An Unhealthy Faith System 
by Charles C. McLaughlin,
Associate Coordinator 

In Stephen Arterbum and Jack Felton's book, Toxic Faith, one chapter identifies 10 characteristics of a toxic faith system. While the book deals with "religious addiction," it serves as a description for an unhealthy faith system. After reading those characteristics, it became apparent that the leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention are presently exhibiting at least eight of these 10 characteristics in terms of their leadership style.

This does not mean that every church member led by a fundamentalist-type pastor is an unhealthy one. In almost every church there are persons of deep faith, caring hearts, sacrificial lifestyles, and fine representatives for what it means to be a Christian. Nor, does it mean following the SBC leaders makes one an unhealthy Christian.

However, examine the following characteristics and determine whether those leading the SBC are contributing to the creation and continuation of an unhealthy faith system.

(Due to space limitations only a few examples will be given. Excerpts from Toxic Faith will be in italics.)

T. C. Pinckney, leader of the new fundamentalist State Convention in Virginia, said denominational leaders should not negotiate with others who don't share their theology. "The Southern Baptist tent should be just as broad as God's word-no broader, no narrower," Pinckney said. "Scripture, not cooperation, is primary. Let every Southern Baptist accept God's word, and cooperation will follow as day follows night." 

The strategy of the SBC takeover was to appoint only those who agreed with the leadership as institutional trustees and board or committee members. Paige Patterson said, "We want an open, pro-life position in all of our institutions and agencies, dealing with both abortion and euthanasia. Employees who would be required to agree with the Baptist-elected leadership would include; professors at the six Baptist seminaries, members of the Christian Life Commission which addresses social and moral concerns, writers of literature published by the Sunday School Board, and employees of denominational hospitals and other agencies." (The Baptist Messenger, 1986)

In a meeting with Directors of Missions in Texas, Patterson was asked about his appointments as president of the SBC. According to the September article, he and other recent SBC presidents "have tried to be as fair as we could," he said, "but were limited by a commitment that the only people to be placed on SBC boards and agencies should be people who affirm every syllable of the Bible to be true."

Patterson stated, "To my way of thinking, there's no room in Baptist life for all viewpoints." (Charlotte Observer, 1998) In addition to calling Texas a weak state for not following the direction of the SBC, Patterson stated, "I am grateful that the BGCT leadership has made crystal clear for the sake of the Texas Baptist churches where they stand on family and church issues. Now it is up to the churches to decide with whom they agree -- with a liberal, culturally acceptable view of family and church, or with a Christ-honoring, Bible-believing perspective."

Or consider the leadership and words conveyed by Paul Pressler, "We are going to destroy the BGCT!"

Chuck Kelly, President, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, claimed special ability over his predecessor, Landrum Leavell. According to the Times-Picayune of New Orleans in an October 29 article, "It is true," Kelly said. "Seminary presidents are consistently conducting careful doctrinal screening of faculty, as their predecessors always claimed to do." But the truth of the matter is, they were NOT. And while his own predecessor, the Rev. Leavell, was a conservative committed to hiring conservatives, Kelley said he is better equipped than Leavell to smoke out closet moderates hiding behind academic language. "I'm probably more thorough in my investigation of faculty candidates than he was," Kelly said.

SBC leaders made special claims over the abilities of Herschel Hobbs. According to the BGCT Seminary Study Committee report, two of the four seminary presidents said, "There was not a professional theologian among the 1963 BF&M committee. The closest thing they had to a professional theologian was Herschel Hobbs, and he was duped." They maintain unnamed neo-orthodox theologians suggested the language of the 1963 BF&M to the writers.

To challenge some SBC leaders appears like a challenge to the very Word of God. Richard Land, President of the SBC Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission said, "Let is be clearly understood that Dr. Glazener and those who support him in the intent of the BGCT's motion have a disagreement with the Apostle Paul, not merely with the Southern Baptist Convention. As for me and my house, we are going to stick with the Apostle Paul."

R. Albert Mohler, Jr., President of the Southern Seminary said, "The motion adopted by the BGCT is an intentional rejection of a clear teaching of the Bible." He added, "Their problem is not with the SBC; it's with the Apostle Paul."

