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BaptistsTexas Committed January/February 2001 Visit us at www.txbc.org TEXAS BAPTISTS FOCUS ON THE FUTURE By David Currie, coordinator ommended budget changes claiming they sonally believe we will, at least to some Historical decisions creating significant were punitive in nature and designed to extent. More than anything, unity will de- change were made by Texas Baptists in hurt the SBC and its institutions. Nothing pend on the winning side of the choice that their annual convention in Corpus Christi, could be further from the truth. was made. Oct. 30–31, 2000. The choices mark a con- Texas Baptists have no interest in hurt- If they are fair, reach out to the oppos- tinuing effort to focus on Jesus Christ and ing the SBC. They are now and have al- ing side and seek to find common ground, to identify their role in spreading God’s ways been deeply committed to being ef- unity will probably be the result. Kingdom. fective partners with God in spreading His Texas Baptists cannot reunite with the Texas Baptists approved a report from kingdom. SBC because we are on the losing side of the Seminary Study Committee which rec- Providing money for traditional theologi- that battle. The SBC must reach out to us. ommended changes in how Texas Baptists cal education which is historically consis- But Texas Baptists can reach out to the financially support theological education. tent with Baptist principles is not punitive losing side in our recent budget vote and Messengers also approved a new budget but good stewardship. Supporting Hispanic are already doing so. Hopefully unity can which changed the allocation of funds as ministries, adoption services and traditional be the result of our action. recommended by the Seminary Study Com- Baptists efforts to undergird religious lib- How are Texas Baptists reaching out to mittee, defunded the Southern Baptist Con- erty is not punitive, but God-honoring. SBC loyalists within the BGCT? First, they vention Ethics and Religious Liberty Com- Baptists are at a time when difficult have pledged to honor the giving wishes of mission and drastically reduced funds to choices have to be made. Usually these any BGCT-related church. Second, they the SBC Executive Committee. Details are choices do not please everyone. Our great have not sought to ostracize any BGCT on page 14. country has just been through a difficult church. Third, they will continue to include Southern Baptist Convention leaders vi- and dividing experience in the election of SBC loyalists who also support the BGCT ciously attacked BGCT leaders for the rec- our president. Will our country unite? I per- Continued on Page 2… THANK YOU PRESIDENT CARTER By David R. Currie, coordinator I want publicly to thank former President Jimmy Carter for his courageous statement about Southern Baptist events. I firmly be- lieve that ignorance is our greatest enemy and his word opened many eyes and ears across the country. As people see what has happened to the Baptist witness in America these past 20 years, more people will resist fundamentalism. People will seek to coop- erate the traditional Baptist way, united around missions with respect for freedom. Personally, it was one of the greatest priviledges of my life to sit and visit with Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter in their home. They made me feel like we were old friends, nearly family. In truth, we are family, a part of the traditional Baptist family. We did what families do. We shared our griefs over certain actions that have happened to fellow Baptists. Then we dreamed new dreams of a President and Mrs. Carter with David Currie at their Georgia day when all this will be behind us. Thank you, Mr. Carter, for home. Read President Carter’s open letter to his fellow Baptists your continuing witness of character, courage and grace. on page two of this newsletter. Unhealthy Faith System BGCT’s Historic Steps INSIDE by Charles McLaughlin ........ 6 by Warner/Allen.................. 14 Why We Do What We Do Spiritual Freedom In Praise of Baptist Women by David Currie .................... 3 by Phil Lineberger ................ 8 by Sandra Magee ................ 