Find Out For Yourself!
By Charlie McLaughlin,
Associate Coordinator

The passing of the Efficiency and Effectiveness Committee recommendations by the messengers to the 1997 annual meeting of the Baptist General Convention of Texas was a historic moment for Texas Baptists. I fully supported all 16 recommendations and felt good about the overwhelming percentage of the vote that marked their passage. However, as I listened through the marathon discussions and heard the heated opposition, a sense of sadness mixed into my feelings.

I recalled sitting through Southern Baptist Convention meetings where I lost almost every vote. I know some of the feelings of those who lost their votes in Austin. However, at least in Austin they were given the opportunity to voice their opinions without the microphones being turned off in midsentence, the business was conducted fairly with close or significant votes tallied by computer and the chair even assisted them in how to make the proper motion so they would not be ruled out of order.

Those who have threatened to leave the BGCT received an appeal to remain active during the messages by Dr. Pinson, Executive Director of the BGCT, and Dr. Charles Wade, President of the BGCT. Those who opposed the recommendations continue to be asked to serve on committees and boards, including BGCT institutions, which is quite different then the exclusionary practice of the SBC leadership.

Perhaps the saddest aspect was watching some who opposed the recommendations base their views on mis-information and misunderstanding. The false accusations made about Cooperative Baptist Fellowship are disheartening. The misrepresentation and outright lies perpetrated about CBF are destructive. It is time for those who know CBF to intentionally spread the news of CBF’s commitment to Baptist principles and missions. It is time to inform and challenge persons in your church and other Texas Baptists about CBF.

If Texas Baptists receive information only from the pipeline of the Plumbline, the fundamentalist publication of the Southern Baptist of Texas, then it will be distorted and misrepresented. Even if you think CBF is not for you, then at least consider getting informed so you will not be misled. Don’t just take my word for it. The best research is going to the original sources to make up your mind. There are at least four ways to easily learn about CBF:

1. Visit the CBF web page at www.cbfonline.org.

2. Get on the mailing list of the CBF Newsletter. Call 1-800-000-0000. Read it for a year and find out for yourself about the direction, beliefs, and spirit of CBF.

Wilshire Baptist Church, 4316 Abrams Road, Dallas, TX, 75214-2398 to be added to the mailing list and to order extras for your Sunday School class or church leadership.

4. Attend the CBF General Assembly meeting in Houston on June 25-27, 1998. It is in Texas this summer so why not see for yourself, first-hand, what CBF is about. The laypeople of Texas Baptists churches should help send their pastor and staff to attend.

Texas Baptists will be making some very important decisions this year about missions. The best decisions are informed decisions. The best way to be informed is to find out for yourself.

December 1997