TRUE CONSERVATIVES
By Charlie McLaughlin,
Associate Coordinator

There is a word that describes the core values of Texas Baptists Committed. The term is “Conservative.”

It has been hijacked and I want it back. For years the fundamentalists have claimed the term “conservative” for themselves. This gave men like Winfred Moore, Daniel Vestal, Russell Dilday, Richard Jackson, Jerold McBride, Charles Wade and others the label “moderate” or even “liberal.”

The Dallas Morning News quoted Rick Scarborough saying, “Conservatives can’t win here.” They also quoted Currie’s rebuttal, “They’re not conservatives. They’re fundamentalists. The conservatives win here every year.”

Unfortunately,the secular newspapers have adopted Scarborough’s terminology. For example, consider the confusing headline in the Dallas Morning News that read: “Moyers Criticizes Conservative Baptists.” Wait a minute! Moyers was talking about fundamentalism, not theological conservatives. The subject of concern was fundamentalist spirit and behavior.

Even in the Nov. 20 issue of The Baptist Standard, the first line stated: “Moderates maintained control of the BGCT during its annual meeting last week, although conservatives thwarted a constitutional change… A moderate-backed slate of candidates defeated their conservative opponents by 2-1 margins…”

Many phone calls and letters coming to TBC express the same concern about the inaccurate labeling. One pastor-stated, “Nobody is going to out-Bible me. Nobody can out-believe me when it comes to the Scripture.”

Bill Perdue (see related article, p. 5) stated, “I have an abiding conviction that we are being hurt in Texas by allowing the fundamentalists to hijack from us the word “conservative.” I have listened carefully to what laymen are saying and am convinced that many are being taken in by the fundamentalists use of the word “conservative,” or perhaps our failure to use the word.”

Bill and I both served as pastor of First Baptist Church Sweetwater, in West Texas. Any church there would dare you to call them liberal, unless you are using the term to describe how they give to missions.

If the word “conservative” refers to what you believe about the Bible, then almost all the messengers who voted in Fort Worth probably would consider themselves to be conservative. We believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God and is our authority in matters of faith and practice.

The problem with newspapers, including The Baptist Standard, using the mentioned terminology, is that it is inaccurate and misleading. Many people assume that the terms or labels refer to what groups believe about the Bible.

Moderates in Texas are conservatives, but they are cooperating, inclusive conservatives. Fundamentalism, however, forces everyone to conform.

They want everyone to:

…Believe certain things in a certain way or you are a liberal

…Give money a certain way or you out of step

…Interpret the Bible a certain way or you do not believe the Bible

…Do not associate with CBF or you are out completely

…Persons who do not conform are to be excluded.

In Texas, we want to keep our conservative theology, practice historical Baptist polity and emphasize cooperation for more effective missions and evangelism.

In fairness, if the term “moderate” is to be used to describe Texas Baptists Committed supporters, then “fundamentalist” should be used to describe those who have taken over the SBC because both sides claim the conservative ground. If accuracy is the standard, then conservative should be the term used to describe the leadership of the BGCT and TBC.

February 1997