CALLING ALL CONSERVATIVES TO UNITE
By David R. Currie,
Coordinator
Wayne Allen wrote an excellent letter to the editor in the November 27, 1996, issue of The Baptist Standard. His letter shared his dream. He wrote: “I have a dream that both sides of the controversy in our convention would meet together, seek God’s will and present one slate of officers to lead our convention next year as we meet in Austin.” He went on to say that this could be done without having to compromise any of our basic convictions.
I agree with Wayne Allen and want to endorse his proposal. It should happen.
The reason it should happen is that most of us agree on the most important things. We are all, for the most part, conservative, Bible-believing Baptists. Why then are we so divided?
My answer is that for some reason, many conservatives, to use the word properly (and I will define it in a moment), are voting with fundamentalists. This puzzles me. Allow me to attempt a few definitions:
• Conservative Baptist: A Baptist who believes the Bible is the inspired Word of God and the final authority in all matters of faith and practice and believes that unity should be around the person of Christ and the Great Commission.
• Fundamentalist Baptist: A conservative regarding the Scriptures but who believes that unity should be around doctrine, that others who interpret the scriptures differently on both social and theological issues do not believe the Bible, and believe it is right to insist on political and theological correctness in denomination agencies and institutions.
• Moderate Baptist: A conservative theologically who is standing up against fundamentalism and is comfortable with local church autonomy, priesthood of the believer and thus the diversity among Baptists. Moderate is strictly a political term referring to those resisting the extremity of fundamentalism. Moderate does not have a theological definition.
I believe there are very few true fundamentalists. I do not believe 2,305 people who attended the BGCT annual meeting truly agree with the extreme views of Rick Scarborough, Paul Pressler, Paige Patterson and Walter Carpenter. Yet, 2,305 people voted for Scarborough.
Jim Henry is a good example on the national scene. Why are those in Texas, who agree with Jim Henry who said that the “conservative resurgence” had gone too far, not voting with Texas Baptists Committed and supporting the current leadership of the BGCT? Why is Jim Henry not leading an effort to stop the extreme actions of the SBC?
As I said, this puzzles me. It seems to me that most of the self-described conservatives should be a part of Texas Baptists Committed. They are being included in leadership positions of the BGCT. They are not extremists. Why did they join forces with the fundamentalist extremists and support the takeover of the SBC? Why are they trying to take over the BGCT? Surely no one, with any degree of an open mind, could have a problem with the fairness of Bill Pinson’s leadership!
I am not sure we can all unite around one slate of candidates, but I do believe that 90 percent of us could. There is a handful of extreme fundamentalists, those quoted in the story on the Southern Baptists of Texas meeting after the convention, who will never unite with us. We should respect them and wish them the best in their efforts to follow God as they understand Him. But the rest of us should unite around Christ and the Great Commission and move forward. If the SBC wants to join us, let it be. If not, remember Sachel Paige, “don’t look back, something might be gaining on you.”
There is too much at stake to keep fighting. It is time to unite and I will join Wayne Allen in praying for this miracle. But it must be a Baptist unity, not around doctrine, not around secular politics, not around a theory of inspiration, but around Jesus and the Great Commission. Let it be, dear Lord, let it be!
February 1997