Texas Baptists Committed is dedicated to reaching people for Christ through local churches; promoting and defending historic Baptist principles; spreading an understanding of Baptist heritage and distinctives through education; and cooperating with the mission of the Baptist General Convention of Texas and its related institutions.

HEALING WILL COME WITH REPENTANCE

Several Fundamentalist leaders have been talking about “getting Texas Baptists united.” This is a worthy goal. The problem is they are focusing on what the BGCT and Texas Baptists can do. Their focus is not correct.

Texas Baptists already operate out of inclusiveness and fairness. No, we are not following Fundamentalism, but we are being fair to Fundamentalists.

If Fundamentalist leaders in Texas want healing, they need to focus on what they control, the SBC. They can start by disclaiming the character attacks on our Seminary professors as a “bunch of liberals.”

They can reconsider the defunding of the Baptist Joint Committee on Public Affairs and the International European Seminary and add them back into SBC budgets.

They should apologize for firing Al Shackleford and Dan Martin at Baptist Press, and Molly Marshall at Southern Seminary.

Finally, they should apologize to Baptists for firing Russell Dilday and pay him his severance money.

These actions would do a great deal to bring healing to Texas Baptists and unite us once again.

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