more than a million dollars.<ref>https://www.christiantoday.com/article/over.1m.raised.for.voddie.baucham.as.he.battles.heart.failure/136401.htm</ref>
Baucham received the 2022 Boniface Award from the [[Association of Classical Christian Schools]], given to recognize "a public figure who has stood faithfully for Christian truth, beauty, and goodness with grace."<ref>https://classicalchristian.org/the-boniface-award/</ref>
Baucham died on September 25, 2025 after suffering an emergency medical incident.<ref>https://founders.org/articles/the-death-of-voddie-baucham</ref>
== Books ==
* [[''The Ever-Loving Truth: Can Faith Thrive in a Post-Christian Culture?'']] ([[Broadman & Holman]], 2004)
* [[''Family Driven Faith: Doing What It Takes to Raise Sons and Daughters Who Walk with God'']] ([[Good News Publishers|Crossway]], 2007)
* [[''What He Must Be: ...If He Wants to Marry My Daughter'']] ([[Crossway]], 2009)
* [[''Family Shepherds: Calling and Equipping Men to Lead Their Homes'']] ([[Crossway]], 2011)
* [[''Joseph And the Gospel of Many Colors: Reading an Old Story in a New Way'']] ([[Crossway]], 2013)
* [[''Expository Apologetics: Answering Objections with the Power of the Word'']] ([[Crossway]], 2015)
* [[''Fault Lines: The Social Justice Movement and Evangelicalism's Looming Catastrophe'']] ([[Salem Books|Salem Books]], 2021)
* [[''It’s Not Like Being Black: How Sexual Activists Hijacked the Civil Rights Movement'']] ([[Regnery Publishing|Regnery Faith]], 2024)
== External links ==
* [https://voddiebaucham.org voddiebaucham.org}}
== References ==
[[Category:2025 deaths]]
[[Category:Southern Baptist ministers]]
[[Category:New Mexico State Aggies football players]]
[[Category:Rice Owls football players]]
[[Category:Houston Christian University alumni]]
[[Category:Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary alumni]]
[[Category:Converts to Christianity]]
[[Category:African-American Christian clergy]]
[[Category:Writers from Los Angeles]]
[[Category:1969 births]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American people]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American people]]
[[Category:American Calvinist and Reformed theologians]]
[[Category:20th-century Calvinist and Reformed theologians]]
[[Category:21st-century Calvinist and Reformed theologians]]
[[Category:21st-century American Protestant theologians]]
[[Category:Reformed Baptists]]

Revision as of 00:13, 26 September 2025

Voddie Baucham
Birth Date March 11, 1969
Birth Place Los Angeles, California
Death Date September 25, 2025
Death Place Florida (unknown)
Residency Cape Coral, Florida
Theology Reformed Baptist
Occupation(s) Pastor, author, theologian
Education New Mexico State University
Affiliation(s) Founders Seminary (president)
African Christian University (formerly)
Spouse(s) Bridget Linette Baucham (nee Wilson)
Children 9
Website voddiebaucham.org

Voddie Tharon Baucham, Jr. (March 11, 1969 – September 25, 2025) was an American pastor, author, and educator. He served for 9 years as Dean of Theology at African Christian University in Lusaka, Zambia.[1]

He was the Founding President of Founders Seminary in Cape Coral, Florida.

Education and career

Born in Los Angeles,[2] Baucham studied at New Mexico State University and Rice University, playing football as a tight end. He then transferred to Houston Baptist University, where he graduated with a B.A.[3] He went on to obtain an M.Div. from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a D.Min. from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.[4] Baucham also did additional post-graduate study at the University of Oxford.[5] He founded Voddie Baucham Ministries in 1993.[6]

Baucham was involved in itinerant ministry for many years, primarily in Texas, but also preaching at some of the early Passion events in the late 90’s. Baucham served as pastor of Grace Family Baptist Church in Spring, Texas, (a congregation within the Southern Baptist Convention) until he moved to Zambia in 2015. He was a board member of Founders Ministries.[7]

In March 2022, Baucham confirmed that he had been asked to accept a nomination for president of the Southern Baptist Convention, but noted that as an overseas missionary, he was not sure if he was eligible.[8] In 2024, Baucham moved back from Zambia to the United States.[9] In January 2025, it was announced that Baucham would be one of the founding faculty of Founders Seminary in Florida.[10]

Beliefs

Theology

Baucham was Reformed in his theology, and subscribed to the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith. He called himself a "fire-breathing, TULIP believing, five-point Calvinist."[11] Baucham appeared in the 2019 Netflix documentary American Gospel: Christ Alone speaking in favor of penal substitutionary atonement. His statement "God killed Jesus" was criticized for "muddying the waters" on this doctrine.[12][13]

Biblical patriarchy

Baucham was an adherent of biblical patriarchy. He outlined his views on the subject in his 2009 book What He Must Be: ...If He Wants to Marry My Daughter, though preferring the phrase "gospel patriarchy".[14] Baucham criticized Sarah Palin's vice presidential candidacy in 2008, on the basis that women serve best at home.[15][16]

Baucham was also a supporter of the Stay-at-home daughter movement.[17] He appeared in Vision Forum's 2007 documentary Return of the Daughters, in which he said that America is suffering an "epidemic of unprotected women."[18]

Family and church

Baucham and his wife homeschooled their children, and he spoke against Christians sending their children to public schools.[19][20] In his 2007 book, Family Driven Faith: Doing What It Takes to Raise Sons and Daughters Who Walk with God, Baucham argued that parents (especially fathers) can and should disciple their children through family worship and through attending family integrated churches.[21][22]

Critical race theory

Baucham rejected critical race theory in favor of what he called "biblical justice", and saw it as a religious movement, with its own cosmology, saints, liturgy, and law.[23] Baucham's 2021 book Fault Lines: The Social Justice Movement and Evangelicalism's Looming Catastrophe outlined his criticisms of the movement.[24] In Fault Lines he argued that Critical Theory and its subsets, Critical Race Theory-Intersectionality and Critical Social Justice are grounded in Western Marxism, the public social justice conversation is perpetuating misinformation, and is incompatible with Christianity as a competing worldview.[25] In August 2021, Baucham was accused of plagiarizing parts of the book and falsifying a quote he attributed to Richard Delgado, an early researcher of critical race theory.[26] The publisher, Salem Books, rejected the plagiarism claim, saying it was merely a matter of style, while Delgado denied making such a quotation.[27]

Personal life

Baucham was African-American.[28] He became a Christian in 1987.[29][30] He and his wife Bridget had nine children. He was a practitioner of Brazilian jiu-jitsu.[5]

In February 2021, Baucham experienced heart failure and had to travel to the Mayo Clinic Florida for treatment. A GoFundMe campaign for his medical expenses raised more than a million dollars.[31]

Baucham received the 2022 Boniface Award from the Association of Classical Christian Schools, given to recognize "a public figure who has stood faithfully for Christian truth, beauty, and goodness with grace."[32]

Baucham died on September 25, 2025 after suffering an emergency medical incident.[33]

Books

External links

References