DO NOT STOP SUPPORTING UNITY
by David Currie,
Coordinator

The track that the Southern Baptists of Texas is seeking to put the BGCT on is the same one followed by the SBC. It does not lead to unity.

We may not be able to keep Texas Baptists unified, but it should not stop us from trying. In Texas, we are trying to maintain unity by respecting two Baptist distinctives: local church autonomy and the priesthood of all believers.

We are doing this by recognizing the gifts of all churches equally, being neutral in regards to giving.

We are doing this by respecting our institutions and our leadership. No one is pressured regarding the local church they attend, or their personal views regarding politics and social issues.

We are doing this by accommodating, (unlike the SBC), those in Texas who do not agree with the direction of the BGCT, by respecting negative designations by local churches to parts of the BGCT budget and by respecting those churches who are a part of Southern Baptists of Texas who have flipped their mission giving percentages and are giving 64.5% to the SBC and only 35.5% to the BGCT.

In a divisive period of Baptist history, we are striving for unity by following Baptist heritage and principles. We are doing at the state convention level what Charles Wade said in the Baptist Standard he was doing in his local church. Dr. Wade said:

“We have simply tried to maintain the mission hearts of our people. Through a strong missions program of CBF and SBC, all Southern Baptists will be able to give gladly to missions and hopefully give more. If we can allow diversity among our people and let them give as they feel led to do, more people will be saved, more churches will be started and more young people trained for seminary.”

Well said. That is a unifying, respecting, realistic attitude. Sounds like he should be president of the BGCT!

August/September 1995