IS THERE AN ORGANIZED PLAN TO ATTACK TEXAS BAPTISTS?
by David R. Currie,
Coordinator

BGCT president Jerold McBride recently commented that he thinks there is an organized plan being carried out by SBC leaders against Texas Baptists. He may be on to something.

Look what has been said over the last few months.

Richard Land, head of the SBC Christian Life Commission, says Texas Baptists shouldn’t expect anything from the national convention because of our “independent”attitude.

Paige Patterson calls us a “weak state.”

Jerry Rankin says “it is disturbing that state conventions seem to be succumbing to this trend” (weak support of global missions on the basis of the need to have a strong home base).

Morris Chapman calls the Texas plan “regrettable.”

Kenneth Hemphill says that there “is a better way.”

The two-page attack on Texas Baptist in SBC Life.

Ronnie Floyd, SBC executive board member from Arkansas says: “This move is an extreme departure from the historic tradition of cooperation in worldwide mission support that the BGCT has had for years with the SBC.” The fact is the BGCT gave a lesser percentage several years during the 1960’s.

McBride says: “SBC leaders simultaneously attacking the BGCT seems more than a coincidence. The perception is that this is an orchestrated attempt to interfere with business matters that are to be decided by Texas Baptists alone.

“The perception, right or wrong, that turns off Texas Baptists is that our national denominational leaders inject themselves into the business of our state convention and that our money is welcome but not our presence on SBC boards, agencies and committees. Texans resist such an intrusion and Texas Baptists resist this even more. If SBC leadership is interested in bridging whatever gap that might exist between them and the BGCT they must let Texas Baptists make their own decisions without attempting to interfere.”

October 1995