Ernest Pickering
Encyclopedia
Ernest Dinwoodie Pickering (December 14, 1928 – October 16, 2000) was a fundamentalist pastor, author, college administrator, and mission board representative.
, the oldest son of Ernest Joseph and Evelyn Ida Pickering, officers in the Salvation Army
. The family lived and ministered in Florida, Maryland, West Virginia, Alabama, and Texas. Ernest was converted to Christ as a teenager in Dallas
and immediately began to participate in street meetings, including some at which he dodged rocks and tomatoes. He graduated with a B. A. in Bible from Bob Jones University
in 1948, when he was nineteen; and he earned his Th.M. and Th.D. degrees from Dallas Theological Seminary
in 1952 and 1957 respectively.
In 1952, Pickering married Ariel Yvonne Thomas, whom he had met as an intern pastor in Colorado City, Texas
, and the couple shortly moved to New Kensington, Pennsylvania
, where Pickering pastored Maranatha Bible Church.
After completing his doctorate, Pickering served for two years as the National Executive Secretary for the Independent Fundamental Churches of America
(IFCA) and edited its publication, The Voice. In 1959 he became pastor of Woodcrest Baptist Church in Fridley, Minnesota
, and served as Dean of Central Baptist Theological Seminary of Minneapolis until 1965. Simultaneously he served on the Board of Trustees for Pillsbury Baptist Bible College
and was a founder of Baptist World Mission. From 1965 until 1969, Pickering pastored the Bible Baptist Church of Kokomo, Indiana
, became a leader in the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches
, and wrote adult Sunday School lessons for Regular Baptist Press. In 1969, he accepted the call of Baptist Bible College
, Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania
to join its faculty and serve as Dean. The following year, he succeeded G. Arthur Woolsey as president and served in that position for eight years.
In 1978, Pickering assumed the pastorate of the Emmanuel Baptist Church, Toledo, Ohio
, which had a regular attendance of 2000, but which had recently experienced the sudden departure of its previous pastor after a moral failure. Pickering provided the necessary maturity and leadership to stabilize the congregation.
In 1986, Pickering became president of Northwest Baptist Seminary, Tacoma, Washington
, but following a disagreement over what its board of trustees considered an overly strict position on ecclesiastical separation, Pickering resigned in 1987. For a year he returned to Baptist Bible Seminary as professor of theology, and in 1988, he was called to the pastorate of Fourth Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota, an especially influential fundamentalist church because it was the home of Central Baptist Theological Seminary—of which Pickering also assumed the presidency.
In 1993, Pickering was named “Alumnus of the Year” by Bob Jones University. The same year he accepted the call of Baptist World Mission, serving as Deputation Director, 1993-1996, and field representative from 1996 until his death in 2000.
In 1983, Pickering was stricken with cancer in the frontal sinuses near his brain. In 1996 he experienced a recurrence, and the radiation used to treat the cancer caused him to become totally blind on November 8, 1996. Assisted by his wife, Pickering continued to preach without notes until the progress of the disease made continuation of his ministry impossible. Pickering wrote his final booklet, Our Tear-Washed Eyes: Why Does God Allow His People to Suffer? after he had lost his sight.
Pickering criticized the ecumenical neo-evangelism of Billy Graham
in print as early as 1957, and his chief contribution to twentieth-century evangelical Christianity was as a Baptist theoretician of separatist fundamentalism.
Biography
Ernest Pickering was born in St. Petersburg, FloridaSt. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
, the oldest son of Ernest Joseph and Evelyn Ida Pickering, officers in the Salvation Army
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
. The family lived and ministered in Florida, Maryland, West Virginia, Alabama, and Texas. Ernest was converted to Christ as a teenager in Dallas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
and immediately began to participate in street meetings, including some at which he dodged rocks and tomatoes. He graduated with a B. A. in Bible from Bob Jones University
Bob Jones University
Bob Jones University is a private, for-profit, non-denominational Protestant university in Greenville, South Carolina.The university was founded in 1927 by Bob Jones, Sr. , an evangelist and contemporary of Billy Sunday...
in 1948, when he was nineteen; and he earned his Th.M. and Th.D. degrees from Dallas Theological Seminary
Dallas Theological Seminary
Dallas Theological Seminary is an evangelical theological seminary located in Dallas, Texas. It is known for popularizing the theological system known as Dispensationalism...
in 1952 and 1957 respectively.
In 1952, Pickering married Ariel Yvonne Thomas, whom he had met as an intern pastor in Colorado City, Texas
Colorado City, Texas
Colorado City is a city in and the county seat of Mitchell County, Texas, United States. The population was 4,281 at the 2000 census....
, and the couple shortly moved to New Kensington, Pennsylvania
New Kensington, Pennsylvania
New Kensington is a city in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania situated along the Allegheny River northeast of Pittsburgh. The population was 14,701 at the 2000 Census. The mayor of New Kensington is Tom Guzzo , elected in 2009. He succeeded Mayor Frank E. Link , elected in 2001.-History:New...
, where Pickering pastored Maranatha Bible Church.
