TEXAS BAPTIST CONSERVATIVES MAY FORM OWN CONVENTION
By Richard Vara,
Houston Chronicle

Angry conservative Baptists in Texas are moving toward forming their own convention after a string of stinging defeats at the annual meeting of the moderate-controlled Baptist General Convention of Texas.

The Rev. Miles Seaborn, president of the conservative Southern Baptists of Texas, said a new convention would likely be formed after a survey of members but he could not predict when the convention would be established.

He said leaders of the conservative organization of pastors and laity support a new convention.

“We have a sense of direction,” Seaborn told a meeting of 400 disgruntled conservatives late Monday after a string of defeats, including the loss of a conservative candidate for convention president.

The Rev. Russell H. Dilday, 66, of Waco received 3,751 votes to defeat conservative layman Ted Tedder of San Antonio, who received 1,524.

The defeats continued Tuesday as moderates voted to accept the two remaining recommendations of a controversial 16-point Efficiency-Effectiveness Report. Conservatives complained bitterly that many of the recommendations were designed to lead Texas out of the 15.6 million-member Southern Baptist Convention.

Conservatives control the national convention while moderates control the Texas convention. The groups have been locked in a bitter 18-year state and national struggle over biblical interpretation and other issues. Texas, with 2.7 million members and 5,800 churches, is the largest state convention in the Southern Baptist Convention.

The recommendations include the establishment of a Bible college for laity and ministers. The state convention also will publish church materials and will train local and international missionaries.

Conservatives said the national convention already has the same programs.

“For all practical purposes you saw the creation of a new convention,” Seaborn said.

Conservative tried to derail the recommendations through time-consuming amendments and debate. The tactics angered moderates.

“They are trying to be obstructionists,” said the Rev. Bob Campbell, pastor of Houston’s Westbury Baptist Church. Campbell chairs the convention’s Executive Committee, which developed the recommendations.

Campbell said the new programs increases Texas’ role in evangelism and missions. Outgoing convention president Charles Wade of Arlington made a plea to conservatives not to leave the convention.

“I don’t want you to leave,” Wade said after a conservative delegate said he felt he was being forced out of the convention. Wade’s statement was bolstered with loud applause.

Moderates also won on a convention constitution amendment requiring contributions from churches participating at the annual meeting. Under the amendment each church will have two delegates but additional delegates will depend on church membership and contributions.

Moderates won on the first of two required votes by a count of 2,553 to 941.

Conservative leader Paul Pressler of Houston pledged to rally supporters to defeat the amendment.

Several conservative churches refuse to contribute to the state convention to protest the moderate control.

Article is Copyright 1997 Houston Chronicle Publishing Company, reprinted with permission. All rights reserved.

December 1997