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Archives and Special Collections at Southeastern: Bulman, James papers

This guide is designed to introduce researchers to Archives and Special Collections at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

James M. Bulman papers, 1942-1987, predominantly 1943-1982

Creator(s): Bulman, James M., 1922-1987
Date(s): 1942–1987, predominant 1943–1982
Extent: 28.0 cu.ft.

Biographical Note: James M. Bulman (1922-1987) was a Baptist pastor, church parliamentarian, and author. He served four North Carolina churches after graduating from seminary: Cornelius Baptist Church, Cornelius, NC (1949–1955); East Spencer Baptist Church, East Spencer, NC (1955–1960); Providence Baptist Church, East Spencer, NC (1960–1967); Oak Ridge Baptist Church, Oak Ridge, NC (1967–1980); and Central Baptist Church. He was parliamentarian of the Southern Baptist Convention (1971) and of the North Carolina Baptist Convention (1963–1975). He authored two books and numerous articles for theological journals.

He was born in Spartanburg, South Carolina and educated at Furman University (B.A.) and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (Th.M., Th.D.).

Scope and Contents: This collection contains correspondence, notes, sermons, baptist periodicals, audio cassette tapes, photographs, an LP record, and other materials created and collected by James Bulman from 1942–1987. These papers primarily document Bulman’s seminary studies, his published and unpublished writings, materials related to areas of his theological interests, sermon material, and his work as parliamentarian.

These papers also include materials related to (1) the church property dispute of North Rocky Mount Baptist Church, Rocky Mount, NC, and issues of church autonomy, (2) Bulman’s lawsuit against the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention, (3) his dispute with the North Carolina Baptist Convention, (4) his charges of liberalism against Eric Rust, professor at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, as well as (5) papers presented at the Conference on Biblical Inerrancy held at Wake Forest University (1980). It also contains substantive runs of Faith and Free Press and Southern Baptist Free Press, two publications initiated to represent conservative opinions in the Southern Baptist Convention.

Language(s): English, Hebrew, Greek, German, Phoenician, predominantly English
Conditions Governing Access: This collection is open for research.
Custodial History: The James M. Bulman papers were donated to SEBTS in June, 2000.
Processing History: Arranged and described by Nathan Finn. Collection level description created by Bill Youngmark on 02/17/2016. Collection level description edited by Stephen Jones on 11/09/2017.
Preferred Citation: James M. Bulman papers, Archives and Special Collections, Library at Southeastern, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, NC.
Repository: Archives and Special Collections, Library at Southeastern, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, NC
Resource Identifier: ARC.005
Subjects and Access Points:
Southern Baptist Convention
Cornelius Baptist Church (Cornelius, N.C.)
East Spencer Baptist Church (East Spencer, N.C.)
Providence Baptist Church (East Spencer, N.C.)
Central Baptist Church (N.C.)
Oak Ridge Baptist Church (Oak Ridge, N.C.)
Parliamentary practice
North Rocky Mount Baptist Church (Rocky Mount, N.C.)
Biblical inerrancy
Rust, E. C. (Eric Charles), 1910-1991
Faith and Free Press
Southern Baptist Free Press