When asked about the prohibition on women pastors, Land responded, "We don't really have a choice. I'm not in the habit of asking God why he does things. I just say, 'Yes, sir.'"

Kelley stated, "The BF&M document simply states what the Bible teaches." He added, "Those who do not accept the revision are basing their belief on experience and not on the Bible."

In other words, the Bible and the new 2000 BF&M, which these men helped to shape, are synonymous.

The first president of Midwestern Seminary to be selected by a fundamentalist/conservative board of trustees was later dismissed for "misappropriation of anger." It is reported that "expression of anger had irreparably damaged his ability" to lead the seminary.

When the Southwestern Seminary Board of Trustees were preparing to fire Russell Dilday, trustee Chair Ralph Pulley said, "We don't need a reason. We can do it. We have the votes, and we will [fire Dilday]."

A purging of the present system is an obvious one when considering the significant faculty turnover in SBC seminaries. The purging continues. Since 1995, Southwestern Seminary has enlisted 37.5% new faculty, Southern Seminary exceeds Southwestern with over 66.6% of new faculty since 1993. Forty-two full-time Southern Seminary faculty members resigned, retired, or were fired between 1992 and 1996. Another significant purge of faculty occurred at Southeastern with 88% of the theology faculty being new hires since 1992. 

A long list of persons can be provided that have been forced to retire, resign, or have been fired since the SBC purging began.

A much-cited criticism of SBC management is the practice of top-down control or coercion. For example, in July a Baptist Press article reported Morris Chapman, president of the SBC Executive Committee, and Wyndell O. Jones, president of the Association of State Baptist Executive Directors initiated a meeting of State Executive Directors to form a Task Force on Cooperation. Results were, Chapman was named the Chairman of the Task Force. (Who would, therefore, represent the State Executive Directors?) Jones would, and three others that he and Chapman would appoint.

Most are aware of the consistent use of the word "liberal" to describe those who disagree with SBC leaders, such as the 1995 mailed brochure, Leadership Links of Southern Baptists in Liberal Organizations. Blanket accusations are common. "States like Texas, Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, and Mississippi have strong liberal infiltration." (Plumbline, published by Southern Baptists of Texas)

Other terms used to describe those who disagree are as demeaning as "skunks, infidels, half-infidels, gallstones, parasites, barnacles and rats." CBF and BGCT are constantly under attack as supporters of homosexuality and abortion. Both organizations have made strong statements to the contrary of the erroneous accusations.

James Merritt warned of "spiritual crocodiles that line the banks of the river of Christianity" and "stealth liberals who fly in under spiritual radar." (From Merritt's convention sermon to the SBC in 1998)

Accountability is questionable when seminary trustees approve a request from the wife of the seminary president for extravagant refurbishing of her residence.

According to the May 13, Biblical Recorder article, Dorothy Patterson, wife of the president and an assistant professor of Womens Studies, described a need for a $230,000 expansion of Magnolia Hill, the residence of the Pattersons. "We want to be the center of hospitality (on campus)," Dorothy Patterson told Trustees. She wants to add a utility room, a library, a living area, and a bedroom where her grandchildren or other guests can sleep. Trustees approved the expenditure and indicated it could be funded through private donations.

Paige Patterson wrote the BGCT Seminary Study Committee Chairman. "I can appreciate the difficulty of taking 15 committee members to a seminary."

However, he added, "By the same token, we did not appoint the committee nor ask for it, and we are not directly accountable to State Convention committees anyway."

It is well known that the revisions of the 1963 BF&M are used as a litmus test for service in the SBC and its institutions. William O. Crews, president of Golden Gate Seminary, writing on behalf of the seminary President's Council said, "All six of the seminaries stand together in affirming that we will indeed make the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message Statement an issue of non-negotiable accountability for all who teach in our institutions."

In summary, a Baptist Press article carried the words of R. Albert Mohler, Jr.: "This statement [2000 BF&M] is a regulative document for use by the agencies and institutions and seminaries of the denomination."