20 — 1 — The following is a personal reflection from President Jimmy Carter as a Baptist ORIGIN OF SBC layman. He also promotes the hearing of an explanation by Dr. Charles Wade, Executive Director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. “CONTROVERSY” By Bill Jones, layman, Hunter’s Glen Baptist Church, Plano In a May 1986 address to Sunday School Board employees, retired President James JIMMY CARTER • OCTOBER 2000 L. Sullivan told of a 1970 conference with an associate editor of a magazine in an To My Fellow Baptists, eastern state. Sullivan had requested the conference, because the magazine was pub- Like millions of other Baptists, I have been deeply distressed by the unpleasant lishing things that Sullivan knew “weren’t and counterproductive divisions within our denomination. In November 1997 and precisely true.” March 1998, invited two dozen Baptist leaders to The Carter Center, in an attempt This conference took place in 1970, nine to overcome differences that were impeding our common mission “to bring about a years before the SBC controversy became spiritual awakening in our nation and around the world.” public. The man complained about the sys- The group who attended included six presidents of the Southern Baptist Conven- tem of electing trustees of Baptist agencies tion and leaders of the Women’s Missionary Union, American Baptists, Coopera- and institutions. He blatantly warned tive Baptist Fellowship, the Texas and Virginia Baptist Conventions, and other Sullivan, “We’re going to do whatever it prominent organizations. We finally agreed on a common statement, pledging takes to take over the state convention and ourselves to a concerted prayer effort, mutual respect for each other, a spirit of the Southern Baptist Convention, and we racial reconciliation, unfettered religious liberty, and “to seek other ways to cooper- intend to do it as quickly as it can be ac- ate to achieve common goals, without breaching our Baptist polity or theological complished.” integrity, in order that people may come to know Christ as Savior, and so that God Their strategy? “We’re going to orga- may be glorified in ever increasing measure.” nize the losers of every election and cause I had never been involved in the political struggle for control of the SBC, and of Southern Baptist history we can identify have no desire to do so. My hope was that, as a traditional Baptist layman, I could … Winners soon forget but losers never find some channel through which I could help fulfill our Christian commitments. do.” As Sullivan explained, “He felt if they But since that brief interlude of apparent harmony, I have been disappointed and could identify and organize [all of] the los- feel excluded by the adoption of policies and an increasingly rigid SBC creed, ers, they would have the majority.” including some provisions that violate the basic premises of my Christian faith. I When Sullivan asked the man what is- have finally decided that, after 65 years, I can no longer be associated with the sue he and his cohorts planned to use to Southern Baptist Convention. take over the SBC, he replied, “We haven’t What am I to do? I’ll certainly continue in my role as a deacon and Sunday picked it yet, but when we pick it, it will be School teacher at Maranatha Baptist Church and support sending half our mission one that no one can give rebuttal to without contribution to the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. In addition to our fellow church hopelessly getting himself into contro- members, Rosalynn and I have been trying to identify other traditional Baptists versy.” How can we believe current SBC who share such beliefs as separation of church and state, servanthood of pastors, leaders that the fundamentalist takeover was priesthood of believers, a free religious press, and equality of women. about the Bible rather than a naked grab We agree with the adherence of most Texas Baptists, Virginia Baptists, and for power? The takeover plan preceded the members of CBF to these principles as expressed in the 1963 Baptist Faith and issue. (Quotes from 1986 article in Facts Message. and Trends magazine) As Georgia Baptists, we are quite concerned by the effort of SBC leaders to impose their newly adopted creed on our state convention. Our prayer is that we Focus on the Future, from Page 1… can avoid this divisive action, and adhere to the traditional beliefs that, for genera- in important leadership positions. Fourth, tions, have sustained our ancestors and us in a spirit of unity and cooperation. Not BGCT leaders and TBC leaders can guard having any religious or theological training, I am not qualified to explain how our rhetoric about those who disagree with profound and revolutionary are the changes in the Baptist Faith and Message that us (without allowing lies to go unchal- are being proposed to unsuspecting Baptists. The best explanation that I have heard lenged). is by Dr. Charles Wade, Executive Director of the Baptist General Convention of I hope and pray the result will be unity Texas, who attended our meetings at The Carter Center almost three years ago. I among Texas Baptists. In the future, elec- hope you will listen carefully to this tape of his remarks concerning the creedal tions will be held in America and in Texas decisions of the 2000 SBC assembly, and share it with others who might help to Baptists’ life. The issues will be argued preserve the Baptist heritage that is so precious to us. strongly and with emotion. One side will Sincerely, win.

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