THE RIVER DIVIDES

The man labeled as the resident theologian of the Brownsville (Assembly of God) Revival has been ousted as the president of its Brownsville Revival School of Ministry. Dr. Michael L. Brown was voted out Dec. 17, 2000, by the school's board after a clash over an "acceptable means of accountability." Charisma News Service claimed a "major rift has emerged at the heart of the Brownsville revival" in its report of the dispute.

According to the news service, the Assemblies of God denomination made a considerable loan to the school for the acquisition of its current campus. The loan was solicited by the Rev. John Kilpatrick, pastor of the Pensacola based church. In return, denomination leaders requested "some form of simple accountability ... to respect their interests." Charisma reported, "It was suggested that Brown hold Assemblies of God credentials while president of the school, but [Brown] felt that would be a compromise."

After an alternative solution making Kilpatrick executive president was suggested, Brown "expressed concern at the agreement and asked that the school be released to him." Brown's request was denied by the BRSM board and it further "determined unanimously to release Dr. Brown as president of BRSM."

Following his dismissal, Brown announced plans to start a new ministry school in Pensacola. In a Dec. 30 statement, Brown said: "I, along with eight core faculty members, have established the F.I.R.E. School of Ministry. ... Since my dismissal came in the middle of a school year, and because of our many commitments made to the BRSM student body, the leadership of the F.I.R.E. School of Ministry felt strongly led to begin classes immediately, without missing a semester, right here in Pensacola." F.I.R.E. is the acronym for the Fellowship for International Revival and Evangelism.

At the time of Brown's ouster, more than 1,100 students made up the BRSM's enrollment. BRSM opened in January 1997 with 120 students.

With Brown's dismissal, only two of the key figures of the "Pensacola Outpouring" remain: Kilpatrick, and worship and music leader Lindell Cooley. Stephen Hill, the revival's evangelist, quit last June after a five year stint.

–MKG

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