After completing his doctorate, Pickering served for two years as the National Executive Secretary for the Independent Fundamental Churches of America
Independent Fundamental Churches of America
The Independent Fundamental Churches of America was founded in Cicero, Illinois in 1930. The name was officially changed to IFCA International in 1996. It is an association of nearly 1000 independent Protestant churches located largely in the United States and up to three times that number of...
(IFCA) and edited its publication, The Voice. In 1959 he became pastor of Woodcrest Baptist Church in Fridley, Minnesota
Fridley, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 27,449 people, 11,328 households, and 7,317 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,701.3 people per square mile . There were 11,504 housing units at an average density of 1,132.1 per square mile...
, and served as Dean of Central Baptist Theological Seminary of Minneapolis until 1965. Simultaneously he served on the Board of Trustees for Pillsbury Baptist Bible College
Pillsbury Baptist Bible College
Pillsbury Baptist Bible College was an Independent Fundamentalist Baptist Christian college in Owatonna, Minnesota, founded in 1957....
and was a founder of Baptist World Mission. From 1965 until 1969, Pickering pastored the Bible Baptist Church of Kokomo, Indiana
Kokomo, Indiana
Kokomo is a city in and the county seat of Howard County, Indiana, United States, Indiana's 13th largest city. It is the principal city of the Kokomo, Indiana Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Howard and Tipton counties....
, became a leader in the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches
General Association of Regular Baptist Churches
The General Association of Regular Baptist Churches is one of several Baptist groups in North America retaining the name "Regular Baptist"....
, and wrote adult Sunday School lessons for Regular Baptist Press. In 1969, he accepted the call of Baptist Bible College
Baptist Bible College
Baptist Bible College is the name of two schools in the United States:*Baptist Bible College & Seminary, Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania*Baptist Bible College Baptist Bible College may also refer to:*Free Will Baptist Bible College, Nashville, Tennessee*Heartland Baptist Bible...
, Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania
Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania
Clarks Summit is a borough in Lackawanna County northwest of Scranton in northeastern Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 5,116 at the 2010 census. It is also the northern terminus of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, I-476.-History:...
to join its faculty and serve as Dean. The following year, he succeeded G. Arthur Woolsey as president and served in that position for eight years.
In 1978, Pickering assumed the pastorate of the Emmanuel Baptist Church, Toledo, Ohio
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
, which had a regular attendance of 2000, but which had recently experienced the sudden departure of its previous pastor after a moral failure. Pickering provided the necessary maturity and leadership to stabilize the congregation.
In 1986, Pickering became president of Northwest Baptist Seminary, Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
, but following a disagreement over what its board of trustees considered an overly strict position on ecclesiastical separation, Pickering resigned in 1987. For a year he returned to Baptist Bible Seminary as professor of theology, and in 1988, he was called to the pastorate of Fourth Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota, an especially influential fundamentalist church because it was the home of Central Baptist Theological Seminary—of which Pickering also assumed the presidency.
In 1993, Pickering was named “Alumnus of the Year” by Bob Jones University. The same year he accepted the call of Baptist World Mission, serving as Deputation Director, 1993-1996, and field representative from 1996 until his death in 2000.
In 1983, Pickering was stricken with cancer in the frontal sinuses near his brain. In 1996 he experienced a recurrence, and the radiation used to treat the cancer caused him to become totally blind on November 8, 1996. Assisted by his wife, Pickering continued to preach without notes until the progress of the disease made continuation of his ministry impossible. Pickering wrote his final booklet, Our Tear-Washed Eyes: Why Does God Allow His People to Suffer? after he had lost his sight.
Pickering criticized the ecumenical neo-evangelism of Billy Graham
Billy Graham
William Franklin "Billy" Graham, Jr. is an American evangelical Christian evangelist. As of April 25, 2010, when he met with Barack Obama, Graham has spent personal time with twelve United States Presidents dating back to Harry S. Truman, and is number seven on Gallup's list of admired people for...
in print as early as 1957, and his chief contribution to twentieth-century evangelical Christianity was as a Baptist theoretician of separatist fundamentalism.
Books and booklets by Pickering
- Theology of Evangelism (Clarks Summit, PA: Baptist Bible College Press, 1974)
- Glories of the Lamb as Seen in the Book of Revelation (Clarks Summit, PA: Baptist Bible College Press, 1978)
- Biblical Separation: The Struggle for a Pure Church (Schaumburg, Illinois: Regular Baptist Press, 1979)
- Charismatic Confusion (Schaumburg, Illinois: Regular Baptist Press, 1980)
- Rejoicing in Christ (Schaumburg, Illinois: Regular Baptist Press, 1980)
- Thou Art the Christ: Studies in Philippians (Schaumburg, Illinois: Regular Baptist Press, 1983)
- For the Hurting Pastor—And Those Who Hurt Him (Schaumburg, Illinois: Regular Baptist Press, 1987)
- The Tragedy of Compromise: The Origin and Impact of the New Evangelicalism (Greenville, SC: BJU PressBJU PressBJU Press , founded in 1973, publishes textbooks for the Christian school and home school movements as well as trade and children's books.-History:...
, 1994) - Lordship Salvation: An Examination of John MacArthur's Book, The Gospel According to Jesus (Decatur, AL: Baptist World Mission, 1988)
- Should We Ever Separate From Christian Brethren? (Decatur, AL: Baptist World Mission.)