SLOAN ELECTION: GOOD FOR BAYLOR AND TEXAS BAPTISTS

The election of Dr. Robert B. Sloan to serve as the next President of Baylor university is good for Baylor and good for Texas Baptists.

It is good for Baylor because Sloan is respected, qualified, energetic, and committed. He has spoken out on fundamentalism and knows its true character. It solidifies Baylor’s commitment to remain closely identified with Texas Baptists.

Likewise, it is good for Texas Baptists because it closes the issue of Baylor “rejecting its Baptist roots.” At TBC, we never questioned that Baylor would remain “Baptist to the core,” but the fundamentalist kept raising the issue as a scare tactic. That issue is settled. A dedicated educator and ordained Baptist minister, Robert Sloan will keep Baylor active in protecting the BGCT from fundamentalist control and will keep Baylor a cooperative player in BGCT ministries and missions.

Baylor helps the efforts of Texas Baptists Committed in a very important area, morale. We have strong support from the alumni of all our Baptist universities, not just Baylor. We want to protect them all. Most feel they are not in a position to publicly say “thank you” for our work. Baylor inspires us all by its refusal to play fundamentalist games. They know fundamentalism is wrong, destructive, and divisive. They say it publicly. It means a great deal to our work.

The alumni of Baylor are also well educated regarding fundamentalism because of Dr. Herbert Reynolds leadership. In turn, they come to the convention each year and support traditional Baptist principles. We appreciate that commitment. We know it will continue steadfast with Robert Sloan.

April 1995