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SBC Leaders
Have Questionable Ties
Roger Moran has tried to link CBF, BGCT and TBC leadership with left wing organizations. Moran is research director of Missouri Baptist Laymen's Association. Many leaders have responded that they are not taking the position Moran assumes they share with national agencies they have served on or participated in. Smacking of spiritual McCarthyism, Moran's allegations of guilt by association seem to be stretching it. That logic holds that if you once had a second cousin who knew one, you are one. Using Moran's approach, it can be determined that SBC leaders have questionable ties. SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE: Richard Land received the call as head of SBC's Christian Life Commission while his pastor made national news calling separation a figment of an infidel's imagination.1 Jerry Falwell called separation "bogus."2 Pat Robertson, who claims the Southern Baptist' mantle and has Land's backing, said separation is a Soviet concept.3 Recent SBC president Tom Elliff wrote a book claiming the idea of separation is foreign to the Constitution and came from a misguided court ruling in the 1940s.4 Rick Scarborough, a Texas pastor and past fundamentalist candidate for BGCT president, said the idea of separation is a lie.5 Scarborough was paraded before the convention and given a platform through Morris Chapman's mailout, SBC LIFE. Also included in the issue was an interview with separation enemy Peter Marshall Jr.6 The foremost enemy of separation is David Barton who has written a book called the Myth of Separation of Church and State. Barton is embraced by Land and Falwell.7 REGARDING RACISM: The SBC Public Affairs Committee chose Jesse Helms as Man of the Year as one of its early accomplishments. Helm's link with SBC takeover leadership is well documented. Helms has a track record of shady racial attitudes well noted around the nation. He once warned that voting for a political candidate might mean Negroes working beside you on the job and using the same toilet facilities.8 Falwell and W.A. Criswell were known to be vocal segregationists earlier in their ministries. Criswell adhered to the Curse of Ham theory.9 Some historians claim his recanting of the theory was similar to Henry Ford's backing off of his anti-Semitism. Insiders claim the men changed views under public pressure but still privately held them. Falwell publicly supported the late South African apartheid government.10 Falwell condemned Affirmative Action as not Christian. He once said there are almost as many alcoholics as there are Negroes.11 Falwell condemned the Supreme Court ruling that mandated the integration of public schools in the 50s. He said the decision was a satanic plot.12 Paul Pressler has been a leader in the Council on National Policy which has been known to house ex-Nazis and racists according to author Russ Bellant. Also linked with this group is the noted Coors Beer family which has known right wing views. A noted historian and author related a story to me about Pressler's participation in a church controversy in Austin, Texas. The author told me the church was struggling with the issue of admitting black members from the university in the 50s. Pressler was outspoken that the church should not tolerate black membership since they were not ready for it. PUBLIC EDUCATION: As noted, some SBC fundamentalists have come out for Exodus 2000 which is the pulling out of Christians from public schools. Tim LaHaye, an outspoken leader in the crowd, has published a book dotted with John Birch Society references attacking public education.13 Ed Young held a family conference at Second Baptist and invited Holiness preachers, Marlin Maddoux and Pat Robertson to be speakers. Both men told the audience that Congress was working secretly with the United Nations to brainwash public school children to worship the Anti-Christ through public TV. Land has suggested that sending our Christian children to public schools is like sending them to the Middle-ages Children's Crusades.14 Morris Chapman, something of the SBC Executive Committee, has put out articles to attack public education.15 Falwell said he will not be satisfied until public education in the nation is done away with.16 Tim LaHaye's wife, a noted leader in the SBC CLC, participated in a Separation Alliance in 1997. The Alliance is a national organization seeking to separate public education from the state. SBC liaison David Barton was also on the program.17 FAR RIGHT: SBC Fundamentalist leadership has been linked with extremists groups such as Reconstructionists, the John Birch Society and cult leader Reverend Moon. Pressler has been tied to Reconstructionists through the Firestorm Chat tapes.18 Falwell has sent out pamphlets with the avid Reconstructionist Gary North's articles.19 George Gant is a Reconstructionist whose books are sold through Land's office.20 Larry Pratt, linked with Militias and White Supremists rallies, also had tapes for sale through Land's newsletter.21 A sampling of Reconstructionist writings believes that slavery is a viable option for today. Some articles suggest the Civil War was actually a holy war with Southern five-point Calvinists fighting a Unitarian North.22 Falwell and LaHaye have both been recipients of cult leader Rev. Moon's financial gifts. Ed McAteer, a member of Adrian Rogers' church, holds national conferences with John Birch Society members handing out literature. A John Birch Society member wrote the booklet that got Second Baptist of Houston in trouble with the IRS for partisan political activity. The best handle on the Society's identity is illustrated by a story regarding the Kennedy assassination. President Kennedy woke up in Fort Worth the day of his death and read a crazy John Birch Society ad in the Dallas paper. It was a type of death threat saying the nation would be better off if someone killed the President. He commented to his wife that they were heading into "nut country."23 Some of us must also wonder as we head into the 21st century.
Endnotes
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May 2000