Oklahoman Warns Texas Baptists

August 1, 1996
Dr. David Currie
PO Box 3330
San Angelo, Texas 76902

Dear David:

After receiving your letter of July 26th and its request for increased funding for TBC, I felt a need to respond in total support of your request. What TBC has done to date and what they might do in the future as far as Texas Baptists are concerned must not be hampered by lack of funding!

I realize that an Oklahoman advising Texans on how to do their business is certainly open to being told to mind his own business and I accept that as legitimate reasoning. However, as one who resides in a state where the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma (BGCO) rules under a fundamentalist iron rule, I would like to cite three examples as to what you might look forward to if Free and Faithful Baptists of Texas lose control of their state convention.

1) Our state paper, The Baptist Messenger, refuses to print ads about the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF) including ads pertaining to our annual state meeting. Recently, they refused to accept an ad referring to the CBF starting a radio ministry in which our first three speakers were Dr. Cecil Sherman, Dr. Bill Bruster, and Dr. Lavonn Brown, while on the other hand printed an ad for a bible conference to be held in Colorado Springs at a Presbyterian Church!!! We were informed that The Baptist Messenger would not accept ads from any organization that “competes with the BGCO or the SBC for funding or loyalty.” So much for local church autonomy.

2) A second example is exclusion from boards, agencies and committees. Recently a committee was formed to study the long range outlook for the BGCO. Approximately 25 people were appointed to this committee. Through some mix up in the appointment process, a minister who is involved with CBF was appointed. When it was realized by the ‘powers that be’ what they had done, the minister was contacted and told if he would refrain from mentioning the CBF, he could serve. He refused and was then removed from the committee. The fundamentalists could not tolerate even one voice of dissent. So much for unity in diversity.

3) The third example is coercion. Any active or retired minister or missionary who publicly relates to the CBF will get invitations to speak in only moderate churches (of which there are few in Oklahoma). Also, we have had several pastors attend our state CBF meetings who refused to register, telling us their jobs would be in jeopardy if it was known they were at our meeting. So much for freedom of speech and religion.

There are but a few examples of what Texas Baptists can expect if fundamentalists take over your convention.

My wife and I know that by not living in Texas we cannot take an active role in TBC. However, we can help financially. We have chosen to do that and will continue to do so because we believe that what happens in Texas will have a profound impact over the entire SBC. I hope Texas Baptists will continue to support your outstanding leadership by giving what they can so that Texas can continue to be free from the fundamentalists’ clutches.

Sincerely,
Bob Stephenson

Bob Stephenson sent this letter (with a check) in response to a fundraising letter we sent out. We appreciated Bob’s words of support and wanted to share them with Texas Baptists.

September 1996