BGCT Executive Board Chair Responds to Scarborough
by Dr. Robert Campbell,
Pastor, Westbury Baptist Church, Houston

I want to respond to what I think are obviously misleading and inaccurate statements made by Rick Scarborough and sometimes by two vice-presidential candidates when they spoke at a rally at First Baptist Church, Pearland, September 19th.

Terry Fox stated, “God is doing more through the SBC than ever before.” Scarborough went a step further and said, “The SBC is growing and making great progress, while the BGCT is moving in the opposite direction.”

Response: In membership and several important program areas, the BGCT had a better growth record than the SBC between 1980–1995. I am using materials from BGCT statisticians. (See Table 1)

Although the baptism rate for 1995 seems to differ by a small fraction, if the SBC has a 3.6% rate it would have meant 11,000 more baptisms.

Cooperative Program giving from Texas to the SBC from January through August of 1996 compared to the same time last year is up by .7 percent. Giving to all causes for the SBC from Texas is up over last year by 3.15 percent, and gifts to the BGCT have increased by 8.1 percent over last year at this time.

Rick Scarborough’s statement has no basis in facts.

Terry Fox said, “We believe in God’s Word (i.e., the Bible).” Rick Scarborough went a step further and said, “I believe in the inerrancy of the Scriptures.” The implication was that those who are the current leaders do not believe in all the Scriptures.

Response: I am really tired of those people who feel they believe in the Bible more than others do. I believe the Bible is the word of God— every word is God’s Word. From cover to cover it is God’s Word. It is neither erroneous nor fallible. It is holy. It is a perfect treasure. I believe in all miracles. I believe in a literal Adam and Eve.

Furthermore, I do not know a single Texas Baptist elected leader or employee who does not believe this. I’m not saying there are not such Baptists in Texas, but I am saying I don’t know them. I know Bill Pinson—both when I was a student and now as a Texas Baptist leader. He is no liberal. I know the directors of every division of the BGCT in Dallas. All believe it is God’s Word—every word. I have known Charles Wade personally for almost 35 years. He loves God’ s Word—reveres it, respects it.

To whom in Texas is Scarborough alluding? Let him name names, dates, places and provide incontrovertible documentation or else cease from this roundabout innuendo.

It is quite true that Texas Baptists do not agree on how to interpret every verse of Scripture. But let no one accuse the current leadership of not believing “it is God’s infallible and inerrant Word.”

Rick Scarborough said, “I want to bring the BGCT back into line with the direction of the SBC. The current leadership is moving the BGCT closer to the CBF.”

Response:

I fear that Rick Scarborough is planning to lead the BGCT into “Connectionalism.” The BGCT is an independent, cooperating Baptist convention. We are not bound by the decisions of any other Baptist body, except the local Texas Baptist churches. As a body of Texas Baptists, we have chosen and will continue to choose to cooperate with the SBC.

However, I do not believe that we are “bound” by any decision made by the SBC, any other state Baptist convention, or association. We review and pray about those decisions. Then we decide—through prayer and the leadership of the Holy Spirit—what Texas Baptists need to do.

The national leaders do not decide what percentage of Cooperative Program gifts should be sent on to Nashville. Texas Baptists decide that. We evaluate the needs of Texas and try to present a budget that can meet those needs. Many churches cheerfully and prayerfully send 33% to the SBC for worldwide causes. Texas needs 67% to meet the growing population of Texas. Texas has an increased population of 30% since 1980. The nation’s population has increased 16%.

Texas Baptists leaders are not moving Texas toward the CBF. The BGCT allows Texas Baptist churches to choose where they want to send their worldwide mission gifts. The leadership of the BGCT has no business telling any church where it can and cannot send its offerings.

I do not know of any current Baptist elected leader or employee that is trying to take the BGCT into the CBF. I have had no contact with the CBF this year. I have no desire to lead the BGCT to do anything she is not now doing. I do plan to lead the BGCT to accomplish our goal of Texas 2000. We must reach every Texan with the gospel of Christ. To that I am fully committed. I intend to help Texas Baptists do missions, evangelism, benevolence work and education. To that I am fully committed.

Both the church I pastor and I myself am sending offerings to the SBC through the Cooperative Program. I don’t expect that to change. However, the church I pastor allows its members to send their worldwide mission gifts wherever they choose. Consequently, some have elected to send gifts to the CBF.

Rick Scarborough attempted to tell us that the BGCT had liberals in it. He said of his years at Houston Baptist University that he “found a very secular atmosphere on campus.”

Response:

Every illustration he gave was from 20- 25 years ago. Some of his illustrations referred to non-BGCT entities. When he specifically cited HBU as having “a very secular atmosphere on campus,” I was offended. He never talked about any change or how things at HBU are today.

I have no idea whether there was a secular atmosphere at HBU in the late 60s or early 70s. I do know that today Doug Hodo is the president of HBU and is doing a wonderful job. There is no “secular” atmosphere at HBU today. I know because I have been on the campus many times in the last six years. I have church members who work there and are students there. They testify to HBU’s excellent Christian atmosphere and academic standing. Texas Baptists can be proud of HBU and the other seven Texas Baptist schools.

Rick Scarborough said, “I have a copy of the proposed BGCT budget for 1997. The salaries are higher than yours… They have a vested interest in keeping things just as they are.”

Response:

This was uncalled for. This is overstepping the bounds of common courtesy. First of all, it is amazing to me that the salaries are published at all. I wonder how many other state conventions do this. Second, I would like to see Rick Scarborough publish his salary. Since he believes that the salaries of state convention employees are too high, it would be nice to compare his salary and full benefits package to the state Baptist workers. Third, I can remember in the recent past when state Baptist employees got no raises for several years in a row. Finally, those salaries are reviewed by the Administrative Committee, the Executive Board, and finally by the BGCT in its annual meeting.

I am pleased that we are able to compensate our Baptist workers. I also believe they are paid according to their responsibility, experience, education and tenure.

Finally, Rick Scarborough referred to a 1994 edition of Texas Baptists Committed. It listed ten Texas Baptist Churches as being “flagship” churches because they hosted TBC meetings for area churches. Scarborough called the church name and gave the 1995 statistics for that church. Specifically, he cited the total enrollment (including non-resident members), total receipts (including receipts from day schools, family life centers, soft drink machines, etc.), and baptisms. Then he denigrated the number of baptisms.

Response: One of ten churches had not turned in an annual church letter for 1995. Therefore, the report reflects the previous year’s statistics in some areas, but not all One of the areas omitted is baptisms. Rick called the church’s name as having no baptisms. This is not true. There was no report from that church in 1995.

More than that, Rick cited Westbury Baptist of Houston—the church of which I am pastor. He gave these statistics: (See Table 2)

Rick Scarborough has no right to judge any church’s baptisms. Westbury Baptist and I will account to Jesus, not to Rick Scarborough. Jesus is the Head of this church. If we are remiss in our duty, He is well able to call us to account without the aid of any other person. I believe Christ is delighted that 36 people came to Christ. All were first time immersion baptisms. Angels— the Scripture says—rejoiced over their decisions. This year we have had 45 professions of faith and the year has not yet ended.

If Rick Scarborough becomes president of the BGCT, will he then decide which church has enough baptisms and which does not? God forbid! Westbury Baptist will continue to work for Christ and not Rick Scarborough. We will refrain from judging his congregation, as he should refrain from judging ours. Shame on him! Let him read the Scriptures and remove the beam of pride from his eye, before he seeks to remove the mote of too few baptisms from Westbury Baptists’ eye.

October 1996