Newsletter
May 1994

 

Articles By
David R. Currie, Executive Director


 
A.W. Tozer has an interesting writing titled “Divisions Are Not Always Bad.” It provides some thoughts to ponder as we advocate creating distance between the BGCT and the SBC.
A STUDENT’S RESPONSE
-by Sharon Kirkpatrick
The past two months have been difficult! Feelings of amazement, grief, frustration, anger, and disbelief have shrouded the days and weeks since March 9, 1994, the day the Southwestern Seminary trustees took action to fire President Russell Dilday.

A Presupposition This account begins with a basic presupposition: the Southern Baptist Convention, as we have known and loved it no longer exists.
We have never really pushed people to join Texas Baptists Committed in our newsletter. We have appreciated all who “officially joined by contributing” and sent the newsletter to anyone who requested it.
As Christians, we truly believe in the power of God to “work all things for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
“The SBC with its institutions and agencies has been pirated from the people and churches of the Southern Baptist Convention.
The May 4 issue of the Baptist Standard reported that “top leaders of the Southern Baptist convention’s fundamental-conservative movement” met in Atlanta, April 21.
Did you notice in the Baptist Standard the list of the “Top 100 in total dollars to CP.” There were four churches on the list who gave less than 3% to the Cooperative Program.
In response to the concerns of certain trustees about the music school, in 1987 the faculty began serious and open discussion of the issue.
In their letter to pastors, SWBTS trustee officers implied that President Dilday holds liberal views of Scripture and uses “higher criticism” in destructive ways. Both charges are false.
WHEREAS, we the students of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, called by God to prepare for ministry, affirm the dual principles of love for God and love for neighbor as exemplified by our Lord Jesus Christ; and
Many Texas churches are responding to the firing of Dr. Russell Dilday. Examples of what many churches are currently doing follow:
According to the Baptist Standard, it looks like the Cooperative Giving Committee is going to propose some changes in cooperative giving for Texas Baptists.
Two past presidents of the Baptist General Convention of Texas have endorsed a proposal which recommends a Cooperative Program with a primary focus on Texas Baptist causes.
The biggest concern of traditional Texas Baptists in regard to funding is the missionaries.

DO YOU SUPPORT THE MINISTRY OF THE BGCT?


Do you believe the Bible is the inspired, authoritative Word of God, and the final authority in matters of faith and practice?
Do you believe Baptists should never have a man-made creed?
Do you believe the Bible should not be used as a political weapon?
Do you believe Texas Baptist Convention leaders are Bible-believing traditional Baptists?
Do you believe the BGCT is moving in the right direction with Mission Texas?
Do you believe the focus of the BGCT should be missions and evangelism?
Do you believe in local church autonomy?
Do you believe in the priesthood of believers?
Do you believe in the separation of church and state?

IF YOU ANSWERED “YES” TO ALL THE QUESTIONS ABOVE, YOU MUST BE A TRADITIONAL TEXAS BAPTIST, SO PLEASE JOIN TEXAS BAPTISTS COMMITTED AND STAND UP FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE.

 

 

TEXAS PASTORS SPEAK OUT

We have several statements from Texas pastors (some from their newsletters) to share with Texas Baptists.

FINANCIAL OPTIONS FOR TEXAS BAPTIST CHURCHES

The TBC office has received many phone calls from Texas churches asking exactly what are the options regarding the giving of their money to worldwide causes. We have chosen to respond by printing the various budget options available to Texas Baptists.
Giving Plans

ARE WE CHANGING OUR GOALS AT TBC?

This newsletter focuses a great deal encouraging
Texas Baptists to, at the very least, designate funds to the SBC. Does this mean we are changing our mission statement and goals? Are we no longer “focusing exclusively” on keeping the BGCT true to our heritage and preventing a fundamentalist takeover?

NOT AT ALL! Nothing has changed. Our goal remains a BGCT free of fundamentalist control and yet inclusive of everyone. But, we are now focusing 20 years down the road and how we can remain free as Texas Baptists. If we remain “officially” tied to the SBC, which is going to remain fundamentalist, like a “farm team,” then that fundamentalist influence will eventually defeat us in Texas.


That is why we need a seminary or a larger
Truett seminary, different literature, and distance
between us and the SBC. We must educate Texas Baptist lay persons that Texas Baptists are staying true to our heritage and principles, while the SBC has abandoned this heritage.


Texas Baptists need to know why they are not fundamentalists. We need distance to achieve this educational function.

The only way to save Texas in the long run is to maintain independence from the SBC.



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